The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-23

Correspondence Of the Herald.l


aaq WASHINGTON, May Fl, 1886
Continuation as promised in my letter yesteday-
Explanations calculated to hroc light on the
phrase, Long List of Grievances for Years-Mr
Polk, a Candidate for Syeakey-TT Wants Le,cis's
Assistance-Ls,cis aids Bell-BeA elected-Rivai-
ry bet,ceen Mrs Polk and Daughter of Major
Leois, no,o the French Minister'S Wits-IVMnot
the rrairy explain another reason for Lep,s's re-
moval-1he 1yieyites and Messrs. Walker and
Gaze Jons0n-A Committee and such DISCLOSURES
pyonised-Ihe Conservatives and Folks Private
Letters and Piedges-Snmming up.
Yesterday / promised that to-day would give
some information of which have been in posses
SION, which would perhaps throw some light on the
phrase-"a long list of grievances for years.
which report says has been used by President Polk
IN assigning reasons to third parties for his removal
OF Major w. Is. Lewis, late Second Auditor.
| must, therefore, first state that it is common
expression which is used in reference to President
truth of this saying would seem to be subsantiated
by the fact that he should allege :" long list of
grievances tor years., as cause for the removal Of
MAJOR Lewis. Bearing then this in mind, must
return to the tunes OF General Jacksons reign, when
the Kitchen Cabinet was in full swing, and Major
Lewis was an active and prominent member there
OF In consequence thereof he exercised great in
ffuence over General Jackson, and through him
over members Of Congress. We'll, James K. Polk
was at this time member of Congress from the
State OF Tennessee. Further he was a candidate
for election Speaker of the House of Representa-
nves and to aid in his aspirations after that position
it is said that he addressed Major Lewis, re-
questing his aid and influence with General
Jackson to further his pretensons. Now it is said,
that not only did Mr.. Polk fail to obtain the infu
ence of Major Lewis in his behalf, but that influence
was actually used on behalf Of Mr.. Bell, who was
candidate at the same time for the same post, and
who obtained asufficiency Of votes to cause him to
occurring years agoand one too of no slight import,
Tor though Mr. Polk was subsequently elected Speak
err, yet he defeated in obtaining that posi-
ton by the influence of Major Lewis exerted in OPP
position TO him after he had sought his aid and if
be true that President Polk neither "forgets nor
forgves," certainly this is grievance Of sufficient
magnitude to ensure its retention of place in his
memory.
But this is not all, nor can think of detailing the
ng list OF grievances for years" but must content
myself with one or Two as specimens, and explana-
tory of the phrase USE And another of these griev
ances must suffice for the present. 1t has been
peatedly announced in all, or the greater part Of all
the papers in the Union, that Mrs. Polk is very
well informed, intellectual lady, and who would
grace the White House, &c. 1t has also been hint
ed that she, by the powers of her mind, added to
the charms of her person, had always exercised
large share of influence over Mr.. Polk, who at
taches great weight to her suggestions 1t will be
the report stated that Mr.. Polk had assigned MAJOR
Lewis's affinity to the French Minister'S wife (Ma-
or Lewis's daughter) as reason why he should not
be in the employ OF the government of the United
States. Now during General Jacksons reign and
Dir. Polk congressional service, Mrs Polk and Mrs.
Pageot, then Miss Lewis said to have been II
walls for the Court favor-both being anxious and de-
srous to cultivate the favor and approval of the old
hero to ensure the largest amount Of Court in
huence-the one for her husband in addition to his
congressional standing and position and the other
for her father in addition to his power and influence
member OF the famous and formidable Kitchen
Isl IN.
cessful, is not necessarily connected with the
Major Lews's removal-it is sufficient that the wife
of Mr. Polk and the daughter Of Major Louis ri
walls, struggling for supremacy of influence with
General Jackson-for whoever knew women to be
rivals for any thing whatever, and to continue to
entertain friendly and amiable feelings towards
explanatory Of the phrase long list of grievances
for years." said to have been used by Mr.. Polk in
reference to Major Lewis, and this rivalry also will
perhaps be to some Of our readers explanation sufi-
cent why the affinity of Major Lewis to the wife
Of the French minister should have been assigned
reason why Major Lewis should not be conti-
nued in office without having any recourse to the
supposition that he was capable of treason to his
However, if Major Lewis choose to think that the
latter suppositon was intended, I know of no one
who has any right to forbid him. and, of course, he
will take his own advice, as to the course he will
pursue in vindication of the aspersion which he
thinks is cast upon his character There will be
work for the printers, and the disclosures which
this affair promises, Will probably increase the IN
erest attaching to the contest in Tennessee, besides
revealing very likely some Of the secrets which the
kitchen cabinet has hitherto kept in allegiance, and
which will enlghten us somewhat as to the way in
which affairs have been managed, and tend to
pose these secret wires and movements, SO as to
prevent their future use In such a manner as they
have formerly BEEN
In my letter yesterday also referred to my letter
of the 18th ult., ard said had something further to
say on some of the topics mentioned therein. One
of these topics relates to the friends Of Mr. Tyler,
who have been SO unceremoniously e]ected from
office in all parts of the Union, and who that
treatment by President Polk and his administration.
The statements that John Tyler was only induced to
Withdraw from the contest, and induce his friends
to yield their support to Mr. Polk in consequence of
the earnest and unremitted entreaties of Mr.. Secre
rary-of the Treasury Walker and Mr.. Postmaster
General johnson, and their reiterated pledges that
Mr. Tyer's friends should not be prescribed becaWse
they were his friends and without reference to their
democratic principles, are said to be capable of sub
stantive proof; as well as indirect pledges on the
part of Mr. Polk himself, which, 1t is said, can be
brought to light. So complete has been the pro-
scrption of those appointed to Office by Mr. Tyler,
that hardly one remains and, CALLED by these I'M
mercifu decapltatons, the friends of John Tyler
now talking OF raising committee, tor the pur-
evidences of bad faith and treachery the part Of
the President and his administration. They say
proofs are in existence, and they know where TO
find them, and find and publish them they wil let
them hurt whoever they will. They say they are
no to be trodden upon with IMMUNITY, and that will
be discovered before long, for they will have evil
dence from all quarters-from the highest to the
'owest-from ExPresident Tyler to Cave Johnson.
Well let 1t come-the administration seems to be in
a peck of trouble on all sides, and we shall wait
patiently for the result.
Again, in the same letter have above alluded to,
mentioned the fact of report being IN circulation
that the conservatives had positive pledges from
James X Polk, that if they supported him in good
faith they should not be prescribed, and the asser
ton that he relied upon these letters being marked
private" to keep them from publicity. have heard
these reports again and again, and repeated in such
tones and from such quarters that am convinced
there is some truth in them. The reports seem to
gain strength and soidity, and some how or another
Mr.. Secretary of the Treasury Walkers name is also
,x cd nm with this affair as well as that respectinp