The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-08-13
From The National Intellieeacer.

From the National hfelligeacer.
{ The Letter Of DR.. Davis, which has been
communicated 10 US for publication, and will
be found ID our columns 10 day, cannot fail,
as we'll from It's contents as from the position
Of the writer, 10 attract the attention Of our
readers. DR.. DAVIS was 4 member OF the
Baltimore Convention Of MAY last has
been well known as one Of the onion party
OF South Carolina has for ten years 10 sue.
cession represented oue Of tue most popu.
lous aud intelligent districts of South Caro-
lima in the Legislature and was the polit.
ical aud confidential friend of General Jack.
son during the political contests of his day,
and since. II is certainly no Ordinary case
of secession from great party, hen an
Individual thus situated feels himself bound
to break of from them. We commend to
our Southern readers especially, the general
diffusion OF the letter which explains his
reasons for SO doing.
I TO the Voters of the Thirteenth Congress
sioaal District Of Tennessee.
I Having been sen. BY portion Of you as
a Delegate 10 the National Democratic Con.
vention, held in the city of Baltimore on
the 9th OF NAV, | conceive il my duty,
however painful, 10 communicate to you the
state OF things here.
After the adjournment Of the Convention,
! came 10 THIS city TO await the publication
Of the address of the Convection, IN order
that | might be enabled TO send sou copies.
Ia addition TO this. transmitted 20 yoD
such documents and speeches as | supposed
would promote the Democratic cause 10
Tennessee. Things appeared TO 20 OH We
ry well until the l4ih Of June, when Mr..
Bolts, OF Virginia, presented to Congress
7 The memorial Of Lieut.. Hooc, OF the Navy,
protesting against the testimony Of two nc.
groes, who had been introduced as evidence
against him Oh his trial before a court mar.
!.ai recently held Of Pensacola. Alter
bad examined the case most carefully, in
which Il seems the Secretary OF the Navy,
the Attorney General and the President OF
tue | uited States all cOucurred IN opinion,
It struck me that the Presiden, had, perhaps
begu misrepreseuted THIS decision 10
votes al once the great principle for which
the South IS conteuding, and on which the
Presidents popularity is founded. /, there.
iors, determined to call on him. and, after
a itw remarks IN relation to the trial Of
Linutenant Hooe, inquired Of him wheth
er lie knew at the time be approved the
scti- nee Of the court that two negroes had
glyGn testimony 10 the case To which
be ,-plied 10 the affirmative. | observed
to lie President that. without some expIana.
ton other than that which had seen, IT
wo,aa have bad effect on the South. He
then observed that a full explanation would
be Published by The House of Representa-
tlyei 10 day. went TO the Capitol, and on
entering the Representative Hall found
the llouse engaged 10 the discussion Of the
question, which resulted IN the postpone.
meni O! the printing Of the documents
The day following, however, the Globe gave
Hhat the presIdeu, deems full explana
ton Of the matter. After reading the
explanation Of the Globe, could not find a
satisfactory explanation but, on the contra
~, It appeared TO NE that the Presldeu, had
assumed the ground Of Justification by con
tending that II had been the usage of the
Navy TO adm, negro evidence IN courts mar
tlal.
am aware that under the common law
there is 10 distinction known as to persons,
yet | DO contend that the President, 10 ap
proving the proceedings Of the cour. mar,
,ai, ought 10 have expressed his dlsappro
Gaiion OF the negro evidence.
With this qualification his political friend,
al least would have beea satisfied.
II will not do to tell Us that the Presideu,
had 10 conltoI Of the matter-that II would
no. have been proper for han to have inter
iered. The case is within the recollection
Of many Of Us where, after the court mar.
iiaI had decided, the General IN command
reversed the decision, and ordered d new
trial.
Z Now, If It he competent that a suhal,ern
car reverse the decision Of court, pre-
sumo no one vii deny that the Commander.
10 chief hos the authority.
This Is question Of vital importance to
every white man 10 the United States-and
II will not do4or the President 10 look with
indifference, not to say with appreciation
upon Il.
have watched tins question through all
ltsmu,a,ions. The Opposition will, 20 doubt
avail themselves Of this false step Of the
President 10 promote their own political
views.
There is strange indifference, total
absence On the par, Of the President, OF that
"aIchiul and ardent soIicilude which the
very nature OF the subject is calculated to
inspire, and which 1t was his province 10
guard aud defend. II Is now SAID by mem.
bers of Congress tha, they will pass law