New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-24
The Life of Van Buren,.

The Courier d. Enquirer and Express both
publish the characteristic letter of ]. w. Webb to
Jesse Hoyt In 1892 wherein Col Saltpetre manifests
90 fierce an anxiety TO get into fight with Poindex-
ter, Moore or some other of the Senator's who voted
to dsapprove Gen. Jacksons nomination of Van
Buren, for Minister to Engand-yet both abuse us
for doing the same thing If their excuse is the
prior publication of the letter in our columns, then
ours s equally good, for copied il from n book
of which thou sands are and were certain TO be scat
tered every where. But we make no apology and
desire no excuse The Courier insinuates proba'
bility that Mackenzie has in,erpolated word into
that letter. yet the Editor believes nothing of the
sort. He says:
He who would steal and publish private letter,
would steal bis neighbours purse but for fear Of the law
and the who ou,d aid In circulating letter $40
len would be guilty of any which the original pur
loiner could perpetrate."
AL we have say to this is simply that the Courier
published conspcuously, in April 1914, private and
strictly confidential letter from the Editor of The
Tribune 10 ls4l to Col. c. S. Todd at Washington,
speaking unguardedly Of certain prominent Wings
Of this City. We are confident other Wing pa
per ever published that letter. There nothing
in it we were or are ashamed Of though its appear
ancc in the Courier was calculated to make trouble
between Us and certain personal and political
friends We say now that if said letter betrayed
depravity, hypocrisy or iniquity our part, the
Courier did right in publishing it. We think we
were not 30 old when it was written as Col. Webb
was when he wrote his bulletin to Hoy, respecting
Moore Poindex.er, &c. but we plead no baby act
If there was any thing wrong in it, we were quite
old enough to know better
H. H.
dy not PANIED warned him webb not TO attack
Mackenzie because NJ. had his (NVebb's) letters
which he might publish, &c. We certainly never
heard whisper Of all this before. Whether it lie
now correctly stated, only guess from the
reckless positiveness with which we are therein
said TO {" well know" something of which we never
had suspicion,
The Courier not satisfied with copying what we
gave announces that i,s Editor intends in a few
days to publish all our private letters now brought
to light by Mackenzie, Greeley x CO." character
king it as Tour youthfui correspondence thus
brought to light when additional years of expert.
once enable us to perceive its follies." Good
again! The Courier will cell If well filed with
these youthful letters Let US have them by all
means. in order TO testify u proper adherence of
the example of The Tribune
But We commenced only to speak of Macken-
xies Life and Times of Van Buren, There is e
systematic. concerted effort now making to decry
,his work and mako the public believe that its value
eonsis,a mainly in the private letters of jesse Hoy
i Co, therein published. Very differen, from this
10 the truth as any man who has read it will
testify. The work has intrinsic merits Of very
high character, and aside from its developments
Of private inrigues) is calculated to cast more
light on the Political History Of State, the char.
acser OF the Van Ruren Dynasty, &c. &c. than any
twenty books ever before published. No work of
equal research, industry and feasessness had pre-.
viousiy appeared; none in which the authors view
of affairs is constantly fortified by appeals to I'M.
doubted and significant public documents No man
can read this book without signal instruction and
profit; no neighbor hood can study without taking
views Of public affairs less blinded and distorted
by prejudice and partsanship Those who have
condemned the book were either ignorant of its
contents or had personsl reasons for denouucins
It They cannot thus foresiall the iudgmen, of the
public.