Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-03-13

| We canaot but regret the course taken By
Mr.. HaBnegan in denouncing, even hypothet
caliy, the President. Welike the distinguish
ed Senator from Indiana for his many fine quail
| tiles. We believe him to he honest and con
| sclentlous. We know him to be eloquent and
ardent in behalf of what he considers right
But, on this occasion, his warm feelings car
tried him step beyond discretion. He should
have recolected, shat while he himself fully
represented the voice of his own State, MI
Polk had been called by the people of the
whole Union to his elevatsd but responsible
station, and that he had taken the oath to sup
port the Constitution, and maintain the besl
interests of his country. Was it right, then,
in Mr.. H., to denounce Mr.. Polk in advance
of his action, especially upon what he incor.
rectIy understood TO be the personal revela-
tons of the President to Mr.. Haywood! From
the following passages in the Union, it seems
that in giving his opinions as to The probable
course of the President, Mr:sHaywood drew
his impression from public documents, which
are open to the construction of every citizen.
Mr.. Hannegan did not SO understand him; but
he did not show little too much excitement,
when, upon his assumed state of facts, he
went on warmly to charge the President with
the basest conduct. should he act differently
from what he (Mr. Hannegon) construed his
public declarations TO mean!
"Mr. Haywood of North Carolina, spoke of the
Presidents views in regard TO the Oregon. He
contended that Mr.. Polk would and should, COM
promise on the 49th parallel of latitude, in case
Great Britain should renew the offer which the
President had made to her during the last Sum.
mer. When he concluded his speech, Messrs.
g I'll To
ask tile Senator from North Carolina, whether
they were to understand him as speaking authorl-
tatively of the Presidents views, and whether he
was prepared to compromise on the 49th degree.
We shall not repeat the expressions which were
employed by the three Senators, nor remark on
the manner in which the questions were propoun-
1ed and answered. Upon the whole, Mr.. Hay
wood declined answering any catechisms, except
by repeating the remarks which he had made in
his speech.
"May we be permitted to say, that we did not
ourselves understand Mr.. Haywood as intending
to speak authOritatively in the name of the Pres-
dent, except from the printed documents. We
say, with all respect that man, out of this Cab
met, is au thorized to speak er cathedrG for him
on this delicate and important question. He has
expressed his opinions in his own message, or
through the letters of the Secretary of State. We
presume that no one has right to speak for him,
but from the documents which he has submitted
to his country. His future course must be judg-
ed by his past conduct. Mr.. Allen was himself
the other day upon this question, by
he Senator from Maryland, and Mr.. A. referred
20 the Presidents documents for his answer. We
:au entertain no doubt that such was the meaning
Of the Senator from North Carolina and moth
ing but the extraordinary character of the passing
scene probably prevented him from making SIM
arly prompt explanation. But the scene is over;
and, we have no doubt, any little irritation, and
all hasty remarks, have passed with it. The gen.
arous spirit of the Senators will prevent their rep
etiton. They are all the friends of the Pres-
dent. No evanescent remarks will swerve him
from his course, nor disturb that self-balanced
equanimity of spirit which graces the Chief Magis
trate who is determined 10 do his duty, amid all
the difficulties that beset his path, whether they
proceed from political enemies or his friends at
home, or from the cabinets of foreign nations