The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-08-01
Correspondence.
wAsHINcrON Cry, July %, is4S.

,;on. have neither time nor health, at present,
to allow me to notice fully The article alluded 20
and its author, but WILL if life and health be spar
ed, at some future period; unless, upon more ma
ture reflection, determine otherwise.
The editor of the Gazette has assumed tho es-
pecal guardianship of the President, and volun-
teered in the service of his defence. de has ta-
ken upon himself the grateful task OF assaiilng the
entire Democratic delegation from Ohio, in way,
too wholly unjustfable by facts; and for the pur.
pose of having plausible pretext for SC. doing,he
has misrepresented all the material facts relating to
the matters to whichhe alludes. The Democrat
ic delegation, from Ohio, have not shown them
selves sufficiently subservent to certain interest
very prominent in this country, and well UNDER
stood by Southern politicians, to suit his notions
of Democracy and good policy This Is the true
cause OF his grief, and accounts tor his attack on
myself and colleagues. .H
The editor of the Gazette sets out by assuming
that Mr. Brnkerhof, in the speech to which he
alludes, spoke by authority and in behalf OF the
entire Democratic delegation from Ohio. His
premises being false, his conclusions must necessa-
rily be false also Mr.. Brinkerhoff knew that his
colleagues would not pote for McKay's billunless
tea and coffee were stricken out of it, and that they
,could pote for Mr.. Hungerfod's bill, if this was
not done. This is the substance of the whole mat
ter relative to Mr.. Brinkerhofs speaking in behalf
of the entire Democratic delegation from Ohio
Yet the editor of the Gazette can see enough in
this to make every democratic member from Ohio
accountable for what Mr.. Brinkerhof said.
The editor of the Gazette has the undoubted
right to sustain the treaty relative to organ. he
may go it blind, if he chooses. 1t isnot for me
10 complain Of this; but object to his endorsing
that treaty for me and my constituents bstoreits
provisions are known. know he misrepresents
the people of my district must at least know
what the treaty is before they approve it.
When the President first assumed our title to
the whole of Oregon 10 be f" clear and unqueston-
able, and that the title was Sustained by rrefagaI
BILE facts and arguments" was he then right
with my colleagues blieved he was, and we have
acted in good faith in accordance with that belief.
Let it be admitted that our title to the whole OF
Oregon is clear and unquestionable," then am
prepared to submit the question to the decision OF
the people Of my district, whether "t there cannot
be found" more than "one hundred voters" it,
'who will not vote to ratifY" areay which surren-
ders one half OF the Territory If our title to tho
whole of Oregon is not " clear and unquestiona-
ble," why, let me ask, did not the ever vglant,
watchfuI and patriotic editor OF the Gazette long
since come up to the rescue OF his country, and
raise his warning voice against the President, and
say to hm that he was wrong upon this question
that he must abandon the position he had taken, or
he would inevitably involve the country in some
of the most devastating wars to which the annals
of our race could furnish no parallel"-and- de-
mand of him to do justice 10 Great Britain, and
surrender half, or moro, Of Oregon to her, and
save the country from the calamities of war INTO
which he, by his wrong acts, was about to involve
her! If he had done this, he would then have
been consistent, and deserved the respect of hon.
est men. As il is he has no claim 10 either; for he
has calmly looked on, and has seen the President
pursue course that was wrong-a course that
would involve this country in war, and yet he
opened not his lips against him or his course. Al
soon, however, as, by change OF policy, the Or.
egon question adjusted by treaty. and before its
provisions are known to the public, he is amongst
the first to compliment the President for his course
relative to this treaty and congratulate the coun-
try on account of the favorable manner this diff
cult and perplexing question has been settled!--
He then turns upon and denounces in the strongest
terms every one who has preserved his consisten-
4 cy, by going for the whole Of Oregon from first to
last, and who, unlike himself, has not been both
for and against il
What most ridiculous attitude the editor of
the Gazette will have placed himself IN, if, in the
sequel turns out that the President Is yet with
the 81 40 party, and is still occupying the position
| originally taken by him! All the abusive COM
ments, then, that he has so lavishly heaped upon
myself and colleagues will be equally applicable to
the President whose special guardianship he has
assumed.
who has been the chief agent in bringing about
this treaty, am not now prepared TO say, nor can
| know its provisions until the veil of secrecy,
which now hangs over il is removed. Buff am
not misinformed more than one half of all that is
valuable in Oregon is yielded to Great Britain II
this be SO, our rights have been disgracefuly sur
rendered, the editor of the Gazetteto the contrary
notwithstanding I am prepared to defend myself
in this position against the attacks Of interested,
bribed tools from whatever quarter they may ap-
proach me.
Relative to the Democratic delegation from
Ohio, the editor of the Gazette says: "That there
has been. for long time, an influence bearing up
on Ohio, and her representatives.. that was deter
mined to rule or ruin, be the consequences what
they might, and zoe the editor Of the Gazettel have
been constant in our warnings against this very
class of politicians He who has the least sense
of shame would blush to make such unfounded al.
lusions in relation to his political friends. II
unworthy democrat, and could only emanate
from one who isregardless Of herights. interests