The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-06
TO this letter the following reply was made
lcoPy-No. g..
WASHINGTON Cry,
May ID, is42
Hon. C. A. WlckLlrps,

SIR have received your letter Of this date MAJ
ing inquiry about the publication of certain letter.
connected with the nomination Of Mr. Churchill a.
postmaster al ST. Louis Missouri and in renly / h
TO stale, That when received the file Of letters wbcL
you transmitted TO me TO the Senate the Hon Tho
mas H. Benton, and the Hon. Lewis F. Linn, h.
senators from Missouri requested 10 examine the lei
Tors anu papers referred to- and they represented
the slate where the appointment was proposed 10 he
made delivered them 10 Col. Benton and who Ia,
subsequently returned them TO the committee.
AS TO The publication of some two or three .f m,
letters IN the newspaper to which YOU refer bava
only to say that neither my self or the other nenbs,
OF lhe committee knew any thing except what appear,
| in the newspaper itself
And have therefore sent TO the Hon Thomas
H.. Benton your communication OF this morning IN
order that he may furnish any further information
| should any be desired.
Very respectfully,
Your obedent servant
(Signed) SAMUEL McROBERTS
SO Mr.. McRoberts had complied with the re-
quest Of Messrs. Benton and Linn, and ner
mltted them to examine the letters. This was
right respectful request from the Senators
representing the State in which the appoin,
menl was made, was very properly complied
with. They very naturally wished merely 10
"erdmine" the papers, and of course they were
permitted TO do so. There was no request fer
copies, no permission asked TO publish them
OF course not. Mr. McRoberts would have
Indignantly spurned such dishonorable propo
slon! Or. Linn would have cut out his own
tongue rather than utter il No! both Me
Roberts and Linn were imposed on, deceived
betrayed And yet Mr.. Benton, feeling the
weight of his guilt, often trembled at the thougb
OF the consequences of such deed, and lacked
the courage TO proceed alone in the matter and
avow his intention He must prevail on DR.
Linn, his colleague, to join him in the simple
request TO be permitted to ''eramine' the let
tiers. DR.. Linn did it without hesitation. Bu
mark what follows. Behold the holy horror on
his hrow-the loathing repulsion in his eye
when Mr.. Benton (aftel obtaining possession
OF the papors) intmated his determination to
publish them. DR.. Linn turned from his col
league in disgust AT that moment he washed
his hands Of all participation in the act. he
fled repentant from the dark chamber into which
he had been beguiled, before the cold hearted
assassin's dagger was bathed in innocent blood
| Such is the man we conceive DR.. Linn to be
| From that moment his connection with the
transaction ceased. The head that conceived
the act was left with none but its own polluted
hand TO execute it. Even Benton fatered but
his evil genius led him on. The deed had been
conceived-the guilt had been in the concep
tion-t was as well to go on as to retreat. His
own degradation had been consummated, and
the only consolation in his power was 10 make
the innocent (of course his enemies) suffer
| The deed was done.
| The matter was brought before the Senate
Mr.. Benton rose in his own defence. He could
say nothing for himself He saw in the coun
tenances Of all around him how much he was
despised. He grew furious, and made a per
sonal assault on the Administration. He applied
the term "base" some half dozen times to the
head OF one Of the Departments. This was
his only mode Of escape. He must divert at
tentlon from the dark deed of the individual 10
a political attack on the Administration Wen
did he know that this would be means OF
escape, or the act would never have been com
mitted. He knew the binding character Of the
relations existing between the ultras Of his Own
party and those of Mr. Clay's, He knew ria
they were indissolubly united to effect the down
fall Of the Administration. He knew, undtl
existing circumstances, that he would neilheI
be expelled nor censured by his co laboters He
knew that the liltle Land in the Senate chaQ4btf.
composed OF both parties, friendly to the Ai
ministralion, would be impotent in any attempt
to inflct the punishment he deserved
Bat 10 return TO the letters themselves They
speak Of Mr.. ChurchilFs "ciainsn and "St,
rices to the party These words Mr. Benton
puts in italics. For these he calls the conduct
of the Postmaster General "a base prostitution
Of the influence of his office for base purposes
Sc He declared also that Mr. Churchill Was
aconnexon Of Gov. Wcklife. This he sub,e
quently acknowledged was not the fact. Bur
why does he talk about "pdrty serrireS&
What recommended Mr. Watson, and ata
recommended him I? We do not wish 70 ncu
pate Mr.. Watson. We know nothing OF mu
for good or evil, save what we lean from ,i
papers. He, too, may have been capable and
honest" But Mr.. Benton will not DENY TIA
while MIR. Watson conducted Mr. Benton, spr
cla Locotoco organ, the Argus he.lNr Ben
tom frequently promised him his reward H.
will NOT deny that he (Mr Benton wrote "
Mr.. Watson on more than one occasion 10 BIZ
paient-not to despair-that all his losses an
sacrifices for ''the party should BE- compcnsa
ed He (Mr Benton) will not deny that he iI
dressed President Van Buren,in Mr. Watson
behalf, and Urged his appointment on account
Of his party services" He Mr.. Benunl WIi
not deny that he then addressed a letter 70 tlp
Men Postmaster General, demamiiRg m ap
lh. HutSou oil ne ground ofhi&
Sacl1fces in connection rim the 1rgu&, ant
that he appointment mds absolutely mad
,ncier these circumstances, ma$altch us
other person recommended him.