The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-03-16
INTELLIGENCE BY THE MAILS
Affairs In Washington,

WASHINGTON, March 49, 1875
The 7Jeafy-Ihe President The System Of Closed
Doors.
While this treaty will be received with passive
acquiesence by most people, it will produce
no enthusiasm in the country. This is not peo-
pie who love retreating, and the tergiversations
OF a timld President, though they may be toler-
ated for the sake Of peace, will never be endors-
ed. The Presidents organ, with ludicrously bad
grace, attempts family, to laud the treaty, and,
In doing so, is compelled to use those arguments
that, after the example of Mr.. Polk him.
sell, 1t denounced as treason two short
months ago. II would not be at all surprising.
though such eilrontory Is scarcely to be ina
gined, an attempt would now be made by this ia
clle instrument of Mr.. Polk, to prove that he
has been wholly consistent. throue hout and that
the treaty is fully up to all his positions and de-
clarations. That he has influenced manv votes
In the Senate by such or some other similar re-
presentations, IS demonstrable. Such an attempt
TO practise upon public creduity is scarcely con-
ceivable; yet IL was not to be expected that Mr..
Polk would have ayowed his weakness incon-
slstency,. when detected, never gives up, but
boldly adds lmpudence TO imposture.
The treaty Will be productive of some good
result. When every thing connected with it
shall be made known-thc mode of its negotia-
tion-the manner in which the negotiator was
tricked into It by interested parties--the cores
pondence which led to 1.-THE eXpedients resort
ed TO by the President ensure its ratification
the spells by which some men were spirited
away, and others gained over to Its support, there
Will be n universal demand that forever hereaf.
ter, pending the deliberations a treaty, the
Senate's doors shall remain open. | say, with
entire confidence, that during the deliberations
on the treaty, there was nothing brought for
ward OF which the people had not right TO be
Informed, or the revelation OF which would have
affected the issue OF peace or war in the slight
est manner. How could there be Mexico Is
PROSTATE. An anomalous government, like the
East india Juggler, suspended In the air without
any visible support-wlthout popular sufira-
ges, or party strength--sef constituted for aught
that appears to The contrary-by the aid of
an Engllshmun of the name Of Thornton, (Hea-
ven only knows by what authority actlng,)
tricks Mr.. Trlst into the connection of an inta-
nous treaty-ior Infamous 1t was, as it came
from his hands, providing, as 1t did, for the plum
der Of half the people of Texas of their property
this same Mr.. Trist at the same time violating
a law of the United States, In holding any inter-
course whatever with this queer Mexican 60.
vernment So bald Is the imposure attempted
to be comprised IN the treaty, that even the Pre-
sident is ashamed to send 1t to the Senate with
out bearing witness against some OF Its pTovl-
sons. This IS the thing which is 80 sacred that
1t must be kept from the view OF the people. This
Is the document bearing the deep impress OF
llegallty and fraud, about which Mr.. Polk en-
Joins his cabinet not TO breathe word, and
which he communicates in solemn secresy TO
the Senate, at the same time that members of his
own household are permitted to convey, IN mys-
ferrous whispers, to those OF their especial ac-
qualntances, so much OF the truth as will barely
serve to delude.
But it is said, if the Senate's deliberations
were public, the treaty would be defeated. This
argument is used in blind ignorance of its ten
dency. Ii 1t have any meaning at all, 1t is that
| the people would not tolerate the ratification of
this treaty, II all It's coacomitants were known.
| Then IT 1t be not such as the people would APP
| prove of, let IT be defeated. The Senate, re-
spectacle as II 49, as body, does not mon opolise
all the wisdom, and patriotism, and integrity Of
the country. It's powers, as some Senators
would do well to reflect are but delegated, and it
| has no right to say yes when the people say 40:
| If, then. the Senate thought an exposure would
defeat the treaty, they ought, from respect to the
source whence the power is derived, have
thrown open their doors, and listened with de-
ference to the voice OF the people.
1t is not perhaps generally known that for year
alter the first constitution OF the Senate, 1t sat
with closed doors, until At length the waves of
popular opinion dashed down the frail barriers
erected by prerogatve, to hedge In from protane
contact with the people, its most vain and empty
| dignity. Side by side, with the young virtues of
republicanSm still gre" the old vices OF monar-
chy. potion OF them was torn up. by the in
dignant people; portion OF them IL is to be re-
GREETED, still remains; but will not remain long
after the transactions OF this negotiation shall
have been brought to light. Prerogative in O.
monarchy may be tolerated; 1t is the breath of
lis nOstrlls, without which 1t cannot exist; i'll a
republic it Is either the offspring of stolid va
nifty, or a silly and ill-concealed aping OF de-
spotlsm.
/ have always found that those Senators who
most strenuously advocate the system of closed
doors, are always the least economical of the
Senate's secrets.
But another argumen mt is used in support of the
enforcement of the system in the case of this
treaty. 1t is said that if the provisions Of the
treaty were known IN Mexico by the people gen.
orally, it weuld never be consummated. If this
treaty be such, that upon full understanding of
1t by the people of Mexico and the people of this
country, would be secuted by both, or by either,
then 1t should never have been negotiated, still
less should 1t have been sent in to the Senate
with the recommendation of the President and
least of all should 1t ever have been ratified by
the American Senate. | do not mean TO pro-
nounce judgment on the acts of the Senate.
though at full liberty to call in question the Wis
dom of their decision, but merely to expose the
weakness of this argument for closed doors.
GALvIENsis.