Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-08-18

Senate tbereupou, will be given to-mor-
row." On the Goth, they published the
conventional message from the Presi-
dent, communicated to the Senate, or
the subject of the convention, while il
was struggling for existence in that
body, and summary of the arguments
urged against it. Two important docu-
ments, Occupying, as finally printed in
their paper, bit half column refer
red to in this intermediate message, and
printed with it for the Information of tie
Senate, were, however, omitted, as be-
ing of no importance for tie information
Of the people. Being reminded of The O.
mission they published these two docu-
ments on the first of June. Here rested
their promise to publish all the docu-
ments as earl y as practicable, for seven
weeks, VIZ. from the 9th Of May 10
the 10Th Of july. during which time
they published not a single document
connected with the convention, or SO
much as an intimation, TO do away the
impression created by theirnotice ofthe
23th of May. that the documents had all
been published. On the 18th July, af-
ter having been goaded TO the task by
lone of the sharpest pens of the Secre-
tary," they published ofthe documents
relating to the convention, and trans
nitted Herewith to the Senate eleven
and halt columns, which, after their
promise that they 7vould publish, and
their assurance that they had published,
had been, during the publication Of for
ty numbers OF their paper, omitted. In
the mean time however, that the pub
lie might be put in possession of the
documents thus promised and thus omit
ted, the Secretary of State directed their
publication in the 'National Govern
ment Journal"
On receiving the report of the Com
mlssioners Of Claims under the Spanish
Treaty, the Secretary ordered the pub
LEGATION ofthat document to be made in
the J ournal which was accordingly
done on Saturday, the 26th of June. On
Wednesday, the 3Oth, the Editors of the
Intellgencer were officially informed
that, in selecting the National Govern
ment Journal for publishing the report
and list of Awards, the Secretary " did
not wish TO be understood as precluding
them, in future, from the first publica-
ton of papers connected with his de-
partmcnt."
On Thursday, the 1st of July, the
Editors of the Ihtelligencer commenced
a public attack on the Secretary, for an
alleged " determination 10 withhold Off
cial papers from their print - and on the
Sd the Secretary presents to the publc,i in
the columns OF the National Journal, a
statement Of The reasons of his conduct
in the premises.
The issue otthe Controversy" thus
commenced, is fresh in the public re-
collection, and will, it is presumed. germ
tong remain so,n the memories of Messrs,
Gales D. SeGton.
In reviewing this e controversy il is
worthy ofspecial remark, that, to avoid
the imputation of having Intentionally
suppressed part Of the documents COM
municated with the convention, Messrs.
Gales and Seaton are forced to "assert
that they published all they had seen of
them )" and when, afterwards, they are
reminded that, as printers to congress,
the documents had all been subject to
then lnspection,t they reply-with an ey-
ldent reliance on the replication, as
their main detence-that they IS do not
venture to retain copies of papers, print
ed under an injunction of secrecy, and
did not retain them in this case" But of
what avail is it for them to tell us that
they did not preserve a copy of. the
documents in question? Admit the
truth of this statement and what fol-
lows Why, merely that they could
not the moment the injunction of secre-
cy was removed, open their desk and
lay their hands on these documents.
And do they seriously think that they
are hereby discharged from their obIiga-
ton OF their promise. Do they not know
that these documents were in the hands
OF every Senator, in pamphlet form, and
that any decent man in the city, who
teh disposed, might have obtained full
and perfect copy Of them the moment
the injunction ofsecrecy was removed ?
The general interest felt ON the subject
OF the convention, buffetted as it had
been in the Senate for three weeks,pla-
ces beyond all doubt that it must instant
ly have occurred to them that a walk to
the Senate Chamber would have furnish
ed to them ample means Of fulfilling
their promise to the public.
But this is not ALL fearlessly assert.
that onthe eth Of May they had in their
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