Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. I.djvu/354

296 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS aged, and for fearing that a great financial insti tution, so intimately related to the government, might be made an engine of political corruption. Furthermore, the correspondence between Sec. Ingham and Nicholas Biddle, president of the bank, in the summer of 1829, shows that some of Jackson s friends wished to use the bank for political purposes, and were enraged at Biddle s determination in pursuing an independent course. The occasion was duly improved by the "kitchen cabinet" to fill Jackson s ears with stories tending to show that the influence of the bank was secretly exerted in favor of the opposite party. Jackson s suggestions with reference to the bank in his first message met with little favor, especially as he coupled them with suggestions for the distribution of the surplus revenue among the states. He re turned to the attack in his two following messages, until in 1832 the bank felt obliged in self-defence to apply, somewhat prematurely, for a renewal of its charter on the expiration of its term. Charges brought against the bank by Democratic repre sentatives were investigated by a committee, which returned a majority report in favor of the bank. A minority report sustained the charges. After prolonged discussion, the bill to renew the charter passed both houses, and on July 10, 1832, was vetoed by the president. An attempt to pass the