The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-22
THE SECRETARY AT WAR.

! AT the time Mr. Van Buren, nominated Mr.. POM.
sErr to take charge OF the War Department, were
among those who regarded the selection as one Of
The most jadtc,ous and for the country, fortunate ones
that could have been made. We have on more than
one occasion since, approved and compmented
some of his acts.
! Recent crents" together with "reminiscences con-
nected with the past history Of the public life of Mr..
Poinse which latter have been brought afresh to
our mind by the former, have wrought an entire
change in the favorable opinion we atNfrst entertain
ed Of his appointment to the War Office.
We had forgotten altogether that Mr.. Ponsett was
the Minister TO Mexico of administration that
preceded that OF General Jacksons. II had escaped
our recollection until refreshed by recent events,
that Mr.. Poinsett through his intrgues and his at
tempts TO introduce Free Masonry and its accompa-
nying secrets into the Mexican capitol, had wellnigh
caused revolution there. Nor had We charged our
memory with the circumstance, that Mr.. Poinsett
had rendered himself obnoxious to the Govern
ment OF Mexico, that it made an explicit demand
that he should be recalled, which was complied with
BY General Jackson during the first year of his adj
minislration. That was in 1929
These things being brought TO our recollection
others in relation TO Mr. Poinseu flashed it,
We now recoect that he was always thorough
going United States Bank man-lhat he was the in
innate and confidential friend of Mr. BlDDLE, Ro-
BERT WALSH and the whole clique of Bank folks in
Philadelphia after his return from Mexico. Re
cent events would indicate that he is so still
From the period of his recall from his post of En-
bassador Extraordinary, representing the United
States, near the Government of Mexico, up to the
time when the torch of civil discord had been nearly
lighted up in 1888, by the Notification excitement
| in South Carolina Mr.. Poinsett appeared TO have
retired. AT this latter PERIOD he appeared promi-
nenty again on the stage Of action He placed him.
self forward of the prominent leaders of the
Union party, opposed to the Nufers at the head Of
whom stood JOHN C. CALHOUN. The bitter hatred
with which General Jackson was then animated To-
wards Mr. Calhoun, led to his overlooking all past
offences that any one had committed, who at thattime
should step forward and assist efficiently in his over
throw Mr.. Ponsett Immediately rendered very
essential aid in sustaining General Jackson and in
putting down Mr.. Calhoun and those who acted
with him in supporting the doctrines of Notification
Thus it that Mr.. PonSett was raised from
state of retracy and initiated into the ranks of the
Jackson party All these circumstances had escaped
our recollection: should we have thought the
circumstance of Mr.. Poinseu being appointed last
spring to superintend the affairs of the Navy De-
parlment, in addition to those of his own while the
proper head Of that department was at his post,
worthy of any particular attention, but for recent
cuents.
The call made by Mr.. RivEs in the Senate on the
Secretary of the Treasury for information in rela-
lion to the negotiation with the United States Bank
of some of lis bonds held by the Government led,
through the answer given to that call by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to showing that the Secretary
at War had taken an important part in that negotia-
tion though unconnected with the Legitimate duties
Of the Department over which he presides. On
seeing this, it appears that Mr.. Rives offered reso
luton calling on the President for information to
show how far MIR. Poinsett had been party in the
negotiation. owe have heretofore published the
resolution.)
Under date of 18th inst, the President communicate
ed to Congress reror made by Mr.. Poinsett to him
on the same day, together with sundry documents,
marked to II, inclusive These, says Mr.. Poin-
sett in his communication 10 the President, comprise
"copies OF all the correspondence relating to the
subject on the files of the Department."
Thatthere existed other correspondence relating
to the subject" between Mr. Ponseu and Mr.. Bid
die, is fully shown in that geneman's letter TO Mr.
Woodbury., of the 18th August, 1888 in which he
quotes the following from Mr.. Poinset, viz:
"The bond cannot be legally transferred 10 the
use of the War Department. but you may rely ex-
pcitly on the strict performance OF the terms of
agreement which | may informally enter into with
YOU" If you become the purchaser, the amount
will be deposited in your Bank, % be drawn for as
required which will not exceed Ss500000 month
This money will be wanted at the South and West
and the OF drawing for it may be the subject
of future arrangement between u.s."
why was The correspondence in which this part
of the negotiation was contained, withheld or sup
pressed The resolution called for all the cores
pondence which may have passed between the Sc
cretary at War and the Bank orits agents in relation
to the subject" How does it happen hat this part
of the correspondence was no. "on the files OF the
Department I" Is because it was prirate or con-
fdentiol CORES dependence between Mr. Ponsett and
MIR. Bidde1 What was there in the whole of this
negotiation but what related 10 the public service,
and the manner in which it should be made speciii
cally pointed out BY law I How then, with what
proprety, could any correspondence have passed be-
tween any officer of the Government and the Bank,
or any one else of private or confidential nature,
that was not retained The files Of The Department?
These circumstances alone, if there existed none
other are sufficient TO create suspicion that all is
not right in this matter. Else why, this attempted
conceament OF part of the correspondence? Was
il not treating the Senate with contempt, TO withhold
a part of the correspondence, when the resolution
adopted by that body called for all? This is the
very correspondence the public are most interested
in seeing Will not the Senate insist upon its forth
coming7