The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-03

might be made up but we fear that is out of the
question. 1t has run on too long. Mr.. RvEs
felt .unpleasantly five years ago, and Mr..
BENTON not much more agreeably. This APP
pears from the speech Of Mr.. RIvxs, made
in June, 1915, (when he first took his seat as
President Of the Democratic Association of the
city Of Washington which is now reproduced
and re-endorsed in the Extra to which we have
alluded From this speech we quote passage
which ought to bring out the 60 small portion of
the Democratic party who have not been very
uniform or decided in politics." Why does
not Governor MARCY speak for them? Why
is Mr.. WALKER dumb2 Mr. MAsoN's politics
always sat rather easy on him-why does not
he make personal matter of it? Let us see
how it reads in 1850:
JOHN c. uIvEs's LoouITAR.
81 will take the liberty Of reading the first para
graph OF this letter, also it shows that General
jackson anticipated that he might die. he did,
OF dropsy. Before reading it, think it due to
Colonel Polk-as his name il mentioned in il az
unfavorably it is In any letter received by Mr..
Blair from General Jackson--to say that the Gen
eral attributed Colonel Folks course towards Mr..
Blair to the request, if not the requirement, of
small portion of the Democratic party, and not to
any hostile feeling on the part Of Colonel Polk to-
wards MIN. have it from the rery best authority,
though not from Colonel Polk himself, that il ,oos
insisted upon by a small portion Of the Democratic
party, ,cho haze not been gerry uniform decided in
politics, that he should discard MIR. Blair before
they would support the administration; and
have ii from the same high authority that those
not yoka ofel han a,sI b,,h
leads to believe Though it is by no means con-
clusve) that these mon urged this course on Colo
mel Polk before the election-probably as early as
August. lS44. These probably the only
terms on which they would sincerely go for his
election
"'HEKMIrAoE, April 9, 1916.
"'MY Dean Ma. BLAIR: have been quite sick
for several days-my feet and legs much swollen,
and it has reached my hand and abdomen. and it
may be that my life ends in dropsy. All means
hitherto used to stay the swelling have failed
to check il. Be it 30. am fully prepared to say,
the Lords will be done. My mind, since ever
heard of the attitude the President had assumed
with you editor Of the Globe, (Which the most
unexpected thing l ever met with,) has been
troubled; and it was not only unexpected by me,
but has shown less good common sense by the Pre-
sdeot than any act OF his life, and calculated to di
vide instead OF uniting the Democratic party which
appears to BIO his reason for urging this useless and
foolish measure at the very threshold Of his admin
istralion, and when every thing appeared TO augur
well for (to him) prosperous administration. The
President here, before he set out to Washington,
must have been listening to the secret counsels of
some political cliques--such as Calhoun or Tyler
cliqucs.''
snow, should not Mr. Blair and myself feel
grateful to Andrew jackson, above all men who
ever lived? We arc indebted to him for com
potency Of this worlds goods il not for fortunes;
and we are also indebted to him for most Of the
good opinions Of the good Democrats, and the bad
opinions which the Democrats in proportion to
their interests, entertain for us; and am almost
as proud OF the bad opinions of the bad Democrats
as am of the good opinions Of the good ones.
The thought which consoles me most for the
loss Of my patron and friend is, that he died while
! was still grateful to him. feel though my
gratitude would never have ceased; but have seen
many cases Of ipgratitude, and have experienced
so many from persons for whom have done the
greatest favors that am almost afraid to trust
myself.
~ have said that Colonel Polk discarded me.
think il proper that should explain myself
He did not discard Inc direcHy-in fact, UNDER
sood at the time that he did desire that should
leave the establishment; but he discarded my part
ner, Mr.. Blair, with whom had been associated
for many years, with whom had never had an
angry word, aud whom had never known even to
hint at doing, much less to do, dishonorable
act.'
Mr.. Polk then discarded" Mr. BLAIR, and
by his influence made Mr.. Richie Congress
sional printer Thereupon the friends of Mr..
BLAIR determined to make the Congressional
printing of no value, and did it. Then it fol-
lowed that Mr.. RrTcHE determined to have it
at any rate, and got it, and could not get rid Of
it. And all this is merely symptomatic of the
disease that has brought about the dissolution
OF the Democratic party. BLAIR and Richie
are merely types, forms of expression, indexes
to the things in interest. We hope they will
speak again; and when Mr.. RITcHTE makes
another attack upon Mr.. RvEs, we wish that
Mr. BLAIR will turn his attention to it on
week day, and not keep it for his Sunday read
ing. 1t is wrong to disturb the repose of his
suburban villa with such Sabbath entertain
ments.