[To Daniel Webster]
Philadelphia 14 Sept. 1841 16
Sir
As a citizen of the United States, deeply invested of course in its govern
ment, I take the liberty, without knowing any thing of your wishes or intentions,
to deprecate the resignation of your office
If you allow me any further claims, as a Whig, I wd. say that I cannot 
imagine any reason why the President's refusal to sign a charter should 
injure him with that party - or why your remaining in office should be 
considered inconsistent with your course in the canvass. I am aware 
that a large portion of the Whig party, perhaps more than half of it in 
the cities, was and is in favour of a Corporation: but it was considered 
previous to the Election as one of the measures upon which there was not a 
party union: and Sir so far as I could see, you were not in favour of a 
corporation. Being opposed to a charter myself, I could yet agree in all 
your doctrines as proclaimed on this [?]. You held that the refuta
tion of the Currency belongs to the Federal Government; and so believed 
the Whig party - but it does not follow that the party was in favour of 
giving up to private individuals, this [?] power. - I could not 
have believed, a priori, that any public man of large experience, would 
have been willing to throw away all we have learned on the subject. 
The course of the Whig pass here, has been in strict conformity to the 
[?] plans of Mr. Clay. I have in vain endeavored to get into the papers 
here or into the [?]. [?], any argument against Mr. Clay's course. 
Altho' in private conversation the Editors would admit doubts, their papers 
allowed no expression of dissent. For one reason, because they are very 
ignorant of the [?] but principally because they considered that this 
confidence of the majority of the Whig party in this city, was especially 
given to Mr. Clay. To make an appearance of unanimity, they excluded 
the opinions of the minority, (if indeed it be a minority) and do not rep
resent the feelings of the Whigs.
Even if the Whigs were unanimous it were rashly encountering a 
fearful risk, to place so vast an interest as the Currency on a party 
foundation. One principle of the Whig party was that their President 
should be in truth the President of the Nation.
If the President will now advocate a substantive plan, which 
shall provide for the permanent settlement of this question, 
he will be [?]. But if, like Mr. Van Buren, he stand

Copy of a letter to the Secretary of State. [to Daniel Webster]
Philadelphia 14 Sept. 1841. 

Sir
As a citizen of the United States deeply interested of course in its govern-
-ment, I take the liberty, without knowing anything of your wishes or intentions, 
to deprecate the resignation of your office.
If you allow me any further claims, as a Whig, I wd. say that I cannot 
[inquire] any reason why the Presidents refusal to sign a charter should 
injure him with that party - or why you remaining in office should be 
considered inconsistent with your course in the canvass. I am aware 
that a large portion of the Whig party, perhaps more than half of it in 
the cities, was & is in favour of a Corporation; but it was [] 
previous to the Election as one of the measures upon which there was not a 
party union: and Sir so far as I could see, you were not in favour of a 
corporation. Being opposed to a charter myself, I could [] after in all 
W. doctrine as proclaimed on the house []. You held that the reputa-
-tion of the Currency belongs to the Federal Government; and so believed 
that Whig party - but it does not follow that the party was in favour of 
giving up to private individuals, this [] power. - I could not 
have believed, a priori, that any public man of large experience would 
have been willing to throw away all we have learned on this subject. 
The course of the Whig pass here, has been in strict conformity to the 
supposd plans of Mr. Clay. I have in vain [] [] to get into the papers 
here or into the [hat]. [] if [well] any argument against Mr. Clay's [].
Altho' in private conversation the Editor would admit doubts, their papers 
allowed no expression of dissent. For one reason, because they are very 
ignorant of the [] but principally because they considered that the 
confidence of the majority of the Whig party in this city, was especially 
given to Mr. Clay. To make an appearance of unanimity, they excluded 
the opinions of the minority, (if indeed it be a minority) and do not rep-
-resent the feelings of the Whigs.
Even if the Whigs were unanimous, it were rashly encountering a 
fearful risk, to place so vast an interest as the Currency on a party 
foundation. One principle of the Whig party was that their President 
should be in truth the President of the Nation.
If the President will now advocate a substantive plan, which 
shall provide for the permanent settlement of this question, 
he will be []. But if like Mr. Van Buren, he stand

on a negation, he will fall.
If I can spare time, after Washington shall have been a little thinned out I will have the pleasure of offering to you, in person, the thanks of one citizen, for your adherence to this post of duty, and it seems of present danger.
Your Obed Sevt
E. Littell

Daniel Webster

E Littell

Philadelphia

Political 
Sept 14/41