The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-29
From The National InteIIigener.

The errors of obscure prints may gene
rally be allowed to pass without notice.
They are born TO be forgotten, and any at
tempt TO correct them only serves to ar
rest their passage to oblivion. 1t is other
wise, however, wi b a paper which occu-
pies the prominency of metropolitan
journal, and one avowedly the organ of a
great party. The dictum of such one
may form the staple for history, if suffered
to pass unquestioned; and therefore it is
that We feel constrained to arraign the
statements Of our neighbor, the Union,
oitener than we could wish. In its eager
ness to censure the Administration it puts
forth allegations of the most unfounded
character, to which, nevertheless, the for
getiulness of many readers might allow
some weight if they be not exposed. We
hope, therefore, that the editors will ex-
cuse us for so soon returning to them.
Their paper Of Thursday exhibits so fla
grant lapse Of memory that they must
pardon US for exposing it, The truth of
history and the character Of some of our
worthiest statesmen require the correc-
ton. The Union of Thursday contains
the following allegations:
"Can it be that Mr.. Clayton believes the Ameri-
can people have forgotten that il the course of
himself and his Federal Wing colleaguc in Con-
gress sustaining the claim of Great Britain, that
caused the 49th degree to be agreed on the boun
daryl"
''The story of Mr.. Polk and Mr. Buchanan
squatting down on 490 may do to tell to the ma
rines That the Federal Wings in the Senate
squatted' with MIR. Pakenham on that parallel of
latitude and controlled the negotiation Of that bust
ness to the injury of their own country, is matter
of history"
Is it possible that the editors of the
Union can believe these statements! Has
their hostility to the Secretary of State OBJ
liberated from their minds the truth of
transactions of such recent date? Do they
forget that Mr.. McLane, who was APP
pointed minister to England in June, 1915,
long before the meeting of Congress- car
RED out with him from President Polk au-
thority "to adjust the question on the par
allel of 1922 1t is true this fact was not
known al the time. 1t only became pub
lie after Mr.. McLane's return from his
mission. 1t is true that, while he was seek
ing ''to adjust the question on the parallel
of 49, !" the Union and all the partisans of
the Administration were vaporing about
''fitty-four forty" But that does not alter
the fact; and so far from its being true, that
''the course of Mr.. Clayton and his Wing
colleagues in Congress caused the 49th de-
gree to be agreed to-" we do not believe
that Mr.. Clayton or Mr.. Crittenden (the
latter Of whom prepared the joint resolu-
ton for notice to terminate the joint occu-
pancy Of the territory uttered word in
debate on the question of the title at all.
They confined themselves to other topics,
and did not touch the merits of the title
Equally unfounded is the allegation of
the Union, that the Secretary of State op-
posed the prosecution of the Mexican war.
On the contrary, whatever opinions he, as
a wise and conscientious patriot, enter
tanned of the justice of the war, he did no.
thing to paraIyze the arm of the Govern
mcnt in its prosecution, but voted for every
bill to grant men, money, or. supplies,
which was brought forward. We speak
of the Secretary OF State in particular, be-
cause the unfair blows OF the Union are all
aimed at that officer.
May we hope to see the Union retract
It's injustice on these points,