Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-03-24

maa L a, ~. reIuctance of the delegation
to saw anv thing of Mr.. McKim's opinions, ex-
cent as thew referred to the lnmeulate opJect VI
their mission, that they have IN thelr report
scrupuleusly omitted many particulars WHICH
althouoh properly subject to public remafk,
were of such nature as to indicate want OF
dine reflection on his part, and tor that reason
alone were withheld from the report
With this statement it cannot but De seen
how unjust is the attempt of Mr. Mcklm 10
enlist the public sympathy IN his FAVOUR, ny en-
endeavouring to cast upon the delegatoH tl.o
implied offence of violating the contldene OF DIS
fire-side. He has, however, in his letter, broken
this seal of confidence, and published to the
world for the first time, the conversation ne mad
held with Mr. Howell AS this conversation is
now referred to, somewhat in the light OF an
official answer to an official communications
character which Mr.. Howell certainly never
gave it, it is proper to say that this IS IN general
a true statement, except that Mr.. McKim lac
cording to Mr.. HowelPs recollection instead OF
saving that he would risk his life and fortune
rather than betray the trust which his constltu-
ents had delegated to him, '-remarked that ne
would encounter this risk rather than abandon
the cause of the administration, "a remark
which he reiterated in the room OF the delega-
ton. The delegation repeat that no part OF tlis
conversation ever entered into the report
From Mr. McKm's history OF the case; II
w
had any conversation with any members OF the
delegation, regarding the immediate object OF
their visit to Washington, was IN his paflOur;
since he declares that when he visited the dele
CATION in their room on the night or the llth
(where he remained, according to his own state
ment, an hour, and, according to that OF the
delegation, upwards of two hours) he had only
a general conversation about the state OF the
money market the bank, and the pressure,-but
not word, that he can remember, " about pre-
sentng the memorial" If this be correct, 1t is
a little strange that Mr. McKim should consider
the communication he had in his own parlour
relating to the presentation of the memorial,
confidential, since it is, according to his own
testmoney the only occasion on which the sub
iect was opened to him by any member OF the
delegation. MIR. McKim, however, the delega-
ton affirm, is altogether in mistake;-and as his
history is written to enable the public to decide
the important issue which he himself has tender
ed, it might naturally be expected that little
more particularly should have been INDUCED
as regards the conversation and events OF this
visit.
AS it was at his visit to the delegation in their
own parlour, that Mr.. Mckim expressed himself
in the language ascribed to him in the report,
the delegation feel themselves authorized to re-
fer to so much of the conversation that passed
there, as may be necessary to recall to Mr.. NC
Kim, more explicitly than they have heretofore
done, the subjects that were then brought into
discussion. And as Mr.. McKim is not only 81
lent in his letter as to what passed on this occa-
sion, but also expressly negatives the statement
heretofore made by the delegation, they take
the opportunity to re-affirm in the most impress
sive language, the perfect truth of that statement
and to declare that all there reported and much
more was uttered by Mr.. McKim at this visit;
and consequently that the visit was not of SO in
formal and unimportant a character as the letter
would leave the public to suppose.
When Mr.. Mckm entered the room OF the
delegation, he inquired for the chairman. 1t is
true, as Mr. McKim states, that the chairman
did not introduce the subject of presenting the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, from whar Mr.. Howell had
intimated the night before, the delegation were
led to believe that Mr.. McKim did not wish to
present it. But Mr.. Mcl<im himself introduced
the subject, and gare the reasons for not present.
ing the memorial already detailed IN the report.
1t may assist his memory to recall this circum-
stance, so strenuousy denied by him to refer to
fact, the announcement of which particularly
struck the attention of the members of the dele
cation to whom it addressed:-Mr. McKim
stated to the chairman, amongst other reasons
for not presenting the memOria-that it was the
custom, on such occasions, to make long speech
that this would be expected of him by the dele
CATION. and therefore he would have to make
one,-which he could do, but he had been advised
not to make speeches, because it would hurt his
influence in the House. He further remarked,
as an additional reason, that he would be called
on to present the counter memorial, which he
expected in few days:-and he said other
things bearing on the same subject, which the
delegation do not choose to repeat being too
confident in their own recollections to allow
themselves an instant of doubt as to the accura-
cy of their statement.
Mr.. McKim has, by his silence, also denied his
opposition to the policy Of the removal ofthe de-
posites The delegation, in addition to the
statement in their report say, that Mr.. McKim
had his attention drawn to this subject, when he
candidy avowed his opposition to the measure,
and said that he had written letters against it,
which were read in the cabinet and, moreover,
that in Baltimore. he had urged Amos Kendall
not to do it-at all events until after his cleo.
ton These remarks were followed by his de-
clarations relating to his influence with the Elk
ecutive detailed in the report; and also of his
own knowledge of the distress existing in Bati-
more which, he said he had not made known,
as he thought it might injure the city-iustrat-
ing his remarking, at the same time, with pro-
verb which it is not necessary to repeat and |
declaring as further reason, that he was not
going to admit the distress to the Yankee mem
bers of Congress. His expression at this inter- |