Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-07-28
Letter from HIr. CIingman.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE,
July IL, 1854.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
July H. 1854.
To the Editor of the Union
SIR: regret extremely that / am under the ne,
cesslty of asking you to give place to matter tnat
cannot be of interest to many persons outside OF the
State of North Carolina. | do so, however, not only
because the letter to which it is reply does great
injustice to of my constituents. but is also intend
ed TO have an effect On the coming election IN our
State The period of that election near at hand,
that fear that if TO send this note to one OF
the papers in the Stale it mi ght not be published IN
time 10 reach all parts of it prior to the electon-
For long while past my friends and have been as
sailed with an industry and violence equalled only
by the malice and mendacty of the charges made
What gives particular virulence to the assaults OF my
enemies at this time is the consciousness, on their
part, that an overwhelming defeat is staring them Ia
the lace, and hence their rage and modification seem
unbOunded
The letter which propose TO refute appears in
the Fayetteville Observer of the 10Th instant, in an
article the material portion of which is as follows:
Perhaps the mendacity OF Edney has already
been made sufficiently apparent by his own testl-
mony. But the following letter, from the Secretary
this mornings mail, is necessary to expose another
important misstatement contained in the preface to
the pamphlet:
BosToN, 9th June, 1854
DEAR SIR Il have your favor of the 25th enclosing
a small pamphlet which contains letter (purporting
dent of the United States dated 5h February 1858,
and signed ''B Nj. Edney." You call my attention
TO the PREDATORY remarks in which it is stated that
the letter was "considered by him (Mr. Fillmore)
and his cabinet in council and its statements found
be entirely satisfactory" and you enquire of me
whether any such letter considered by Mr.. Fill
more and his cabinet in council.
The proceedings of the cabinet, you are aware, are
confidential but as the letter has been published,
with the PREDATORY remarks referred to- deem it pro-
Al -:
stance a copy of letter addressed to President Fill
more on the 9th of February, 1858, and that il was
read in cabinet. 1t was, however, thought by the
cabinet believe unanimously-not to have any
bearing upon the questions at issue relative to Mr..
Edney's appointment as charge daffaires 10 Guate-
mala and am not aware that any opinion was eX-
pressed whether its statements were not sat
isacory.
| remain, dear, sir, very truly yours
EDWARD EVERETT
Nothing further need be said TO dsarm the move
ment of Clingman, Edney, & Co., of all power to
harm Gen. Dockery, or anybody else''
Such is the charge, and to meet it present, in the
first place. two letters of the Hon. Edward Everett
himself
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, J
Washington, February 2, 1854.
SIR: The attention OF the President has been call.
ed 10 the printed letter bearing my name and dated
Louisville, (Kentucky,) September %, 1852, pur-
n.
sdent. understanding you desire an opportunity of
offering an explanation In reference to the same di-
recs me 10 inform you that, for that purpose the f.
nal consideration of your appointment charge
d'afaires to Guatemala is postponed till Monday
next al half-rast 10, a.
am sir, respectfully, your obedien servant,
EDWARD EVERETT.
To Balls NJ. EDNEY, ESQ., Washington
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, February 16, 1858
CID bc,, Iotou i
10 Congress to make an appropriation for full min
lister to the States of Central America instead of two
charges d'afaIreS, as al present provided for. Mr..
Kerr was some time ago conditionally recalled and
in conformity with the proposed measure the Presi-
dent has decided TO revoke your appointment as
charge datfaires to Guatemala and it is hereby re-
voked.
Your salary will BE- allowed from the dav of YOUR
return from Kentucky to your place of residence,
preparatory to leaving the country, up TO the pre-
sent time.
If you will inform the department of the day of
your return, your account will be settled according
ly. am, sir. respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
EDWARD EVERETT.
To Balls NJ. EDNET, Esq.
These two letters are conclusive but add also of
my coeaugue, the Hon W. S Ashe:
DEAR SIR: In answer to your inquiry well re-
member that in a conversation had with Hon C.
NJ Conrad, (at that time member Of President
ter which had been addressed to the President bv
Gen b. NJ. EiEey read in his cabinet and that
it satisfied every member of his cabinet that the
charges alleged against Gen. Edney were ground
less and malicious. then, as now DO understood
that the principal charge against the General was
the writing letter to Mr., Fagg
With respect, w S ASHE
Hon. /. l.. CLINGMAN
Mr. Ashes statement, in substance, corresponds
with those made 10 me about the time, both by
Mr.. Conrad and Mr.. Fillmore. The latter gentle
man, alter explaining fully 10 me his for hay.
ing determined to recommend to Congress the an.
pointment OF full minister to Central America in
lieu of the two charges, said expressly that Gen Ed
ney had been acquitted of all the charges against
hm Much of the conversation had reference to the
Fagg letter and Gen. Elneys to it. This in
terview occurred day or TWO after the decision of
the cabinet III the case and not, think long before
the President sent in the recommendation TO Con-
gress 1t is proper that should say, further, that
there was at the time no desire, the part of Gen
kdney TO retain the office, and that | supported on
the floor of the House Of Representatives the Presi
dents recommendation TO abolish the two charge
ships.
As Mr.. Badger was not referred to in Gen Edney's
letter. am at loss 10 know whether his interter-
ence III this matter was not owing to the truth of
statement made to me by member of the North
Carolina delegation, that he, too, one OF those
who Joined in the demand that Gen. Edney should
be recalled on account of the Fagg letter; or wheth-
eF he has embarked In the affair out of opposition
Gen Edney or to myself Whatever nav be his mo.
tive for coming into the contest, say to him and to
his correspondent Mr.. Everett, that either of them
desires to go further into the matter, the result will
not in my judgment, be preudcial in any respect to
Gen. Edney or to myself
To account for my having al this lime in my pos
session The two letters OF Mr. Everett it may be pro-
per that should state that when last saw Gen
Edney he spoke Of going TO Europe within short
time AS | had formerly been as ied in connexion