The daily union., 1852-12-01
LETTER OF HON. c. }. FAULKNER.

LEllt Ot HUN Y. J. FAULKNER.
GENTLEMEN: In presenting 10 your readers. 10 your
paper OF the 23d instant the correspondence transmitted
by the President OF the United States the House OF
which correspondence has been communicated 10 the
public IN obedience TO resolution submitted by me on
the 4h day OF February last you have accompanied liz
publication with some editorial comments which demand
brief notice from You say:
How IL has happsned ha. this interesting document,
though Congress rp,V sptei6c call has
earlier the light, is explained by the indifference on
the pe OF tho House Of Representatives communion
lions made by the Executive though eaAs4 Jor bg stf,
In consequences OF which this presidential message lay
the table for sr DsekS Without bag opened and
when opened was without any examination OF iis con.
tents, ordered TO be printed Tor the Of the members
brief recurrence TO a few acs will satisfy sou that
in the charge which you have here preferred against the
House OF Representatives you have done thai body ia.
justice; and certainly Tar the OF that spe-
clhc call" Is concerned, there is shadow Of ouuda
lion for your censuTe.
For several years past and more especially since my
visit 10 Cuba IN the month OF January isI5 have felt
lively interest 10 the iae OF that sand and in its prob
able-I might say certsinuure destiny as one Of the
States OF the eonederacy; and il my wish during
the last session OF Congress 10 have presented in fall be-
fore the country my upon this Interesting problem
OF national policy Before dong examined our pub.
lsh ed diplomatic correspondence, for the purpose OF
nounc,d BY government In relation to that island
In making thai examination was surprised 10 find so
little 10 our published diplomatic instructions bearing
upon the subject Satisfied that question full OF
teest 10 every citizen OF this republic could not have
capped the ygilant attention OF he many eminent me n
who for the last thirty years had presided over the de.
partment Of foreign affairs determined 10 offer resou
ton calling upon the President 10 communicate 10 the
House all instructions from the Department OF State 10
the diplomatic agents OF United States abroad not
heretofore communicable 70 Congress deciaatory OF or rea.
ting 10 the policy OF ne government of the United States
in relation The island OF Cuba~-leayina H. OF coutse
discretionary with the President withhold any paper
the publication Of which mign be regarded by him IA
detrimental 10 the public interests The resolution was
submitted 10 ne Houss on iae an day OF February
and unanimously adopted.
After allowing one month for a response 10 thai res.
oluon, called personally upon Mr. Webster 10 learn
when the report from bis department would be made n,
informed me, in repy that IL should be forthcoming n
the earliest day practicable Al the end OF The second
month again cael and informed tina, the cores
pondence was being copied At the enl OF the thirC
month addressed elier 10 Mr. Webster respectful,
calling his attention 70 the resolution, and urging al
early compliance with its request 10 this letter re-
ceived no reply In the month OF June again called
The Slate Department. and there learned that the CORES
ponSenee was copied, bat not examined In the earl,
part ofAugust made my last visit 10 the State Dspau
ment IN connekon win this subject and learning ,ha
Mr. Webster was either sick or absent, / inquired 70
MIR Hunter the chief clerk and acting Secretary Of State
who informed me that the correspondence had some tw
weeks before been sent from that office 10 The Presden
of the United States and upon my manesting some i'm
patience the delay which had occurred he expresss
the opinion 10 that The correspondence ptobabl
held back by the President until the final disposition
Congress Of The bill then pending before Il, povidn
compensation 10 the Spanish consul and other subject