The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-08-30
The Donaldson Correspondence Rcpu6ia-
ted by the Democracy.


The recent publication ofthe letters to the Cen
trail Committee of the Democracy, in the col
umns of the New York Herald, seems to have
created not little excitement. The public
appearance of GIDDINGs and CHASE in friendly
juxtaposition with General G COMMANDER and Mr..
B. F. HALLETT, shocks the rank and file of the
National" Democracy, and threatens to de-
stroy the unsubstantial edifice of concord and
harmony which our contemporary of the Union
has been so sedulously employed in erecting
The Union thinks the matter a sbubble."
We would remind our neighbor that ''the earth
hath bubbles rs the water has," and that
"these are of them" If we can judge of them
by the effect they are producing, we should say
that they fall among the Democracy more like
bullets than bubbles Even the Union is COM
PEELED to admit that, "if genuine" they care
calculated to throw suspicion upon the political
orthodoxy of few individuals protesting the
faith of Democracy" This is an important
admission; but does the Union intend to charge
Mr. DONALDSON or Mr.. GREER with the for
gerry of these letters2
their publication. That is domestic ques-
ton for the Democracy to settle among them
selves. We have nothing to do with it. The
letters are given to the world, aud speak for
themselves. If they are not genuine, the fact
can be readily shown; if they are real and true
letters, they are important in more than one
point of view. If they are alleged to be spuri-
Gus and counterfeit, it rests upon the Democrats
who charge their brother Democrats with the
fraud to make good their allegation.
But without denying the authenticity of the
letters, the Boston Post seeks to diminish their
importance by detracting from the authority Of
the committee to whom they were addressed.
This is what a judicial Democratic friend of
ours would call very " tochnicGl objec
ton" If the Democrats involved in this
matter nave gone beyond their warrants, and
have assumed or exercised doubtful powers, that
is very good reason for disavowing their official
character in the premises, though we cannot
we'll understand how it affects the character of
the letters themselves. But do not think 1t
| is by any means clear that Mr.. DONALDSON
and Mr.. GREER have been acting without au-
thorty. They may not have been formally
elected TO fill the vacancies in the committee
occasioned by the death of their predecessors,
but we apprehend that these places are gene
rally filled in quite an informal manner, and
that the approval of the chairman is sufficient
warrant for any person to assume to act in the
capacity of committee man. This would not
have been very regular, probably, when the
Locofoco party was in its palmy days of disci-
pline and organization, and when it was very
different thing to "handle the wires" from what
il is now In its days of decrepitude and disso
luton it may be looked upon as sufficiently re-
gular for all practical purposes We apprehend
therefore, that for all substantial ends Mr.
Donaldson and Mr.. GREER were quite as
much at liberty to act as any other members Of
the committee. This question of authority
seems to have occurred to- the intelligent editor
of the Richmond Enquirer, who, like Mr.
VAN buren,, probably did not have the ples-
sure of personal acquaintance" with his cor
respondent. Mr.. Richie, therefore, in his
first letter throws out the suggestion which we
have placed in italics
Mr.. RICHIE.
EYouIRER OFrIcE, RcHsosp,
July 8, 1851.
DEAR Sra: have now before me your favor o.
the 1sth ut, (ust received in which'you say that
in consequence Of the death of Ex-Governor Clark
member ofthe Dem ocratic National Committed, yor
address me in relation to the calling Of the Demo
cratic National Convention at the proper time nnc