The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-04-21


for Mr.. Buchanan Secretary of State, dictated by
feelings Of Kindness toward hinl-and the desire
to save him Mr. B. from disgrace The message
was
ten. Pillow said the message not called for
The witness then passed to the second letter
and continued
The second letter, in order Of date so far as [
can rccollect, was written about half past O'Clock
in the morning preceding the departure of the train
by which Gems Quitlnan and Shields left here
after had been at work all day and all night writ
ing 1t was addressed to him solely because he
was the onl member Of the military committee in
| that body whose name l knew. 1t was enclosed to
my family. with these instructions take copy
OF this letter, and so as you know of Gen
Dlxs arrival IN Washington, direct it, seal it, and
send it to the Post Office. One week exactly after
that time send for Mr. Buchanan Secretary of
State, and show him the copy" The letter was
couched as well as | can recolect, in the following
terms : Beware of precipitancy in your confirms
/ ton OF Generals nominations in this quarter; if
you neglect this caution, it can only serve to in
! yolye the Senate in disgrace-a deep. damninc
lneifab lisgrace-which no earthly power or all
earthly powers combined, can avert" This was
the substance of the letter. far as can recolect
and the terms. There was postscript to it, desir
ing that if my friend, Robert Dale Owen of Indiana,
! was in Washington, to show it to him. The Third
letter was long dispatch to the Department of
State-an official paper-which was sure to 90
/ Immediately into the hands Of the President whom
| thought it might save from the infatuation that
ne was laborng under, by startling and alarming
him, if in no other way In that official dispatch,
after speaking of Gen. Pillows character
Gen. Pillow here interrupted the witness and
desired that he would shape his answer to CORE
spond with the question,
Gin the official letter alluded to did you use
the following language:
OF TIE TWO dupes, the one was Santa Anna, the
other most worthy compeer of Santa Anna, so far
as lie can be made SO by the same low craving for
distinction, and the same happy facltyin deviating
from the ways Of truth, and being deaf to the
dictates OF common justice and common honesty
while pursuing his object. person, i'll fine, whose
character in regard TO the reach OF his mind and the
tone of his mind was most ielicitously and accu-
raeiy sketched by friend of mine in these words
1t is such to qualify him for striving at a
country court bar i'll defence of fellow charged
with horse stealing particularly if the were
bad one, and required deXtetous tampering with
Witnesses.
A-Although | cannot pretend to be certain of
the words, have no doubt he (Gen P.) has been
furnished with accurate copy OF them, and those
We're the words, as far Us my memory can be relied
on.
Q-Dd you in that same letter, make use of the
following language III reference to myself, viz:
. But most grieyousy would he have erred if
Major Gen. Gideon J. Pillow is to be relied upon
exponent of the views of our Governm ent
This person, then the second i'll command in this
army(D took occasion to have dip omatic CONVEX
sation with gentleman belonging to one of the
foreign legations here, who with expressions of
surprise repeated it to directly after Gen. PHI
low, having expressed great dissatisfaction of the
armstice (which he had been III favor Of before it
eItersd into) had been answered by eXplana-
tions ofits ndispensabeness to negotiation These
appearing not to have any weight with him, the
gentleman in question led to say, why |
thought tie Obj ect OF your Government IN this war
was treaty of peace True (repied Gen, Pill
low) that is the object Of the war but the object of
this campaign was to capture the capital, and then
make peace
Al have TO doubt those the words used.
Odd you not. i'll the same letter. make use of
the following language in relation to myself, viz:
This was from the individual then, as have al
ways observed, second in rank in this army, and
Who in the event of the death or disability of Gen
Scott. would have succeeded to the command
individual who gives himself out for the maker Of
the President, 10y having produced his nomination
at the Baltimore Convention) and the Presi-
dents other SELF A pretension which have rea-
son to believe but too well founded. Justice to-
ward Mr.. Polk and respect for truth alike require,
however that should not utter this belief without
at the same time expressing my perfect conviction
that the dentty referred TO extends no farther than
the point to which it is carried by blind conf
dence on the part Of the President in the UNDER
standing and the principles of man who of all
> that have known is the most unworthy of
confidence. Beyond this point the identity goes
not There is not the slightest resemblance be-
tween their characters in any one respect
Al give the same answer; | cannot be positive
about the words but the substance is correct, and
doubt not the copy is a correct one.
D-Did Won not in tba same letter make use q