Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-23

interference
does he now Consider it be becoming in him 10 enter
personally into course Of explanations counterstat
hsh's or contradictions with any of those gentlemen
VINO have addressed the public or published statements
reiatve to those occurrences
ut 10 not to be supposed however thar ba ey,,lJ
See without pain, imputations of the grosses motives
made against him, in regard to the exercise Of his
constitutional power in negativing the two bills for
creating a Bank, or Fiscal Agency Placing high
value on whatever degree of respect and confidence
ne may have obtained in the course Of pubIc GG,
oi now short one he trusts that he may at least be-
esaiaeo by MS countrymen as having acted on tho
occasion referred 10, with honest purposes and from
CONSCIENTIOUS convictions; and 1t has been supposed
MAJ she statement of fact, incapabe of denial ar
oouo., might be sufficient answer 10 the unjust and
INJURIOUS mpuiaions which have been SO upsparinrly
eapeo upon nun: and that is, that when about to send
Tue las. Veto Message 10 Congress- he asked the MEM
csis ' ms 'hen existing Cabinet to give him their
frank OPINIONS, whether it would ba produotiye Of
peace, harmony, and the public good if he should
make known at the same time that he would not be
candidate for election to the P.esdency-sayng that
ne was acting only his honest convictions and lone
cnelshed opinions compelled him to ac,; that he was
most deeply concerned and fulfil the wishes
ana expectations OF his friends, the utmost Of his
power; and that considerations personal to himself
except tnse OF honor and conscience, should stand in
vac way o' any sacriice which he might be called on
~ maKe-hat no love of Office and no IMPULSE of am.
bition did, could sctuate him in the nerf,rmanco of
wha' he thought so Imperative duty; and that he
was willing and ready to adopt the measure which he
had suggested II 80 advised. Although no, concur
ring, as IS well known, in the Veto Messages vet all
tue members present concnrfed decidedly in opinion
against any measure like that which the President bad
mentioned They observed that nobody had right to
call on ~ Tor any such declaration; that he had come
io'o ne Presidency by succession, and had right to
STAND before the people, for their future favor on his
merits, like any other CITIZEN and that such peof Of
Inc sincerity and honesty of his purposes could not be
necessary as The people would Judge, after ALL Of the
motives oil his conduct by other considerations: and
hnaly, that step of that kind was in their opinion
quite as likely 10 create endorsements as TO af
lord new facilities in carrying on the Government II
IS not recoilecied that all the Heads of Departments
were present al this conversation. II is believed that
Mr. Ctttenden was not present. and 1t is doubted whe-
ther nir: Badger was. But Mr.. Webster MIR Ewing,
Mr. Bell, and Mr. Granger were present. and cannot
ail TO remember the communication as above stated"
"June ., lS42-l remember, perfectly WELL the con-
versation above mentioned, between the President and
The members Of the Cabinet and it accurately stated
(o'gned) "DANlEL WEBSTER"
And as the following letter, addressed by General
Green TO Mr. Upshur refers TO these matters we give
that portion of which directly refers TO the points in
question II will be from it. that the President
was anxious to 'nsert, even in his Inaugural Address,
In declaration that he would not be candidate for
eiecl'on. The opinions of the President 10 tho
Bank, w''I also be seen, in conadstinctcn the
serlons OF Mr.. Bolts and his compeers
"WAsuIscroY, December %, 1912.
"Sir: MIR. Ewing, in his letter 10 Mr.. Crtenden,
speaking OF what tanspired between himself and The
President, on the subject OF the Veto Message says:
"'He (ths Presidency said, in substance, that lie
should probably he compelled 10 veto the BILL and he
thought 10 accompany the Veto Message with solemn
declaration, that he would not be candidate for re.
election, and wished our advice the matter. In
Inc course OF The conversation he also said he had in
di,ed sentence intended for insertion in his Inaucu.
/. that o.
date Tor reelection, which he withheld lest it's effect
would be to turn the batteries of Mr. Clay and his
friends on Mr.. Webster. MIR. Webster having replied
ahd OBJECTED TO The declaration made by the President,
SAID that hoped he would not feel himself compelled
to veto the bil-bnt if he did, did not think il advi-
sable TO accompany the veto with The proposed de-
ciaraton as there appeared connexion between the
two subjects, and did not think euch declaration
would have any tendency to reconcile the people TO the
veto Mr.. Ewing adds MY advice, therefore, was
seriously given in good ui,h though did not for mo-
ment believe his proposition was So no more than
believed, as fact, his statement that he had pcnned
such declaration for insertion in his Inaugural but
withheld ~ lest 1t should turn the batteries Of Mr..
Clay and his friends against Mr.. Webster His sue-
g.est'ons seemed 10 me to convey the idea that the
Wings the Cabinet included, cared little about mea-
snres if we could clear the way for the succession
MI Ewings statement makes il proper that 1
should place upon record The following facts, which
are communicated to you, that they may be used if it
be deemed expedient in yindcaton OF the Presidents
motives, and establishing his consistency in vetoipg the
Bank bill.
81 was in Annapolis when heard Of General IIar.
rison death, and there heard That effort would be
made to induce the President to commit himself not to
be candidate in lSdl | had been, for many years,
his personal and political friend. and determined if
possible TO prevent his doing So and Immediately
to Washington for that purpose. called him early
IN the morning OF the day. after his arrival, ond found
him writing his Inaugural | told him what had
heard, and The purpose Of my visit.
"He said that he had conversed with some friends,
who advised him TO declare in his Inaugural that he
would not be acand'dae, and he showed me para.
graph TO that effect, which he had just written saving
that his desire was, if possible, TO withdraw the ques
ton OF The currency from the vortex OF party, and
that he had been persuaded that such a declaration
would concii'ae the co operation Of The several asp
rants
81 told him that was deeply interested, and OK.
trcmely desirous TO obtain early and satisfactory ad
lus'ment OF the currency, and that il because |
apprehended that the effect Of such declaration would
be precisely The reverse of what he anticipated tina,
was opposed TO his making it,
"l urged, that far from giving strength 10 his AID.
minlsiration, and enabling hin accomplish the mea-
sure he SO much desired, 1t @onld be taken plea of
weaknessthat would be the signal for organiza-
ton of parties in reference 10 the next electioD-hat
one party would rally for a National Bank and tho
other against t-and that rs he was alike opposed 10
the Bank side, and the Sub Treasury on the
other and had made up his opinion that Congress had
no power 10 incorporate odfashioned Bank, that he
might expec, to be compelled TO veto the Bank bill
because The political leaders, both Sides were regard
less of the public interests, and would if possible,
Keep the Bank question open for the pupose Of poll
teal agta,ion-that, in that event. a state Of things
might arise, which would make it indispensable that
he should become candidate.
81 urged that the principle did apply 10
him, he had not been elected President, and that if
it were otherwise, the question Of the succession was
nc; before him. and it was due to himself and TO the
country that he should himself until he was
called upon 10 express an opnion-iha, the declarations
il then made might impair his inauence--that falling
TO concate The support Of both parties, it world
tainy ALLEVIATE bo unless he himself became The par
san Of of the political aspirants, The effect of
which would be, TO test his administration by the pop
u!ar,y Of Of Inc candidates. instead Of placing it
its merits He replied, that he had the subject
under CONFERENCE.-The he was of the factious
tendency of existing party arrangements and that the
question was, whether such declaration, then made
would enable him TO settle the question of the currency
and accomplish an harmonious administration of the
Government. His words were, IF can do this nv
ambition will be satisfied He eaid that there was
much force in the suggestions | had made-that