The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-31


tieR uaxfilaengs 10 lRs WAsnlhsyda ualsH,
~-oar highly respectable and venerable eotltsm'
porary OF the Washington Union, throws himself
into quite ship lever in consequence of some
statements given by US, disclosing some OF the
unusual steps taken by the executive in his nego-
tiations with Mexico.
Ignorance and imbecility, in small doses, are
two very respectable qualities, and most general
y amable; though, as IN the present instance,
they sometimes assume fierce and threatening
aspect. Our venerable contemporary at Washing
ton, without chloroform, can hardly know
enough of Mexican negotiations to contradict
or admit the accuracy of any statements in the
Herald. He knows nothing Of what is doing at
Washington, and never is permitted to know
any thing. He is allowed to fill the government
paper with the DRAWINGS, here and there, of
decayed imagination; but gropes about in the
dark after important matters; and that is all.
The correct intelligence connected with the 60
vernment, can only be found in certain indie
pendent journals in New York, Philadelphia
and Baltimore, and no where else. Our 60
vernment, singularly enough, has fallen on
the same plan of communicating with the pub
lie which the British government has been In
the habit of practising for few years past
The British ministry have no recognized organ;
but they communicate important intelligence in
directly to the journals of the largest and most
independent circulation-such as the London
Iimes-and by that means reach, unprejudiced,
the public mind. Our government is gradually
passing into similar transition state, and is be-
ginning to find out the incompetency, unftness,
and positive injury Of a special organ, either at
Washington or elsewhere.
With these views, we can afford to make the
requisite allowances for the ignorance, imbe-
cility, and i'll temper of our respected contempt
rary of the Warrington Union.
INrRIaUEs OF POLITICIANS. I'VE published yes
terday very curons letter from John Mclean,
of Ohio, Gone of the judges Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States) giving his senti-
ments on the Mexican war, its origin, and pro-
gress, up to this time. We give in this days pa
per an equally curious letter from our private
correspondent at Cincinnati, giving some funny
comments on that letter, and on the position of
Judge Mclean himself
These Developments place Judge Mclean, an
aspirant for the Presidency, in rather an awkward
position. II those statements are not true, they
ought to be contradicted by competent authori-
ty They reflect very seriously, they now
stand, on the political character Of one of the
judges of the Supreme Court. and we think that
that distinguished man (who was really the only
efficient Postmaster General that we ever
had for the last quarter of century, owes
it to himself to his reputation to the public, and
to the country, to come forth and put such state
ments down, if they are not true. If founded on
truth, of course the best policy is for him to take
the "peltings OF the pitiless Storm" wrap his
judges cloak around him, and get into shelter as
quietly and as fast as possible.
A letter from another distinguished man-Mr
Poinsett, of South Cardinals likewise circu-
lating liz the newspapers; but Mr. Poinsett's po
sition, influence, and past character as politi-
clan, are so insignificant in every point of view,
that his letters his opinions would hardly need
a reply, and no one seems to care button what
he thinks about the Mexi can war, or the inhabi.
tants of the moon. Mr. Poinsett is an amiable
man-somewhat learned-can write a tolerable
book; but he can't write letters, without taking
few lessons from either General Taylor or
John G. Calhoun.