The daily union., 1852-12-10

never committed by any other civilized government
the face OF the earth.
Again: il the practice should be persisted 10, what will
our cabinet or foreign ministers hereafter do How are
they ever 10 get or TO convey confidential information
The lips OF all those with whom would be desirable 10
hod intercourse abroad would be sealed at the sight
mea acting for government bound by no obligation
OF honor or good faith In despote governments like
Russia, where there is free press confidential inter
course with public furnishes The only means of OBJ
tanning authentic information. But who will speak
freely TO minister whose private correspondence is moi
only not held sacred by his government but may at any
moment be published TO the world, bringing disgrace asd.
punishment TO all foreigners who have communicated with
hem On page 20 of the correspondence, pabishedby
the House OF Representatives. document 12, is letter
OF El Conde de la Acudia" to the Spanish Secretary
OF Stale, which may destroy him utterly, if he is still in
public lie. So strongly Mr.. Alexander Everett
our minister al Madrid in 1927, who transmitted copy
OF the letter OF Acuda to the Department OF State in this
counlry-impressed with the necessity of withholding il
from all eyes but those of the Executive that he insisted
on being considered "a private letter." and requested
tina, II should not 60 son the public files of the depart
msnt;" and yet Mr. Fillmore judges il proper to publish
-and that too, side by side with Mr. Everets earnest
protest against any publicity of whatever kind This
is strong case in point, and argument we can make
can add anything to its force The infringement OF The
planest rights OF all concerned is in this instance so
gross and papable that every one can readily see IT.
Passing from this point come to another OF kindred
character. Ihe organ of the President OF
the wrong done 10 public men living and dead and to the
interests OF the counlrya,tempts to take shelter behind
an allegation to the effect that in giving publicity 10 this
lcpr 4 q
democratic policy, in making the secrets OF diplomacy
as public as the proceedings of Congress- The country
Will be surprised to hear that the Republic has ven-
ured upon so bold and uniounded an allegation But,
false as that journal generally is, is than false
here The democratic party has neither taught nor prac
ised any such dsgraceful principle of action as that
upon which the Executive has acted. as announced by
his organ Is there man, who knows what the world
49, who does not also know that, however Just any
cherished purpose may be, there are always those
at hand who Interested adversely and whose now
ers, II excited and directed against its accomplishment
would defeat it and that it would therefore be the very
error OF the moon TO 30 out and proclaim his desire and
intent upon the highways, and arouse and arm his
mics against it Ou OF the Presidents cabinet there is
such man. Why, would be advertising for enemies
and counting trouble, disaster and defeat And yet just such
thing has the administration done in The publication of
the Cuban correspondence, But this wicked folly has
never been taught BY The democratic party and has never
been sanctioned by word deed of theirs In this world
the wisest men take il is and the justest men are
obliged 10 move with circumspecton While it IS their
dsy to be harmless doves" il is not less their duty
10 be as wise serpents This lesson was taught by
the best spirit ha, blessed this earth Hence the ne
cessy Of caution and of the universal practice by all men
in all time Of close secrecy in matters Of great moment,
ests between jealous nations.
II MIR. Fillmore acted any such notion as that insinu
ated by the Repubiie-and we canno, doubt it-he commit
ted another great ioly for what he has done is in direct
opposition 10 democratic practice Whenever and where
ever the democratic party has contended for publici
y, has been with the common sense and express rsser
Vaton that publicity tcR not be injurious 10 the Interests
of country II is set out in nearly every resolution
calling for executive documents The law and the prac
uoe make the President the judge and every President
from Washington down, has in some way exercised his
right OF judgment upon the subject, by Withholding cer-
tain matters from the public eye Washington did so
and every President since. Fillmore has done so in This
very correspondence by suppressng part OF Secretary
Buchanans despatch to Mr. Saunders. Yet in the face
OF this exercise OF his right TO Judge what is proper 10
be published, his organ defends him for making public
what is known TO be injurious, on ground implying that
he is left without judgment in the matter, and that he is
forced 70 comply in Difference 10 the insane notion that
il is democratic to make eUuyhing public As a
crowning exposition of the folly and absurdy OF the
presidential defence in this connexon, quote from
message OF President Washington bearing right upon
this very point,
President Washington, in a message to the House OF
Representatives Of the soth OF March, 1906 declined 10
comply with request contained a resolution Of that
body to lay before them "a copy Of the instructions 10
the minister Of the United States who negotiated the
treaty with the King Of Great Bftan together with the
correspondence and other documents relative TO the said
treaty. excepting such OF the said papers any existing
negotiations may render improper 10 be disclosed" In
assigning his for declining comply with the
CALL he declared that " the OF foreign negotia-
tons requires caution, and their must often de-
pend upon secrecy and even when brought 10 conclu-
sion, full disclosure of all the measures demands aud
eventual concessions which may have been proposed or
contemplated, would be extremely impolitc for this
might have perncious influence future negotiations
or produce immediate Inconvenience perhaps danger
and mischief, in relation TO other powers The necessity
Of such caution and secrecy one cogent reason for
vesting the power Of making treaties in the President
with the advice and consent Of the Sensthe principle