The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-02

letter written from this city and published in the
New York Herald. and until they were more fully dis
closed by Mr. Douglas himself. voluntarily, as ne has
stated in his note above Thus much for ourselves We
leave the public to make its comment upon the base
ness which would rescue the Secretary from the perls oil
his position by the most cold booded and atrocious bels
upon us and Others manufactured by wretches who shell
ter themselves from mered castgation under the cover
Of anonymous names.
We are fully aware that this transaction involves the
political fate Of The Secretary Of the Interior he has
been guilty Of barering the public Offices within his gift
or the reach Of his influence for his own private emolu
en he deserves, and viii receive the condemnation
Of all honorable men. and he must retire forever in
disgrace from public life Hence we do not won
der at the surprising and extraordinary efforts which
he and his friends making to relieve himself from the
charge which many circumstances conspre to fasten
upon him. But why does he not simply avow his nno-
cence, and his determination 10 appeal TO investigation
by Congress for his vindcaon, instead Of setting to
work such base creatures as constitute the wing Swiss
corps OF letter writers now in office in this city, to
gn and backen by shameless and unblushing fasehood
the characters Of those who may be supposed to have
knowledge OF the transactions which seriously
compromt his honor and integrity! II would seem that
conscious innocence would have been contented with
such simple expedient to vindcae ITSELF instead OF
resoing, the Secretary and his friends have done,
first rdcue and then to base and shameless Islander,
when rdcue failed to satisfy the demands Of honest
and indignant public.
But we do not desire to multiply words upon this mat
ter We have only to say TO the Secretary OF the Inter
or and his anonymous and confidential defenders, that
he cannot escape from the charge which now
his political fate, by any such devices and expedents
those which he has thus esorted The public will de-
mand Of him that he should meet it like man. before
committee Of Congress. armed with power to send foI
persons and papers. and to administer oaths To thai
tribunal he must come, he would retain particle Of the
respect and confidence Of the American people.
AS we have proved that the statements Of the
spondent OF the Courier and Enquirer in relation to the u
nor editor Of this paper utterly without foundation
and false shall expect that the Of justice oil
the conductors Of that paper will prompt them to publish
this article, or in some other way make full and hon
oabe recantaon of the libel to which they have given
circulation.
p. S. Since writing the preceding, we have seen
long editorial in the National Inegmeer. purporng to
be defence Of the Secretary 1t bears the stamp OF
thory, and may be taken the Of the Secretary
Of the Interior to the charge made against him the
authority Of Mr.. Douglas. We were surprised al its
publication, for think it furnishes strong corrobora
tive proof in connexion with the facts which have al
ready appeared and which will appear, Of the truth Of
the charge which has been preferred against him. To
that defence The implicated Secretary must adhere and
we think he will find it to be troublesome platform to
stand upon. We also learn that Mr. Douglas will make
in his own name, full reply to the article in the In
teigcer and when that shall have appeared, we shall
probably have to say upon this subject But if the
National Inielgeneu should, contrary to expecta
TONS refuse Mr.. Douglas opportunity Of being heard
through its columns we pledge ourselves to give Mr.
Douglass explanation place in the Unio'.,
|, is proper for us further to remark that Mr. Douglas
wing. and has always been one and therefore has
motive but of injustice to lay this matter before
the public ~