The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-01
4 CITY OF WASHINGTON.
THURSDAY NIGHT, MAY l, is45.
TO THE PUBLIC.


-
y TO THE PUBLIC.
We cannot assume the editorial chair that has
been 80 gracefully vacated by our worthy prede-
cessors, without paying them the tribute to
which we think them so justly entitled. Public
gratitude demands this expression at our hands.
Our private feelings could not be satisfied without
pouring them forth. We cannot dismiss the editors
Of the Globe to the genial shades Of private le-,o
which they about to retire without saying, in
the presence of the grand inquest of the nation that
they deserve the verdict of their appreciation. Mr.
Blair has had stormy sea to encounter Questions
of the highest importance TO the destinies Of our
country have necessarily come under his supervi-
sion. He may have committed some errors: he
may have offended some politicians but his general
course has been distinguished by great frmness of
purpose, well as great ability in the execution Of
his high Office. We are aware Of the dangerous con-
trast to which we are about to expose ourselves
We cannot expect to rival his ability, acquire his
reputation. Yet this, at least, we can do. we
bring for our trying task zeal, an industry and a
conscientious disposition to discharge duties,
which are, at least, equal to his own. His epiiap
stands recorded upon the monument Of the GlobG
Time is yet wanting to write our inscription uHn
"The Union"
But how can we do Justice to their manly and
magnanimous and liberal conduct towards ourselves
Messrs. Blair & Rives have transferred their Office
into hands, in a manner that serves to enhance
the merit of the act. No men could have acted in
higher style Of disnterestedness than themselves.
They have not sold the Office as an establishment
They have charged nothing for the good will Of the
paper. They have not placed an expensive value
upon the Office, and then reduced to the unpleas-
ant alternative Of compelling usto up to their
standard, nor of endangering the union and harmony
of our party by competition among rivals. Moth
ing Of this little and selfish spirit has mingled itself
in the whole transaction. From the first to the last
act we have found every thing that dsinterest-
ed and manly in their conduct. "Give us" they said,
"the present value Of our materials! Let them be
estimated by impartial valuers--and We are con-
tent" Upon this simple principle the whole matter
has been conducted and some Idle speculation has
been INDUCED in the newspapers, about the amount
ofthe valuation, and necessity for throw
ing veil over any part Of the transaction, say at
once, that the copious materials, and the valuable
printing Office in which the Globe has been publish
ed, are estimated at 5000. We should not hesi-
tate, with equal frankness, if it were necessary or
proper, to unveil every scene of relations with
these gentlemen. But how can we better manifest
our sense Of the berality which they have display
ed, than by quoting the words of Mr.. Van Buren,
himself in his letter of the Oath April to Mr.. Rives'
ssIf anything could have added to your credit in
the transaction il is to be found in the liberal spirit
by whichit was characterized. You did not higgle
for high prices, indulge in ceEsures Of the con-
dut Of those whose views you were about to pro-
mote, as is too often the on the mart Of those
who are called upon to postpone their own for the
supposed interests of their party; but you evinced
throughout an earnest and obviously sincere desire
TO carry the arrangement into effect upon TERMS and
in spirit which would be most likely to enable
your highly esteemed successor to sustain himself
in an undertaking confessedy not free from hazard
In all this, Mr. Blair and yourself have acted in per-
feet constituency with your past characters and have
shown to all-what has long been known to me
that your devotion to the democratic cause was not
assumed for the occasion, but real and of nature
which made you always ready to postpone your in
terestso that of your party, regarding the latter
second only TO those of your country For all this
you will, in time, receive from the democracy of
the nation the credit to which you are so well en-
titledn
But is time for us to dismiss the mere personnel
of the matter. A few words more, and we have
done with the subject. We take the chair with a
determination to discharge its duties to the best OF
our abilities. We were not exactly prepared to
commence our labors this evening We were some-
what wearied from the arduous field Of the Virginia
election. The soldier would have desired short
flrlough for recreation and repose. But we never
finch from our duty. The Globe ceased on the
hall ha ,ptor ,,,s Al.
Office; and though the editor Of 'The Unlon'' has
not been tweny-four hours in this city, and is about
to tread the boards Of new and more conspicuous
theatre without any rehearsal Of the character he is
about to fill, yet he throws himself once upon the
generosity of his countrymen. He is unaffectedly
conscious of his own deficiencies he has much to
learn; he has new and more extensive alphabet to
acquire he has new characters to study, and new
duties to perform he has scarcely twenty acquaint-
in the city; but he will strive to avail himself Of
all the lights which he obtain, that he may guide
his new bark over the wide ocean that is spread be-
fore him. He has, above all, to study those great
foreign relations which particularly confded, by
the theory and the letter of the constitution the
guardianship of the federal government. We shall at
least do the best we can Our opponents pleased
alreadyto predict ga splendid failure in the new en-
terprise in which we have embarked. II may be so!
"Man proposes, but Providence disposes;" but if
an unAagging zeal in the public service can in any
degree supply the place of experience or of other
qualifications, we shall not be altogether wanting
to the task we have assumed. We have no mis-
trust the of age, Of which the political crit
les have SO often been kind enough to remind us
We know our capacity for labor, and we are pre-
pared to meet any sacrifice but that Of our principles
As for the rest it is in the hands Of Prordemcs
the people. "Give us an honest fame, or give us
none"
GENERAL. VIEWS.
"Ar EVERY HAZARD, AND nvERr SACRIFICE, TINS USIor
PRESERVED
This was the farewell sentiment Of statesman