Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-04

that we contradict ourself frs, speak of our havng
seen General Jaeksons letter in 1916 and then in ourft-
ieng 10 the only doubt that General jackson expressed
In n IS letter. Now, with due deeeace to Mr. Riyes
we must say there Is contradiction in the case Or
impression Is, that in l845 saw two letters from
General jackson, but that the doubts 10 which we lesr
We're confined to but one letter.
Mr. Riyes refers 10 that letter now, and SAYS.
savera ,s,as can quote from memory, as have read
MI Ritchle. 1t is as follows Mr. Richie NAV do We
~ we'll Tor the South how he will do for the whole
phi on, don't know. But if he begins with any OF
his Virginia distractions, he and Colonel Polk are boil,
| Jack son said OF him" " ''4' >siei'i
NOW, without meaning to charge Mr. Rives in the
slghest degree with mlsrepres of The letter
we must say that our impression is rather different
from his. AS we'll as we recoect General Jackson
aIer paying some compliment to abilities as an
editor went on to express the doubt whether we could
sufficiently nationalize politics as to be onai6ed
to conduct an official Journal in Washington Now.
permit us to say, that whilst we sincerely uisnstad
our own qualifications of the post yet it was on ac-
couns OF our want of the necessary information and
the other qualifications of the oce-not on account OF
our national principles Will the reader be pleased to
iecoect that the great national republican party is bu
upon the Jefersonian principIesot the Virginia SCHOOL,
Mr. BLAIR set that position forth in one oil his beautiful
compliments, and MIR. Polk confirmed it when he asked
US 10 come here to assist him in carrying out the JET
fersonian principles. We were to be sure devotedto
the rights OF the States: but not also devoted
10 ths glorious Union! Had we not stoodbv it duljD
every ssorm which threatened its stability? We wIlnnf
refer to our opposition to the Hartford Convention
Out we may alude to our course against notification
10 our uniform opposition to every abolition scheme
AND may we not boldly ask if we have not been ma
tonal IN onr politics since came to Washing
ION 9 who has been more so2 AT the hazard OF
offending some OF our best and oldest friends We
nave stood up for the Union against the storm which
has recently bese aHave offended tha uIrasls
OF noth sections! Have we not stoodup Tor The right
ana am honor OF the nation both at Richmond and AT
w ashngtoni What editor did much TO bring on
the war with England in 1872, to defend "lfee trad,
and sailors rlshsi" What editor did more to prose
arpl In ttpryy1 t,r,,1
Inc severest critic to show how in all the great inca
sues OF MIR. Polk both at home and abroad both IN the
war against Mexico, and in the administration OF our
hnances and other internal quest IONS we have rot ex
nloled the character of national but sectional po
lclan. So confident of this TACT thai ithe
great man who has been gathered to his fathers c40Id
only De recalled to life, do not hesitate say that
ne would admit his doubts had been more imaginary
than real, and that the Union has pafaken as nluci
of the 'oder of nationality" as our constimion ner
mitted. -
The Jefarsonian principles" We might bring for
ward the authority OF their great founder in behalf
when in the letter which is published in the 4tb volume
OF his Correspondence he paid us the highest com
pment on those very principles that received
we intended in this connexon to notice the
GUS remarks OF Col Benton, in his celebrated letter 10
mat anomalous character John Smith, OF ST. LoaS.
"en Inc Senator goes rather Out of his way assal
our humble self
General Jackson (says he) was never more right
than when he warned MIR. Polk against bringing teEle
mere and foetold the ruin OF the party if he did Every
daYsexperlence since he was brought has confirmed the
again lose the presidential elections and shall deserve to
lose il, because we know it."
We have some doubts whether Gen. jackson ever
MADE such declaration. Certain it is never heard
OF 1t from MIR. Polk who always treated us with I'm
bounded confidence We cannot hear any thing OF it
from his private secretary. Buff Col. Benton aludes
to his letter 10 MIR. Blair we have already noticed It.
