The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-07
THOMAS HART BENTON, AND THE Alb.
STRACTED LETTERS.


STRACTED LETTERS.
We do not write this article to justify or con-
denim the appointment of Mr. Churchill Post
master at ST. Louis. Those who appointed
him need no justification. Nor do we design
to heap scurrility on Mr. Benton, for the act Of
which he has been guilty; but IN deliberate
and dignifed manner, to expose the motives,
impulses and views which led to the commits
sion of the crime. We term it crime, both in
an official and moral sense. And when crime is
committed, even if it were done by an angel,
the criminal should be punished and exposed,
not for the purpose of satisfying the vengetul
feelings Of the wronged and aggreved, but as an
example to deter others from the commission OF
like offences, and to warn all men in future to be-
ware of the unprincipled offender
Many months ago, it appears that the Wing
friends Of Mr.. Churchill recommended him for
the Office of Postmaster at ST, Louis. Several
letters were written by his friends stating expli-
city his claims and his services. We do not
assert that we have authority to say the Presl-
dent (who receives hundreds of such letters
daily, and often hundreds recommending the
same man) did not read the letters. We know
they were sent to the Post Office Department to
be fled with the application. Mr. Granger
was then the Post Master General. Nor have
we inquired whether his successor CATER his
own hight) read the letters. Certain it is that
it would require twelve months for him to read
all the letters Of similar nature filed by MIR.
Granger, and that the other duties OF the Office
are sufficient to occupy his attention sixteen
hours out of the twenty four These are matters
having no bearing whatever on the turpitude of
the act which must forever brand with infamy
the name of the one committing it-provided it
shall appear to the world that an unjustifiabe
and hishonorable deed has been committed. II
is true, Gov. Wckliffe had personal know
ledge of the applicant. But this would go to
strengthen the superstition that he did not read
the letters surreptitiously obtained by Thomas
Hart Benton, and published by him.
But we will proceed more Immediately to the
business in hand. The nomination Of MI.
Churchill was sent to the Senate. The head of
the Senate Committee called upon the Postmas-
ter General for the papers on file recommend
ing the nominee. The following is the Post
master Generals reply complying with the re-
quest:
fCopy-No. IL So,
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
March 80, l843 !
DEAR IR:-In compliance with your request In
behalf of the Senate Committee, herewith send you
the papers on file recommending Samuel B. Church
i'll, as Postmaster at ST. Louis may be permitted
10 say, a personal knowledge of Mr.. Churchill from
his infancy, justifes in recommending him to the
President as a gentleman of WORTH of strict honor
capacity and fidelity
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant
C. A. WICKLIFFE.
Hon s. McRoBERTs, U. S. Senate.
We have said we do not know whether Gov
Wickliffe had read the letters. We presume
not.
A few weeks afterwards, to our utter astonish
ment, we beheld course and infamous assault on
the Administration in Western journal, signed
by Tn. H. Benton, and followed by the publica-
ton of the letters referred to-letters sent to the
Senate in secret session, from the proceedings
of which the injunction of secresy had not,
and has not been removed
We say we beheld this with utter astonish-
ment, for history had taught US that such an act
was gross violation of Senatorial honor, dig
nifty and law History had shown us that Mr..
Pickering was censured by resolution of the
Senate for the same ofence-for merely read
ing from his place document that belonged to
the secret session.. The resolution was intro
duced by Mr. CLAY. There is no Mr.. Clay
now to censure Mr.. Benton. No-bul there is
a Mr. Clay to applaud him, and encourage his
criminal acts against the Administration
The establishment we felt at such an event
an event as nefarious as it was unexpected
was also felt by the country, and the matter was
seriously considered by the Executive branch OF
the Government No one could suspect that a
Senator would dare, even if nature had endow-
ed him with so unfortunate propensity, to
copy, clandestinely, these letters, and send them
off for publication. The writers Of the letters
surely had not furnished Mr. Benton with CO.
manner. Then how could it occur2 Had the
Department been robbed? To put an end te
this incertitude, the President addressed let
ter to Gov. Wickliffe asking information on the
subject. The Postmaster General was as igno
rant as the President of the modus a6strahendi
He therefore addressed the following letter Il
Mr.. McRoberts
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT
May ID, lS42.
[CoPY-No 2
Hon. Mr.. McRopERTs:
STA On the Both March last received from you
written commune .tion in which you requested m
Con behalf of the Senates Committee on Post Offices
to send the papers on file recommending Samuel
Churchill to be appointed postmaster at 81. Louis