The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-08-13


Highly Important from Washington-The
Past. the Present, and the Future, of Mr.
Folks Administration.
We give below, the interesting and valuable
communication from Washington TO which we al
luded the other day. II is the production OF one OF
the most intelligent and independent minds in this
country That the candid reader, of whatever par
ty will readily perceive. Its views are sound, en-
lighted, and practical. We have every reason to
repose the utmost confidence in the statements OF
the writer, and in his conclusions and sensible de-
ductlons, we unhestatngly concur
Mr. Polk is, indeed, at this moment In the very
crisis Of his fate Let the career OF John Tyler
teach him wisdom. Our correspondent draws the
parallel forciby, and, with the charitable plainness
and candor of true philosophy, points out TO Mr..
Polk the way of wisdom and safety. To that faith
full warning we have not word TO add. Here is
the letter.
WASHINGTON, August 10th, 1915.
EDITOR or THE New YORK HERALD have read
with good deal OF interest," the letters OF your varl
correspondents from this Capitol, and also the
letters by the correspondents OF other newspapers
throughout the country, giving an account of the
movements of Mr. Polk's administration the mo-
tives actuating himself and the members of his cab
net, and the principles OF action supposed TO he like
ly 10 regulate his course and policy hereafter
OF facts and general deductions 10 be drawn from
the n. which have been presented In these eplstes,
they have, thus far, entirely failed in giving com
prehenslve and accurate view OF the present position
OF the administraton-the circumstances which con-
troll its desny-and the springs of action which re-
gllate Its policy. am rather charitable man, and
shall, therefore, endeavor 10 throw some light on
this subject much as can at least IN single lei
ter, reserving further revelations till another oppor
tune season.
Mr. Poks elevation to the Presidency was an ac-
cident-purely an accident; Wicked and malignant
creatures We're accustomed to call John Tyler "his
Accldency" James h. Polk has quite as good
claim to the title. Previous to the meeting of the
Convention in Baltimore, which nominated Mr..
Polk, his position IN the democratic party warranted
higher aspiration his part than an election TO
the Vice Presdency-hardly that, allow me TO say
Mr.. Van Buren,, at that time, held the keys OF the
paryln his hands, and IN order TO attain the reallza
ton of their wishes, the friends Of Mr. Polk in
Tennessee endeavored, great an extent as pos
sible, 10 cuncate the adherents of Mr.. Van Buren,.
Neither MIR. Polk or his friends then, so much as
dreamed OF his nomination to the Presidency Here
is the secret OF Mr.. Poik's present embarrassment
Here Is tue key 10 all the enlsnal III his course and
coaduct, which have 50 puzzled your purbhnd poEi-
clans. In that position, as candidate tor the Wee
Presidency, and necessarily Obliged to concilate the
Van Buren, interest, Mr. Polk was betrayed into
comnlttas, which now lie heavy on his soul, and
have produced all the difficulties, counter-currents,
and nexpicabe movements which have, thus far,
marked his presidential career Mr.. Van Buren's
defeat III the Baltimore Convention IN 1874 was pro-
duced by the same elements which covered the
poor man with disaster III 1910. The defeat OF MI.
Van Buren, in lS40-the death of General Harrison,
and the consequent elevation OF Mr.. Tyler into the
Presidential chair, constitute a series OF events
quite analogous IN their general character and re-
suits to the overthrow OF Mr. Van Buren, 10 the no.
mnatlng convention, and the remarkable success
of Mr.. Polk, by freak of fortune and the eccentric
movements OF the abolition party IN the North Let
me come to particulars. Like the oldfashloned
Presbyterian parsons, love TO be methodcal.
The Texas question the pivot on which
moved the wndlass that crushed Mr.. Van Buren,
But 1t was merely used for that purpose by crafty
men who had other and far n ore potent motives IN
the back ground. The elements OF Mr.. Van Burens
defeat existed IN the same prolific abund tnce IN his
own party In the year 1915 they did in 1910 1t
is very true, however that his famous letter against
the annexation of Texas-writien when the cum
ming OF the old fox had ungratetuly and noppor-
timely deserted him-brought about the crisis which
ended In his defeat and In the election to the Pres
dencv of Mr. Polk, the humble. modest, and very
coDciatory candidate for the Vice Presidency =
Mr.. Helss, the editor of the Nashville Union, oil
the first appearance OF that unfortunate epste OF Mr.
Van Buren,, took ground against II IN the face o
many OF the wsest men-ln their own esteem-o
''the party in Tennessee, and even against tn
supposed wishes OF General Jackson himself Thu
movement was the very first step which led to Mr.
Folks advancement, and accordingly you find Mr.
Polk, Immediately after his election, gratefully ex
tending the right hand of fellowship TO the believe
and faithful Hess, testlfylng IN the strongest posi-
BILE manner his sense OF the value OF that excellen
mans sagaclous devotion. Mr. Heiss came owe
the mountains with President Polk, and during thu
journey, the plan was matured for placing tina
fdus Achetes al the head of a new administration
organ IN connection with some resp ctabe mar
IN the Democratic party, and OF dspaclng Blair anc
Rives they being regarded as the head and front Of
that interest which had stood out even TO the last
extremity for ill-sarred Mr. Van Buren,. Accord
lngy on the arrival of the President and his SUITE al
Washington variety of intngues and movements
connected with the projects and purposes Just now
alluded to began These movements had reference
q remoyals and
ments, and the birth and dry-nurslng OF cttques
that might hereafter rule the Democracy and settle
the succession.
The first thing that occupied the attention of Mr.
Polk was the organization OF a new official paper
and as a preliminary step the humiliation of Blail
and Rives and the Globe. During the tendency o.
thus question, and when these benevolent designs
under consideration, General Cameron O
pennsylvania, wrote letter to Major Doneson, theI
supposed TO be at Nashville, proposing hopeful
scheme TOR the purchase of the Madisonida, with
the view OF making 1t, under a newfname. the organ
OF the new administration instead of the Globe
whose fate had been determined upon as early as thu
middle OF April or the month of March last. Ma
Jor Donelson was not, however then at Nashville
and the letter fell into the hands of General Jackson
who thus hrst became appnzed OF the desires O
Mr.. Polk to get rid OF Blair and Rives Ins,ane
the old General wrote a long letter to Blair, wit
whom he had been keeping up an almost daily col
respoDdence ever since he obtained that memorabl
loan $40 600 for the supply ofhis pressing pecuniar
necessities, and which was held as sort OF bon
and mortgage on the old hero for the advantage
those pure and disnerested patriots and self-sat
rihcing servants OF Democracy and the reput
lie, Blair and Rives In this letter. which was date
probably in the latter end of April, or sometime
the beginning or middle of March, General Jackso
alluded IN no very complimentary terms to M
Polk, and stated with characteristic postveness an
not remarkably friendly vehemence that such
movement as that contemplated no doubt had org
mated with the Tyler and Calhoun men, but " thou
making any remarks PARTICULARLY deropator
to General Cameron who had merely made a car
did and honorable proposition to Major Donelsor
Inns 10 the only letter IN which General Jack so
referred 10 Geaera Cameron, Of Pennsylyania an
IT is the letter which was afterwards inserted
John 9. Plves IN the famous speech suppre esed b
Mr. htcliie. II will thus be seen, my dear SIR tn,
there were tWo letters written by General Jackso
On the suhecf Of SO the arnan n-oae uddra-aa1I .