The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-07-05
GOVERNOR SHANNON.

true picture of banking and labor.
GOVERNOR SHANNON.
By our exchanges we perceive that Gov Shan
non, our Minister to Mexico. arrived in the city
of New York ON Saturday the 2Ist ult He will
BIZ welcomed among his old friends and neighbors
with the strongest demonstra tons Of personal
friendship. We cannot discover why it is that q
portion Of the democratic press have. poured out
upon Gov Shannon their wrath and defamation.
What has he done TO incur the disapprobation of
the citizens of this Republic! Is it because he
has expressed his opinion "honestly and boldly"
without fear, favor or affection' An Ohio paper,
and one, too, which has been most loud in its
deRunciations OF Gov. Shannon, says:"The better
and more valuable porti on Of community, express
on public questions their true sentiments without
stopping to consider consequences. Such a
course, which deserves commendaton and respect,
is perverted and msrepresented by political hypo-
critics and unprineipled schemers! If the indvid-
ual who honestly and boldly expresses his opinions
is in position TO attract notoriety-if he is con-
nected with the press-if he is in public life-or
if he possesses great influence which he does not
abuse, there will be sly and malicious ISLANDERS
against him, by bad men for mischieoous purpo-
ses True to the very letter in its application to
Gov Shannon.
The following in defence of Gov. Shannon, we
copy from the St. Clarsville Gazette:
GOV. ANNON-MEXICAN install
MENTS.
According TO convention between the United
States and Mexico, dated Jan. 30, lS43, there
were TO be paid 10 our government for the benefit
OF American citizens, two instalments, one on
April 80, and the other July 80, 1874. On Sept
2, 1874, Mr.. Rejon, the Mexican Minister Of For
eign Affairs, wrote to Gov. Shannon that "he had
been informed by the Minister Of Finance, in a
note Of August 27h that the instalments had been
paid TO the agent appointed by the Government Of
the United States"
Mr. Voss was the agent appointed by our gov
ernnent to receive and transmit the money to the
United States, and he gave to the Mexican govern
ment receipts for the payment Of the instalments
Now from the fact that Mr. Voss had given the
receipts and the information received from Mr..
Rejon, Gov. Shannon had good reason to believe
that the instalments were paid. The information
thus received, was Immediately communicated by
Gov. S. to MIR. Calhoun, Secretary of State.
1t now appears, according to the Washington
"Union," that Mr.. Voss 0n,y received drafts on
the different treasures of the interior departments
OF Mexico; and, as we understand it, gaze receipts
for money to Trigueres, Minister of the Treasury,
instead Of giving them for drafts. But it turns
out, that, owing to the revolution there and other
causes, these drafts hare neuer been paid. And
abuse upon Gov. Shannon. He has even been
charged by some of the eastern presses. with pill
fering the money from the widows and orphans
of American citizens to whom these instalments
were rightfully due.
If we correctly understand the whole matter,
from first to last, Gov Shannon has had no con-
nection with this transaction, except to commune
cate the Information received from Messrs Rejon
and Voss 1t was no part of his duty to receive
or transmit the money, for the government had its
authorized agent there, for that especial pur-
pose. 1t does not appear that Mr.. Vdss ever COM
nuulCdttu UT duSiScu VIII SOF' III icid-
ton to this sub ject If there is blame to attach
any where. is to Mr.. Voss, and not to Gov. Shan
non; and why do not the eastern papers put the
saddle on the right horse' But the probability is
that even Mr.. Voss is not to blame.
Mr.. Buchanan, Secretary of State, in note to
ring to this subject, says that "Gov. Shannon.
instead of communicating the Information con-
tanned in Mr. Rejon's note, simply as he had re-
ceived it, states the fact absolutely as upon his
own h1,otoiedge that the instalments had been paid
on the 9Th of August"
Does not Mr.. Buchanan know, that Gov. Shan
non had no personal connection whatever with
the receipt or transmission of the money, and
therefore could have no kao,piedge upon the sub
ject, but must haye relied upon the statements of
Rejon and Voss for the, fact which he communities
ted to Mr.. Calhoun, relative to the payment OF
these nstalments' II the department was deceive
ed upon the subject, It was because il did not take
into consideration Mr.. Shannons only source Of
Information, to wit that Of Messrs. Rejon and
Voss
Instead OF the assaults which Gov. Shannon has
received from various quarters, he deserves tho
lasting gratitude of his country. Every days
Developments serve but to show that he has been
the most efficient and energetic Minister we have
had abroad for the last rs years. He has accom-
plished more for the people and government Of tho
U nlted States than any man we have had in the
diplomatic service for that long period Of time
And if any man will read the article which ws
quote in another column from the Washington
Union, he will not dare 10 doubt the truth Of our
assertion.