Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-05-10
FROM WASHINGTON.
correspondence OF the N American and U. s. Gazette.
WAsHINGroN April % lS1S

correspondence OF the N. American and u s. Gazette.
WASHINGTON, April 20, lS4S.
Mr.. Reverdy johnson introduced a resolution in
the Senate yesterday, upon tho subject matter of
which 1t has been my purpose for a week past 10
make some comment. Since, however public at
tention has been drawn to 1t, through a much more
distinguished source, and in an official shape. /
shall take the present occasion for my remarks
The resolution requests the President to inform
the Senate whether any officers are in the militia
~ or civil service of the United States. whose no
limitations have not been submitted, and if there be
any such appointments, the date of their commits
sons and the reasons for not presenting them to the
consideration of the Senate
Since Mr.. Polk .sessns dead 10 ali sr..se Of the
dignity and propre,y of the high station which he |
nils, and has evnced disposition to sustain his
corrupt and disguised maions, in defiance of public
opinion, this inquiry is particularly proper, and Mr.
Johnson Is entitled tn thanks for offering it. The
PRESIDENT appointed Gideon j. Pillow Major Cen
eral during the recess Of Congress, about year a
60, over tho heads of officers, whose lives have
oeen devoted to the service of the country, and
whose valor and virtue had been conspicuous in the
last war with Great Britain, on the frontier, in
FLORIDA, and whose blood had been freely poured
out In this conflict with Mexico. Mr.. Polk select
ed him for this responsible trust, not upon recon-
!nendation but, because he was his personal aud po
htical frlend-because he was his confidential re-
IN Mexico, and an instrument to fitch from brave
and gallant soldiers, their hard earned iaures and
their blood purchased fame.
Mr. Polk appointed him, knotcing his eminent
qualifications for this service, apprecating his cha
racter and assured Of his readiness to enlist i'm such
cause. 1t is more than seven months since the
Presidents paper in this city published letter from
Mexico, protesting TO give history of the battles
OF Contreras and Churubusco, in which Gen. Pillow
was awarded the whole distinction Of those fields,
and in which ali the other officers, who have really
distinguished themselves were Deprecated That
letter was substantially duplicate of the world re-
nowned "Leonidas," and was either written by
Gen. Pillow or by one of his tools, from materials
furnished himself
cite this fact to show that not only the Presi-
dent himself, but his cabinet and organ were all
concerned in this contemplate work, the false glo
rification ola man who has succeeded in making
himself an object of universal scorn and derision-
This, be it remembered, is the hero of the Union
the pet OF the President-and the intimate of Mr.
Marcy
The Infamous fraud perpetrated by Pillow in the
publication of the self clarifying letters became Of
ficialty known TO the Executive through the cores
pondence of his confidential commissioner, Don
Nicholas Trist and through other sources. Did
the President act in manner becoming his posi-
tons Did he order a court to ascertain the truth
OF the charges? No: with an uncommon effort of
friendship for the dsgraced favorite, sent him Mr.
lrlsts letter, which he refused to the peoples re-
personalities SO that he might have time to prepare
technical defence; he gave him every advantage
OF the secret archives of the public departments
Standing as the public prosecutors he furnished him
win advice and information TO defeat the ends of
justice; and finally, when Gen. Scott under the
regulations OF the service, demanded court mar
fta to punish his baSeness he the President of the
United States, inierposed the Executive shield and
ordered court of inquiry to secure his escape from
the just doom of the law.
But he has gone farther than this. While re-
solution of thanks 10 the officers of the army was
pending in the House of Representatives including
fillow, by the special motion of Locof0co mem
Der from Tennessee, the President suppressed and
puposeiy Kept back all information of the charges
against him, whilst he commute ated them to the
criminal and evidently with the design of trapping
the House into the process Of whitewashno the
character of his friend and coniidant This is not
all. Though Congress has been in session five
months, and though all these facts have been
before the President, he has withheld his nomina-
ton from the Senate, and under that pretext the
nominations of others, against whom no manner of
objection exists, and FOR what object? / choose to
infer, for the purpose of afording him the pay and
emoluments of a Major General. Mr.. Polk well
knows that his nomination would be dismissed with
out division and this deliberate postponement of
1t, makes him, virtually, party TO a fraud upon
the Treasury
confess my obligations to Mr. Johnson for bring
Ing the conduct of the President the notice OF the
Senate de deserves 10 be held up to public in
dignation, for this apparent collision with worthy
whom every good man must despise, and whoIn
every honest man must Shun.
INDEPENDENT.