The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-02-16

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been favored with little bit of explanation which
throwsa great deal OF interesting hight on the mo-
dus operamdi of the tribe of letter writers at Wash
ington, and also on the morality, honor, and re-
spectability of the members themselves. letter
writer in the Boston Atlas comes out in reply to
the denunciations Of three members of Congress,
who recently figured in novery dignifed, but still
not at all uncommon attitude on the floor of the
House of Representatives, and admits, with the
greatest possible sang roid, that he did not Of him
self make any of the representations complained of
in the letter. but that they were related to him by
members of the House, belonging to the party in
whose service his scribbling, and it would, from
his own account appear, very convenient talents,
had been enlisted. He represented the conduct OF
Belser and the others just as he was bid. He does
not pretend that he himself witnessed it, that he
narrates his own account Of the matter. Not at all
He did not 60 to Washington TO let the readers of
the atlas know what he saw or heard there, or
what opinions he formed Oh! no. He went
to Washington to be useful to the party-to retail
whatever Misrepresentation were put into his
mouth-to pen and send to the atlas whatever
abuse and SANDER honorable members who had
not the manlness to assume the responsibility thus
incurred, might chose to invent-to BLACKBOARD,
and Willy, and misrepresent, all who were obnox-
to ''the party-in fact, he went there, like his
fellows to do all the dirty work required Of him,
and assist in perpetuating that system Of party
lightly, party Islander, party chicanery, which has
been disgracing and destroying the welfare and
honor of the country.
This etter-writer, who thus, with frankness
which is certainly quite inexplicabe, treats US to
r
employment, is but sample of his class. A more
unprincipled, mendacious set Of fell
than those letterwrers, cannot be found in the
'ilest political Asatia Those attached to the whig
'apers are particularly destitute of truth decen-
~. They are quite rabid. The locofoco scribbers
appear to have little, the meres sprnkng, Of de-
,ency. But, as class, these letter-writers ale al
ogether unworthy Of credit; and as the instru-
ncnts OF circulating untruths and calumnies, and
Of keeping alive and inflaming virulent political an
mosities, they merit the most indignant reproba-
ion of every honorable mind, and every friend of
he dignity of our national Legislature and the honor
IF the country itself. All the ISLANDERS and msre-
which cannot be poured forth in the
House, find always an open andready channel in the
Washington Correspondence of the party papers
throughout the country. Character is thus stabbed
he people imposed upon and misled-and the poi
ION of party virulence, infused, without, in most
cases, a chance Of furnishing the highly criminal
agents in this system of abuse, SANDER misrepre-
sentation andlying.
And then again, with what an indication of the
character of the violent politicians of both parties,
are we thus presented Only think of honorable
members of Congress employing their letter writer's
to circulate statements which they themselves dare
not assume the responsibility Of utering or publish
ing. 1t is indeed time that this system was bro
ken up. Were these convenient agents of SANDER
and party hate swept out Of the Capitol, and the
proceedings in Congress communicated to the pub
lie only in that faithful, full and independent man.
ner, which distinguishes reports, the honor and
respectability of our national Legislature would be
greatly promoted.