Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-08-15
The Letter nFN. 2. TRlSr.

y. L. Trlst. late an agent OF the government
in Mexico, which was yesterday read in the
House Of Representatives
Westminster, Pennsylvania. Aug. Z, 1913.
To the Speaker Of tic House q RtprestHla-
tires T.. S..
SIR The accompanying papers are trans
mitted 10 YOU, as the organ OF the House oil
Representatives, with the request that they
be laid before that body.
They are not what | have wished and To-
tended 10 present; but the day fixed Tor the
adjournment Of Congress forbids any further
delay on my parts until my intention can be
executed they must suffice. They will answer
the purpose of dispeiling, in some degree at
least. the utter mystiication with which the
mind oil our country has been clouded up IN
regard to the treaty OF peace, and all matters
touched upon IN them.
During a great portion OF my absence in
Mexico | have been entirely cut of from all
means of knowing what was going OIL at
home; and during the entire period my atten-
ton has been urgently pressed upon aud con-
stantly engrossed by subjects of The greatest
moment to our country. 1t Was consequent
ly out Of my power to make use even Of such
means as presented themselves, when the
channels for conveying them ceased 10 be
Oh ~ I pfitl AAt EN1A1 -
things among US was unknown to me, except
from the mere g~limpses afforded By an oeca-
c%asional and hasty glance at a newspaper.
! soon became aware OF the justification
above referred to. As the only way in which
it could be thoroughly dIspelled, | determin-
ed 10 lay before the representatives OF the peo-
pie d connected q detailed narrative OF every
thing that has occurred to me having the slight
est bearing upon matters which the public in
terests demand that the country should huo
the exact truth of. This exact and full know
ledge, and thorough understanding, it is OF
The very highest importance TO her that she
should possess. 1t is 80 for numberless rea-
sons that most deeply concern her, and con-
Germ llerin the permanent manner; concern
her now, aud concern her i'll the boundiess
hereafter. the generations which are 10 fol-
low US, 50 long as our nation shall exist, and
alter II shall have ceased to exist, are deeply
interested i'll this m1tter. Should the Amer
lean people fail to obtain this knowledge now
the evil consequences to that people, now in
all future time land through them to mankind.
cannot tail TO be such as no human mind car
calculate. We are the vanguard in the ''move
ment' OF this age, and upon us chiefly de.
ponds the direction which that movement is
TO pursue.
Deeply impressed with this truth, this plain
and obvious fact, ] formed he determination
above stated. 1t remains, however, as yes
uniulhiled. The attention demanded by nv
private affairs, the necessity Of providing +;
home for nay family. and a variety of Incl.
dents, have contributed 10 prevent its fulfil
ment. This, however. will take place, il
live a month or two longer. The example re-
Gently set by Talleyrand will not be followed
nv tua shall nor write my thipu ,vbicb Il.
to be read only a century hence. The highes
interests OF our country y, and OF msnkind
through her, demand tina. she shall know the
truth, that she shall know i tnow. She shsl.
have il; she shall have it now.
Had Congress continued to sit a month O.
two longer | should not at this moment hav,
broken silence; | should have bided until .
could lay before the country, through her req
resentatives, the ndrrdtiUc TO which | havc
referred, connected, unbroken, not u single
gap IN It,, detailed 50 Tar as necessary To es-
tablish d clear connection. This is the only
way IN which truth can be presented in l
shape 10 leave no doubt as to its being wha.
it Is. Isolated prominent facts" will noido
However true they may be, they can always
be dcnied, more or less plausibly controverted.
The ackoie truth is the thing: This the people
shall have. 1t will then be seen auho. among
those who seek their confidence, will be 50
bold as to pretend that he does not believe it..
In one OF the accompanying papers (ettr-
TO The Representatives OF the American Peo-
pie" under date Mexico. February ~, 1885,
my belief is expressed that Congress aud tn
country mad been deceived by the individual
holding the trust OF President OF the Uniteu
States" and that the object for WHICH that
deception has been ~pracliced was the indefi-
mite protrtction OF the war-this protractior
OF the war having for its end the conquest OF
Mexico and her absorption into our Union
This is my belief now. In tina same letter.
and particularly III the notes recently append
Ell to II, my belief is eX pressed that a corrups
use has been made OF The power and the in
hnence attached to the trust of president o,
the United States" even to the extent OF sub
orndtion o. perjury.
Upon both these points my belief is posi-
tive and firm, distinct aud clear. Equally
ilrm, ana clear IN my mind is the further be-
llet, that to make the tolmer the belief OF Con-
gress AID o! the country nothing is necessary
Dlt That the representatives, OF the people
should exercise the powers OF Inquiry inher-
ent III them as the grand inquest OF the ma
hon-as the body Exclusively" entrusted by
the constitution with "the power" and con-
sequently with the duty ''ot impeachment"
'Iis but yesterday that the weikin was male
to ring throughout the country with the accla-
nations that burst lorth from our democratic
bosons at the spectacle exhibited by the peo-
pie OF France. And a most glorious specla-
Gle 1t was. Generalization and fluctuations
poured out IRON us towards that people; our
hearts were drunk with noble joy; we. aud
our public servants wed with one another in
giving utterance 10 the enthusiasm which fill
ed OR bosoms.