Weknow not whatthe Colonel means by the ruin we
have done TO the party II to share with all possible
activity IN the administration oil Mr.. Polk if Our little
bark has not failed to pursue The triumph and
partake the gale" under the most brilliant adminisua-
lion winch tins country has Witnessed lso have
conducted the Union upon the Jetiersonian principles
and amidst the most fearful struggles which the nation
has ever seen, as to obtain his sincere thanks and wan
est friendship: il 10 have received OF the kndest
letters we have ever alter he left Washington and
but lew days before his death, the 18th June l9s9
and probably the last letter he ever wrote Here-(e
says, IN Nashville, May 2s.> "say to Mr. Richie that
he doing his duty to the republican party aod!y and
that would be happy TO hear from him lit these are
signs that we have "runed the party" let us know
what Col benton has done to preserve it. II we hayo
ton, iet us know what Col. Benton has done 10 save
T. IS ms miserable, hestating equivoosl trip to New
Y ork sufficient to outweigh the days and nights OF
hard labor that we devoted during the whole campaign
to the election of cur candidate? We determined
from the first moment follow rather than lead public
opinion; but when the nomination made by the
democratic party, dedicated all energies to the
cause.
Should we "remain" here land really are disposed
to second the Colones motion TO put some other man
in our place--some younger and "beer sodiar''l we
shall pursue the again But true that
we contributed 10 the defeat OF General Cass Look
tor the true solution rather to Mr. Van Burens deser.
ton to the free soiIers. Look too to Cen Tay!ors
military eclat and the double phases with which his
friends presented him to the people in both sections upon
that very question. But spare us. Ii we failed to do
our duty in lS4S, why that generous and noble souled
letter OF thanks which received from Mr. Dallas on
the very morning OF the election Why the overflow
ing acknowledgements received from General Cass
Why the public honor OF the address which we received
from the jackson Association OF this city, who ard
appreciated everything We had done Why the com
phnentary letters which came to us from all parts of The
country Why such letter the following from one
OF the abest statesmen in Old Virginia
| "RIcHMoNp November 49, 1913
my DEAR SIR: Deeply sensible OF the heavy blow
the country has received in the election OF General 1ay
lor and the difficulties that now surround the Democrt-
TIC party feel it due TO your noble, wise and prudent
laoors the great cause OF the people and the consu
tloh, 10 say TO you, what my heart and my udgment
equally declare to be true, that party you
debt OF gratitude OF the highest character Ia Virginia
We yet undismayed and have carried the State by
more than one thousand ma ority. Considering dit
fcules and distractions we have of the past
unprecedented contest wonderfully we'll | think bet
ter OF our party than | have yet done and ana
ready TO put on my arms for future combat
L am, very truly and sincerely, yours"
Curl party Will succeed in the next campaign, if the
energies OF the people shall be seconded by the disner-
estedness OF the asplrantS but il should fail it shall
be more the fault of the senator from ssour than our
own. Our ambition, at least shall stand in the way
OF The triumphs OF our party or the glory OF country
But we spare him the reproaches he deserves We ale
content to let the following letter speak for US He will
find that other persons than ourse have shared the Ell
ticisms OF the great man OF the Hermitage:
[rhs is letter from Major Heiss, Mr. Ritchie's for
mer partner, and is dated Washington, October 20h
1850. In it he makes this curious statement:
"Now my dear sir, Col Benton is the last man who
should charge you with breaking up the Democratic
party, or publish to the world anything General lack
son ever said about YOU 1t is notorious that Mr. Ben
toms course, and speeches in 1914 did much 10 defeat
the election of Mr.. Polk, and distract the democratic
organization. His celebrated speech on the Texas
tens OF thousands, and circulated in every direction ID
OF their textbooks through the whole canvass
and that speech lost the State of Tennessee 10 the de
mocracy. What did Gen Jackson think OF Mr. Benton's
course at the time He denounced it, but excused hn
ON the around q incnuitu | haar 10 4 La