You will see at once to what this would have led in the hands of an hundred collectors, of all sorts of characters, connections, and principles, and what grounds would have been given for the malevolent charges of favoritism with which the federal papers have reproached even the trust we reposed in the first and highest magistrates of particular States. It has been usual in another department, after the decision of any point by the superior tribunal is known, for the interior one to conform to that decision. The declaration of Mr. Theus, that _he_ did not consider the case as suspicious, founded on his individual opinion of the shipper, broke down that barrier which we had endeavored to erect against favoritism, and furnished the grounds for the subsequent proceedings. The attorney for the United States seems to have considered the acquiescence of the collector as dispensing with any particular attentions to the case, and the judge to have taken it as a case agreed between plaintiff and defendant, and brought to him only formally to be placed on his records. But this question has too many important bearings on the constitutional organization of our government, to let it go off so carelessly. I send you the Attorney General's opinion on it, formed on great consideration and consultation. It is communicated to the collectors and marshals for their future government. I hope, however, the business will stop here, and that no similar case will occur. A like attempt has been made in another State, which I believe failed in the outset. I have seen, with great satisfaction, the circumspection and moderation with which you have been so good as to act under my letter of May 6th. I owe the same approbation to some other of the Governors, but not to every one. Our good citizens having submitted to such sacrifices under the present experiment, I am determined to exert every power the law has vested in me for its rigorous fulfilment; that we may know the full value and effect of this measure on any future occasion on which a resort to it might be contemplated.