The New York herald., 1845-05-25
NEW YORK HERALD
1hc Mission to Engiand-Correction Of MIS-

Thc Mission to Engiand-Correction Of Mis-
One OF the obscure echoes of the highly respecta-
bic government organ at Washington, conducted by
MIR. Ritchie-an echo with few hundreds crcua-
non somewhere IN this region, endeavors to give
itself airs in relation TO the statements and remarks
that we have made touching the special mission TO
England, in connection with the names of Mr.. Cal
houn and Mr.. Van Buren,. This echo Of few hun
dred voices or circulation calls our article this
subject, random statements and specuations" We
have already stated, and repeat the statement IN the
face Of the government editor and dare him to pro-
duce any contradiction from the President or the
Cabinet, that whatever we have said relative TO the
plan or project Of offering Mr.. Calhoun a special
mission 10 England was perfectly authentic in every
particular This project was before the President,
brought 10 his notice by mutual friends of Mr. Cal
houn and himself 1t was considered by the Pre-
sident and laid aside under the presumption and be-
lief that Mr.. Buchanan felt himself sufficiently qua
lifted 70 conduct all the negotiations on the important
questions between this country and England, with
Mr. Pakenham in this country. We have seen an
allusion 10 this matter by the Charleston Mercury
which corresponds with and confirms this view
That journal expressly intimating that if Mr.. Cal
suuctons as he could accept in order that he might
be able to do something for the country, no doubt ne
would forego his wish for retirement and again en-
gage in public service.
We also wish to correct the misstatement of the
echo and the government organ in relation to Sc
cond offer which was said to have been made to
Colonel Elmore, on the subject of the ordinary mis-
sion A Southern journal, perfectly acquainted with
L IL ...., .c tl,a
government had been in search of Colonel Elmore,
tor the purpose of pressing on him the acceptance OF
that mission. II may not have been, exactly, any
thing else than renewal of the offer, or re-
quest for reconsideration of his refusal of the Offer
bur there can be doubt of the accuracy OF the
fact stated by the Southern journal.
With respect to the elder and younger organs ct
the government at Washington, and all their action,
we would advise them not to waste too much pow
der at the present time. They only in the COM
mencement of long and arduous struggle, with the
elements offreedom and independence beginning to
prevail in the newspaper press as well as in the ac-
ton of parties. The old system of establishing party
and personal organs, for any particular purpose, by
eliques or individuals, is beginning to fall into popu-
lar discredit. The power of such organs is becom-
ING more and more circumscribed every day, and
we think the last experiment Of this kind will be
tested in the election for printers by the next Con-
oress There are three democratic journals at
Washington-all of them candidates for public favor
all of them, probably, will be before the next
Congress sand on that occasion some important
questions will be tested relative to the independence
of the press-the propriety of establishing official
organ Of the government-the necessity sof mere
party journals or party editors, and the capacity o
the people and their representatives to Judge tor them
selves of all that concerns the newspaper press
Many novel ideas are now agtating the public mind
and amongst them not the least novel and important
is that of the independence Of the press and the ca
pacty of journals established by ciques indivldu
ais even although occupying high places in the gov
ernment.
We know the great unpopularity which attached
TO that irresponsible cabal that existed around the
avenues of the White House during the presidencics
of General jackson and Mr. Van Buren-called the
Kitchen Cabinet Public opinion in both parties has
OF late years been expressed decidedly in opposi
ton TO such cabal, render it necessary to put
stop to the erection of any such influence at the
present time, the organization of any such clique
under the present administration. 1t is believed
however, by many that the history of the establish
ment Of the Union presents something as much op
posed to the integrity of free government, the indie
pendence of free press and the independence of a
free people, as did the history of any cabal any
malign influence that may have existed under
any government, republican monarchical-
This opinion is beginning to spread and grow
stronger and stronger in this part OF the
country; and although the Washington Unio,
presents traits of character far more respectable
amable and conciIating than did its predecessor
the erocious Globe, yet its open and undisguised
tabshment as the mouth h-piece-the agent-the or
gan-thc instrument of dictation of the government
and rot as the reflector of the opinions and senti
ments of the people, is SO repugnant to the feelings
Of free people, and so utterly opposed to every
idea of free press, that need not wonder at the
storm Of Indignation which is gathering.
This is to be the first great question for the mex
Congress of the United States, on its assembling IL
December. 1t is the question of dctatorial ant
hireng government press rersus free people and
free press.
THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT AND SENIOR ATocHA
good deal ofattention has been attracted to the cas-
of Senior Atocha, on account of the treatment which
he has received at the hands of the Mexican govern
ment. II appears that he has claims on that govern
ent to the amount of $500 900, which have been un
Justly denied, and he himself forciby driven from
Vera Cruz. He has reported his case to Mr.. Shan
non, our representative in Mexico, and also to ou
Government. There be no doubt that the
conduct of the Mexican government in this case il
in direct violation of the treaty of 81 The motives
probably have been that this Senor Atocha was
particular friend Of Santa Anna. But he had no po
tical connection with that parsonage, only sort
financial or commercial connection The case
certainly one of great interest," and we shall watc
It's progress.
RELIGIOUS FANATIcIsM AND CLERICAL MISTAKES
Many of our readers will recollect story set aoa