The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-20

Mr.. Brown, to ''shake his head" in order
to do away with the idea of corrupt bar
gain, in General BAYLY's judgment
Would the General, in that case, have
jumped so readily to wrong conclusion?
We apprehend not. A WING might have
shaken his head till doomsday, with all
the solemnity of BANQUo's ghost, and
General BAYLY would have told him,
"Shake not your CORY locks at me-" He
would have protested that the shake Of the
head amounted to nothing-that there was
nothing in it. He would have insisted on
categorical answer by word of mouth,
and not by symbolical affirmative, capa-
BILE of being interpreted by an honorable
man into direct negative.
But we desire TO refer for moment to
the "record" of the senior editor on this
subject. We copy from the Union of the
18th instant
"We are not ashamed of the relations which we
have borne towards MIR. Brown, of Indiana. We
have always dealt fairly and frankly by him
speaking OF his character we thought il de
served ; advising him on Tuesday to fold his arms
and refuse to give any pledges to any one, but to
refer to his recorded votes, as the only course
which became him, without offering a word of
commentary or making any sort of declaration; ;
and, when he did commit the gross error which is
so much to be deplored, as frankly disappearing
the course into which he had been betrayed. If
this course, on our part, be treason, let the par
asite and attache of Mr. Clayton make the most
Of it, We condescend to give other answer
Be this the answer, too to the Republic which is
pleased to say that the Union does not let the
world know what this ''free conversation"
amounted to- 1t is sufficient to say that it was
conversation of which we have no reason to be
ashamed and that said nothing which we
should have been unwilling for the spies of the
Republic Office themselves to hear and to report to
the world"
The senior editor tells us what he &c ad-
vised" MIR. BRowN on Tuesday, but he
does not tell US what the " free converse
ton" was. On this matter he 'folds his
arms and "refuses TO give any" ac-
count. Part of the story he gives US
the residue he withholds. Now, it is a
well-received principle that the wilful
withholding of important evidence raises
a presumption against the party, and
throws discredit on the evidence of the
witness. We apprehend that this free con-
versation would prove the connivance and
completely of the Bitter-Enders in the plot
of Mr.. Brown and the Free Sellers, and
make the sole organ of the Democracy a
party to the bargain. We do not mean
merely that it would tend to show this con-
nivance, but that ii would prove and es-
tablish it beyond any controversy. We
have right to draw this inference from
the fact that the senior editor obstinately
withholds the evidence. His representa-
ton of the effect of the conversation is not
sufficient. 1t does not reach the case. If
the world had been content with Mr..
BRowN's representations of his own " free
conversations" with Mr.. WILMoT and
Mr.. KING, we should never have got at
the whole story. We therefore call upon
the senior editor to enlighten us on the de-
tails of his " free conversation" with Mr..
BRowN-and if they continue to be with
held, we shall be compelled to infer the
worst, and authorized to charge the worst.
Nor shall the Union escape by referring
US to our "spies." We assure the Union
that, as far as we know any thing about il,
none of the confederates have "peached. -
Its allusion wounds none of its friends, as
far as We have any acquaintance with
them; and as for "spies" Of our own, we
have word to say TO the Union When
have we intimated in our columns that we
were in the possession of estate secrets"
picked up from "leaky vessels" in the De-
partments' When have we ever spoken
of "peeping behind the scenes"- ''lifting
the curtaln"-''peeping through a hole in
the green curtain'-or used any of those
habitual expressions Of the sole organ
which indicate mean and clandestine
mode Of obtaining information, or "spy-
liNO StIltAS VI llIti dllu DdTlltsF
We have never retailed the private con-
versation Of public men of the other party.
We have never traded on the gossip that
transpires at the table, or in the chambers
of public men. We have never used the
staple of "spies'-nor placed Ourselves
in the position to be charged with such an
offence against decency. But the Union
has done all this, not once, but many
times. 1t has lived for months on ali
ment furnished by traitors, and spies, and
eaves-droPpers, and scandal-mongers. 1t
has penetrated the recesses of the White
House by its informers. II has surround
ed the State Department with its cres-
lures, and reviewed Mr.. CLAYToN's acts
of personal friendship and kindness, as a
proper subject Of political and public cen
IA l.. Il Il