Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2): or, A History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, from 1820 to 1850Benton, Thomas Hart
History
Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2): or, A History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, from 1820 to 1850
Benton, Thomas Hart
United States -- Politics and government -- 1815-1861
We assert that the experiment has had a
fair--a liberal trial, and that disappointment and mischief are
visible in all its results--that the promise of a regulated
currency and equalized exchanges has been broken, the currency
totally disordered, and internal exchanges almost entirely
discontinued. We, therefore, make our earnest appeal to the
Executive, and ask whether it is not time to interpose the
paternal authority of the government, and abandon the policy
which is beggaring the people."
The address was read to the President. He heard it with entire
composure--made no sort of remark upon it--treated the gentlemen
with exquisite politeness--and promised them a written answer the
next day. This was the third of May: on the fourth the answer
was delivered. It was an answer worthy of a President--a calm,
quiet, decent, peremptory refusal to comply with a single one of
their demands! with a brief reason, avoiding all controversy, and
foreclosing all further application, by a clean refusal in each
case. The committee had nothing to do but to return, and report: and
they did so. There had been a mistake committed in the estimate of
the man. Mr. Van Buren vindicated equally the rights of the chief
magistrate, and his own personal decorum; and left the committee
without any thing to complain of, although unsuccessful in all their
objects. He also had another opportunity of vindicating his personal
and official decorum in another visit which he received about the
same time. Mr. Biddle called to see the President--apparently a
call of respect on the chief magistrate--about the same time, but
evidently with the design to be consulted, and to appear as the
great restorer of the currency. Mr. Van Buren received the visit
according to its apparent intent, with entire civility, and without
a word on public affairs. Believing Mr. Biddle to be at the bottom
of the suspension, he could not treat him with the confidence and
respect which a consultation would imply. He (Mr. Biddle) felt the
slight, and caused this notice to be put in the papers:
"Being on other business at Washington, Mr. Biddle took occasion
to call on the President of the United States, to pay his
respects to him in that character, and especially, to afford the
President an opportunity, if he chose to embrace it, to speak of
the present state of things, and to confer, if he saw fit, with
the head of the largest banking institution in the country--and
that the institution in which such general application has been
made for relief. During the interview, however, the President
remained profoundly silent upon the great and interesting topics
of the day; and as Mr. Biddle did not think it his business to
introduce them, not a word in relation to them was said."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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