Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-03-26
sPIsIT OF TIE MORNING PRESS


sPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.
The URiOn rspublishes Mr. Soule's letter to
the IHteiligsneer, and invites that gentleman
to make public the correspondence which the
Government declined spreading before the
world in answering the demand of Congress
for al papers bearing on the Ostsnd confer
ence, which, in their judgment, could be ex-
hibited to the word without injury to the
public interest. Assuming that the letters of
Dir. Perry are wholly private and personal in
their character, though at the same time init.
mating that his opinion on that point is mere
surmise, he declares that Mr.. Soule " is now
fully jus:i6abls in vindicsting himself by
giving publicity to the whole correspondence. )"
how it sosns to us that the article with which
the IntcffigsHcer accompanied Mr.. Souls's let
ter, lie triumphant vindication of his conduct
Is sssailed and aSpersed in the letters in quss-
hon-one Sd ample as to require nothing more
to be added on Mr.. SOule's part. With this
fact staring US in the face, We fancy that Mr.
Souls will hardly, in accordance with the
OHr0'l's advice, adopt course with reference
to shc letters in question, in direct opposition
10 that which the Government evidently
deemed proper in the premises. Mr. Perry
was the appoin:ee Of the last Administration,
and was retained, We presume, on account Of
his familiarity with the questions in issue be-
tween the two Governments, If, as we sup.
pose, be has proved too much of pariisan
for the proper discharge of his official duties,
his place will probably be supplied by another
when the new Minister goes out. 1t strikes US
that 1t was impossible to do this until that
event occurs, as it would not do to have the
United States entirely unrepressnted at Madrid
IL times like these
The Sentinel announces that until the meet
ing of the next Congress, its issue will be but
tri-WeoAly, and intimates that the Adninistra.
ton has sighted its claims to patronage, as a
prominent reason for the change 1t will b..
recollected that tae Sentinel was established
as an anti administration journal, and that ND
tc this time Its sympathies have always been
adverse to those in power, though claiming to
be intensely Democratic. Cur neighbor, We
may Lot inapPrOplia:ely add, falls into an
error in saying that the Administration has
bestowed its patronage here on opposition
journals, inasmuch as all it has had to give
las been accorded to the UatoB. The law de.
clares that 1t shall give patronage to one jour
ral only, In the way Of advertising. So ia,
as the Departmental printing is concerned, il
can accord that to either or both the printers
to Congress. 1t has preferred the proprietor
OF the CAlOn to him Of the Sentinel. This
Is the full and fair explanation of the case.
The IatsfLgsHesy says:
"IH reference to the correspondence which
formed the subject Of the Hon Mr.. Soule'
iStter inserted IN our last number the Uuto,
Vi yesterday remarks:
:. If the copy placed in the hands of tn
Editors ot the lntelligcncerl cane from tn
state Department, (which We cannot for mo
nent credit the act constitutes a breach O
rebUEsd
80 extravsgant appears to US the supposi
nor inat private official papers should be sub
united TO our pcrusal by the Department n
State, CT by any officer employed therein tina,
the necessity Of relieving that Department o.
E1ch Al inference never entered our head
II, however, there be any reader, here or else
N-Sb g oHinIoruec OF the relations exist NO
between the editors Of ihi, paper and the De.
Partment Of State, or any other Department
OF the Government, as to entertain the idea
suggested by the Union, We beg to put him
night By the most unrsseryed disclaimer.
I'm first abiding to the existence of this
correspondence and to its suppression, we re
naI kcd that tie President was authorized bv
the terms Of the call, if not by constitutional
right, TO withhold from Congress any papers
which &c might choose not to communic ate;
bat when We learned, q, we did before we b ad
examined the Ostend volume, that papers
marked 'eo:fIsntIaL' were included In Ia al
volume, and even read In tie letter of the in
telligent " askinston correspondent of the
Journal OF Commerce that this very Cores
poLdeneo was contained in the volume. we
thought II probable that if not there the cor.
IeSPonderce would in due time be communi.
Gated TO Congress. Whether il shall ever be
50 or lot, Irsy be matter Of more interest 10
TIE public than 10 ourselves
we may observe, however, before We dis.
niss the subject that, If our recollection be not
AZ FAULT, there is nothing material In Mr., Per.
rvs letters to the Secretary of State which has
nos been disclosed by the publication of the
OstenG documents