The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-06-08
POLITICAL.
y,J,to,s oftbs R,obmo,,d Eaouiye,. !,

TO the Editors of the Richmond Enquirer
have been 40 constantly and increasingly the object o.
violent attack during and since the penod ha'' ny an ae
OF allwise Providence, and through no vol.o o ~
my own the powers and duties OF the Executive were
deyoved upon me- have become quite indifferent AZ
10 what should be said OF me by others Hence nave
remained silent amid the attacks OF the public press, The
tuminatons of congressional orators, and the bright
scntllaous OF wit which festive occasions nave ofousnl
forth my expense Secure IN the possession OF my
own integrity, have, for the most part smiled at the as
crpons of bad motives for my conduct, which had no
puier source of emanaton than in the bad motives OF
those who originated them. Nay. furher-when ! re-
view the course OF my administration, and It's efforts
for the public good crowned with complete success IN he
accomplishment OF every important measure, save ohe'
actual condition of the country on the 18th April 5ti'
with what it on the lth OF March, isioahu Will Will
know that after the struggles Of the peseh. uay s.
have passed away, and those who have taken PAY II,
them shall have sunk into their graves the gtsel
TO be remembered, impartial History VII mo' i
10 write faithful account OF all my acuo"s, h ~;
be content 10 let the brwlng demagogue or Inc sly IN
tripuer indulge in any measure of abuse OF me they may
please The facts OF my public life are matters OF record
and can neither be eypunged nor altered. Inc impartial
future will see the otiue in the act and the Just hsor-
am will look TO the good or evil only which VIII have
been developed and find in the one or the other cause q
censnre or of praise To this ordeal submit myself
without fear My only solcitude is, that conIecures
and suggestions and mere naked statements unsustaned
and uns,stainble, should be regarded as authentic,
merely because the source from which they flow is
ieemel respectable 1t is TO guard against ths IN refer
ence OF the most prominent acts OF my adInnislra-
uon, that now address you, and through you' Tue
public.
In the National Intellgencer OF the 25th Maya paper
which deservedy ranks amongst the most respectable
Journals of the day. and which, along with others OF me
same high class will be hereafter regarded as one OF The
lights OF hisorythe following sentence has arrested my
attention Under the head OF an article :. The Admins
iraon and its Organ" ii holds the following language;
It's editor (speaking of the editor of the unon had not
been week installed in his present official station before
be began to 1fe e eN1g war w h x e ean
schemes he has had more TO do in nficins upon the con
TSer himself or the spectators 7sras stocks aud lands By
io he surrounded, conmsd and npeed TO mat I'M
iotse measure
Now do not mean to object to the ascrpon OF great
ence to Mr. Richie, then senior editor OF the Richmond
Enquirer aiding TO carry out the cause or annexa-
ton Far romt The course Of that able and talented edl-
tor has been sensby felt all questions of public policy
for more than quarter of century, and 90 cheerfuy
confess that when the Enquirer csponsed the Texas cause
felt increased of the ultimate consummauon OF
that great measure Nodo mean TO enter into any contest
whether the annexation OF Texas was either the mme-
daie or remote OF the existing Mexican war The
editors of the negencer and their able ally in the anti
annexation cause, the Hon. Thomas Hart Benton, may
have this either way that they please. will not even
stop inquire whether, if the treaty had been ratified by
into consideration that at that moment there existed no
prospect of any immediate collision with Great Britain on
the Oregon question, and, Tar from It, that stronger
feeling of amity had been produced between the two
countries by the then recent negotiation OF the Ashhuron
treaty, it may well be doubted whether Mexico, without
the hope of aid from any quarter, would nave
waged war upon the United States Tor matter In which
she had no right interest both having been conquered
from her San Jacnto, and the conquest recognised by
the whole world When she struck her first blow at
Gen Taylor relations with Great Britain had under
gone material change, and STOOD as the world believed
in most critical condition Equally far am | from can
vassng this time of day. the wisdom or its opposite
of Texas annexation. Unwise the editors and others
have from the first declared It to be- Ihe large majority
OF the people OF the United States have differed from them
in opinion, and the popular judgment having been form
ally entered up in favor OF the measure the minority
should certainly be permitted to utter their complaints
yyha thew
Bat what do complain OF u.s. that the editors should
have placed me in the company and under the influence
OF those of whose individuality have not the slightest
knowledge: The spectators in Texas stock and lands
by whom he was surrounded, counseled, and mpeled
to that unwise measure" Now, the editors have over
decided advantage. II any SPECTATORS n Texan
stocks or lands counseed much less impelled, me
action upon that subject declare myself TO be wholly
ignorant of the fact Certain it is, that never owned
foot OF Texas land dollar of Texas stock, in my
life do understand the editors OF the intelgencer
as intending to intimate any such thing The plain truth
co,nyno this or that secton tins or that local inter-
est but the wHoLEhe good, the strength, the happi-
ness, the glory of the whole country IN the measure |
Nor was il until received authentic information that
other nations exerng all their efforts TO induce
of action the part of Texas, at war; as firmly
believed, with the permanent interests OF the United
States, that gave directions to my lamented Trend,
Abel P UpshuT, then Secretary Of State 10 break up
and scatter to the winds the web of their lnrgues by
direct proposition for annexation advised with no
one consulted with no one, save HIM, IN taking the
initiative knew "no holders of stocks or owners, OF
considerations which ] have before referred to alone
napeiied me 10 direct the negotiation. Nay, may go
even further and declare that, before the initiative
taken, and when the preimnaries were nearly all ar
ranged their completion being alone prevented by the
death OF Mr. Upshur and the appointment of an adjunct
commissioner TO Mr.. Van Zanat by Texas, have no rea
son to believe that the holders Of stock owners OF
and knew anything of what going onsince secrecy
enjoned ndispensably necessary to avoid awaken
ing into action what we had reason TO expect, a more
subtle and still active intrigue the part OF other
governments order to counerval 80 much have
felt myself constrained TO say, with view to true his
tory OF the its origin; and trust that what
have said will be sufficient to relieve the minds OF the
spectacle editors of the lnelgencer OF the impressions
under which they have seemed to labor, and 10 which
they have given utterance.
As to the thousand and newspaper paragraphs, Which
would fam persuade the country that was in leading
strings during my term OF service first under the influence
of this man. and then of that man, care but little and
quite indifferent am TO the declaration with which
sometimes even the Senate chamber has been favored
thai my administration weak. Weak, readily ad- |
nit it TO have been, in the number OF parsans on the
floor oil Congress but strong enough to carry IFS
measures ana 10 illustrate thoroughly the fact that
10 keep the three departments OF the government separate
and distinct Executive influence in Congress,
gressonal powers in the executive, and the Supreme
Court perfectly independent of BOTH is not only wise in
theory but sound also in practice Measures are then
alone considered; and thai Executive may justly be re-
gared Strongest which, without partIsans enabled
carry through nearly all its measures and even
subjects OF MS opponents TO the necessity OF making
speeches in public places order explain away the
cpugnance felt by the country to their opposition TO those
oil most Importance