The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-30

MANY wears since, as we nave been told,
there was an editor Of a well-known paper in
one of our cities who figured as notorious,
reckless, and INSCRIPTIONS partisan, and who
acted upon the principle that the end justified the
means, and that falsehood, boldly asserted and
unblushingy and untiringy persevered in, was,
for party purposes, as good as the truth. Some
friend of his is said, on certain occasion, To
have remarked to him that :" he was doing him
self and party great injury by the many false
statements and charges made In his paper
from day TO day against his political oppo-
nents, which they SO readily refuted and dis
posed of that it was fast destroying the moral
tone and efficiency of his paper, and that un-
. less the practice were discontinued 1t would
: certainly end in lasting injury to himself and
(. ruin to his journal" To which friendly and
sensible suggestions the editor above alluded
to is repoited to have replied as follows, with
out having his equanimity ruffled in the slight
est degree:
..Sir, you are greatly mistaken. make great
deal of mrty capital by my tactics. make
: charges tpldly, and with degree OF circunl-
: stantialitI that gives to them the semblance Of
truth, and puts my adversares on the defen-
sive, where it is always my policy to keep
them; and though they may yindicate them
selves successfully where their own papers
circulate yet their indications, however am
pie and conclusive, never reach twentieth
+ part of those who read my paper, or the pa
pers tina, copy from mine; and my charges,
therefore, remain good, and are credited by
those who read no refutaton of them"
This vas RIGHTEOUSNESS without shame, and
Edepravity without disguise; and 1t would have
been well for the honor Of the press, II this
base code Of editorial tactics had died with the
journal that was first conducted upon it, But
the Union newspaper of this city is OF the same
school, constantly resorts to the same devices,
and relies upon the same means for the accom-
plishmeIt of its ends. A fact or two here by
way of Illustration.
1t will be at once conceded by every honest,
truthful man of every party, that no journal not
utterly lost to all sense of honor would lightly
impugn the integrity of political opponent In
office-would openly charge upon him corrup-
ton, without having in its possession the most
satisfactory evidence of the guilt of the accused.
1t will also be conceded, that no journal not
utterly abandoned to shameless licentious-
ness, having lightly made such charge against
public functionary, would withhold from its
columns the vindcation of that functionary,
particularly when such vindication contained
in it not one offensive word, but was entirely
confined to official documents, emanating from
gentlemen of the highest character of both po-
litical parties Yet of such atrocious conduct
is the Union VIGOROUSLY guilty.
Again: No journal not lost to every senti-
ment of honor, manliness and far dealing,
would, while the conduct of public officer was
undergoing official investigation, and while the
proceedings of such investigation were with
held from the public press and the public eye,
day after day reiterate the charges that were
the subjects of investigation, and parade in Its
columns, in support of these charges, scraps from
ANONYMOUS letters, evidently written and pub
lished to prejudice the public mind against the
party assailed. Yet of this disreputable conduct
| is the Union daily guilty.
1t is now more than five weeks since series
of resolutions was adopted by the House OF
Representatives providing for the appointment
Of select committee Of nine members for the
purpose of inquiring into, and reporting to the
House. the facts connected with the payment Of
certain claims by the Secretary of the Interior.
In lieu of these resolutions, when they were
introduced, others were offered, by way of
amendment. calling upon the Secretary to re-
port directly to the House all the facts which 1t
was the object of the original resolutions TO
eviscerate by inquiry and investigation. The
latter course was urged as being more In conso-
nance with the courtesy which ought to prevail
between the different departments of the Govern
ment than the former; but the majority voted it
down, and adopted the original resolutions. In
explanation and vindication of his conduct in re-
gard to the payment of these claims, the Secre-
tary of the Interior has refrained from making
any publication. Neither of the Wing papers
in this city has presented any defence of his
conduct in the matters referred to. Both he
and they have thought it would comport with
propriety not to anticipate the report Of the com
mttee-nor TO make any attempt to forestall
public opinion in the premises. Not so with
the Union Day after day have its columns
teemed with anonymous and editorial attacks
upon the Secretary Of the Interior in respect to
the very matters under investigation by the
committee Of the House Of Representatives.
Is not such conduct on the part Of that journal
worthy of the deepest Reproduction by honorable
men Of all parties2 Will it be countenanced
by honorable men of its own party2 Surely
not II is impossible that the Union can enjoy
the respect Of any honorable, truthful man Of
its own party, who watches its course, and
notes its utter disregard of truth, honor, and
decency.
"THE WAY THE MONEY oors."-The London
packet, Just sailed from New York, took about
s 900 in silver; the French packet. S120,000,
and the Pacific $3.50 900 in silver in all 800, 900
The whole Of the amount was received at New York
from the South and West within short time.
There pas some talk about the interchange Of COM
modties, dealing Il out" as the shop keepers
express il. Mr.. Walker, or some other political
sconomist snid we would not have TO paw the cash,