Biddle TO Alexander Hamilton

Phil. December 12^th, 1829 Dear Sir

I received this morning your favor of the 10^th. inst. which I have read with great pleasure. The view it presents are quite sound & correspond exactly with those entertained here. My impression is that these opinions expressed by the President are entirely & exclusively his own, and that they should be treated as the honest tho' erroneous notions of one who intends well. We have never had any idea of applying to Congress for a renewal of the Charter at the present session — and of course should abstain from doing so now. Our whole system of conduct is one of abstinence and self defence