The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-27
THE "KANE LETTER. AGAIN.

THE "KANE LETTER" AGAIN.
We did not suppose il possible that, in any event,
the name of Cyril " Grey could have appeared In
the columns of "the Union-a Swiss scribbler, hrst
for Benefits Herald, (Which connection he was
forced to cut,) and next as scribbler for the
"Charlesion Mercury" and, as we shrewdly sus-
pect, hireling correspondent at the time for
J. w. Webbs wing Courier-and man who has
been utterly regardless of the decences Of the public
press. But the following communication reached
us this day; and we have determined, for once and
for once only to stain columns with the produc-
tons Of his pen. Here are his communications:
| WAsHMGroN CRY,
| Sept "a, l545.
To the Editor Of the Union:
Sra: / take leave to hand you the accompanying,
in reference to my statement of the authorship Of
the Kane letter. and request its publication in the
columns of the Union. Should it not appear in your
paper of this evening, shall conclude that you
have refused it insertion.
| CYRIL v. GREY,
Correspondent Of the Charleston Mercury
WAsHINGroN CITY, Sept. a, IS45
To The Ediiorqf the Union:
| Sra: In letter addressed by me to the Charles
n
ter, put forth by Mr. Polk, is understood to have
been written by the present Secretary of the Treas
ury." In your paper of the 18th instant were some
remarks which l did not consider denial of the
above statement; and in my letter Of the 10th in
slant, published in the Mercury of the Oath, called
for authoritative denial which expected in your
paper of last night. You have not given il. In
your editorial Of the 10Th instant, you pronounce
my statement an 'impudent humbug fable" which
'it is unnecessary to contradict" and you charac-
terze il, together with other consequential facts
stated (such as Mr.. Walker electioneering for Mr.
Polk as the anti-tariff, and Mr.. Buchanan advo-
eating him the true protection candidate,) "a
bles" and "absurdities." You conclude your re-
marks as follows:
'ln making these remarks, it is not our desire to
show any disrespect to the Baltimore American
On the contrary, we frankly assure its editor that
we would not pay any editor, for whom we feel less
respect, the compliment of contradicting such tables
as he has condescended to endorse by his sanction
Fables they aregross graious, shameless Jabies for
we state upon the Sest authority, that the scho state
meni is false from beginning to end ,choM solitary
circumstance Of any kind, hoicerer remote to base up
on. This is strong, unqualified language that we
employ; but we are aware Of its power, and feel
authorized to employ it in all its force"
And in your paper Of the 23d instant, you say
further:
"The scribbler who puts forth the other story
Of Mr.. Walkers having written MIR. Folks
letter to Mr.. Kane, also pfetends TO say that we
have not directly contradicted his story. Why,
what do the authors Of these statements expect Of
uss Must we not only say that both these state.
ments are false-,hut they are idle and contempti-
bic fabrications; but we must add, that they the
shameless fabricators Of absurd falsehoodsl True,
as the Tribune says, we are mot party in the
controversy but we make our statements upon
'undoubted authority from those who are the
partics.n
.l.aI 4 r
MIR. Walkers and Mr.. Buchanan's course during
the presidential election, you call in question the
most notorious facts of that period--of which the
Witnesses are innumerable- you would lose the
power OF giving force TO any denial. But | am
compelled to suppose (since you do not respond to
my cal for an authorized denia) that you DO mean
TO be understood as affirming, thai the statement
that MIR. Walker was the author Of the Kane letter
ia falee nom beginning to end, without solitary
circumstance Of any kind, however remote, to base
II upon" end that YOU profess to nake this denial
upon the 'sbest authorty.n
did not assert that Mr. Walker wrote thu, letter;
but the caution Of my LANGUAGE WIS from no want Of
ftill conviction Of the truth Of what put forth
|, too, have spoken on what | deemed "Me best
authority" believing my "sfafetnent" TO be true
from beginning to end, besed in oil its circum-
stances upon actual occurrences. l have hesitated
some time, but at length have determined to give
you my authority. The Hon. REvERpY JOHNSON
now United States senator from MARYLAND, was in
formed by another senator, that Mr.. WALKER him.
self had told him that he the writer or author of
the Kane letter. Mr. JoHNsoN has made no secret
OF this information among friends, or even acquaint
anccs and doubtless is both able ond willing to vim
dcate the truth, on a matter which is connected
with great public questions and the general interests
Of the country. Not content with knocking, you
have knocked open the door and now, sir, permit
me to introduce you into the presence-chamber OF
TRUTH. God send you safe deverance
f Tux CnRR EspON n rnyr M rtIr NrpcItpv
We will not condescend to criiicise every part of
the above communication. WI will hot stoop to
argue with Mr.. Cyril " Grey upon the specula-
tons which he has so idly and impudently advanced
But will confne ourselves to the great issue Of
fact which he has been 80 absurd as 10 make. We
will not say, with him, "God send him safe de-
lverance!" If we do not call him reckless caum-
nator, we WILL as Junus says, at least "prove him
So"
We are authorized by the President Of the Uni
ted States and by the Secrctory Of the Tfeas,ry to
state thai the statement Of The correspondent of the
l"Charleston Mercury" whose communication we
publish above, ''tllat Mr. Walker, the Secretary of
the Treasury, is the author of President Folks letter
to Mr.. Kane, the subject Of the tariff written on
the 10Th June, 1874, is fasc in all it's parts, from
beginning to end, without solitary circumstance Of
any kind, however remote, to base it upon. The
whole statement is unquslifedly untrue" Mr.. Polk
wrote that letter at his residence in Tennessee, on
the 10Th day of June, 1874, where it bears date,
and mailed il at that place to Mr.. Kane, at Phila
delpha. Mr.. Walker was at Washington city at
that time, and was as ignorant that any such letter
had been written, or that Mr. Polk intended to
write such letter, until il published in the
newspapers, as any man in the country who never
had heard of it. Mr.. Walker was never consulted
by President Polk about writing the letter. or about
its contents.
President Polk, in that letter. reiterated his opin-
ions the tarif-opinions which he had often
before publicly avowed, and upon which he had
acted during the period when he was member Of
Congress. Mr.. Welker did not know, even, that
Mr.. Kane intended to WRITE or that he had written