Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-07-28

disclaimed it, told the parties so."-l
These are the words Of the Colonel, to
the word, point, and letter. If this does
not satisfy, we must refer the parties
making the charge, to the witness cal
led by them"
The reference thus made to me, rem
ders it necessary that should submit
the following observations to the public,
and | have accordingly to ask that yoY
will give them place in your paper
| have not authorized the report Of
which you speak, s. would have told you
so, without hesitation, if you had ntima-
ted its existence to me. That such a
course would have been more coniorma-
bic to the views of Col. johnson, infer
from the following considerations.
have Il letter from that gentleman, in
which, after stating his object, and mo-
tivcs, in seeking the interview, which
with the appreciation Of the President,
he held with Messrs. Branch, lngham,
and myself, he proceeds to remark that
he has not himself seen the necessity, or
proprety, Of any alusion in newspapers,
to this interview and adds, that if any
should consider it necessary, then the
great object should be to state the con-
versation correctly, for which purpose,
his views were made known in that let
ter, in order that any misunderstanding
might be corrected. Acquiescing in the
propriety ofthis suggestion, Immediate
iv communicated to Col. johnson, a
statement of the conversation referred
to, as it was very distinctly impressed
upon my memory-ind sufficient time
has not yet elapsed, believe, to author
ise me to expect an answer in the regu-
lar course of the nail However this
may be, | have not eccived any. In
dependently Therefore ofm reluctance
to appear before the public, in relation to
any matters connected with the dissolu-
ton of the late cabinet, a reluctance
which could only be yielded to my own
strong conviction of The propriety of such
measure, | have thought that the I'M
derstanding implied in the correspon-
dence, to which l have referred, would
be violated, by publishing a statement of
what passed at the interview IN ques-
ton, until it could be accompanied by
the remarks of Colonel Johnson, on that
which had transmitted to him.-A de-
parturc from this understanding, by that
gentleman himself, would OF course re-
leve me from its obligation. But from
the tenor of your editorial article, infer,
that The act Of publishing, the ertract from
his letter, is not authorized by him. l
adhere therefore at present, to the deter
mnation, which had formed; and as
suming that your object as public jour
nalists, is to present nothing to your
readers which is so, take the liberty OF
suggesting, as well to the editor Of the
Telegraph, as to yourself, the propriety
of sustaining from any partial and Imper-
feet statements of. the conversation,
which occurred at the interview in ques-
ton. The dcusion produced by such
statements, must be speedily corrected; !;
but until that correction is made, their
effect is to mislead the public mind, on a
sub ect of awakening interest to the A
merican people.
l am, very respectfully,
Sir, your ob't sew't.
JNO. MACPHERSON BERE,IEN.
To FRAScIs p. BLAIR, Esq,
Editor ofMe Globe.
Mr.. Blair 10 Mr.. Berrien.
WAsHINGroN, July 10, 1881.
Dear Sir: | have this moment received
your letter, to which l will give imme
diate publicity.
did not suppose that you had au-
thorized the report, which imposed on
me the necessity of giving an extract
from Colonel Johnson's letter. Under
such an impression, would not have
hcsitated to call upon you to dlsavow it.
The report, knew, was false, and was
merely circulated to keep in counte-
nance the charge made against the Presi-
dent, until it could work some prejudice
against him in the public mind, | did
not suppose that you were an accessory
in this business, and therefore, would
not insult you by an application which
could only be founded on such an in
ference.
The course have taken with regard
to Col. Johnson's letter, grew out Of cir.
cumstances which will Justify me to him
although he did not authorise me tc
publish his letter. My sole object was,
at once, to clear the skirts of the Pre-
sidcnt of charge which you are well
aware ought not to be attached to him
for you have, as understand, explicitly
declared that he disclaimed to you, al
the time when you were in communica.
ton with Col. Johnson, any design like
tha, now imputed to him.
II With regard to conversations between