The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-21

will certainly be to render Great Britain indie
pendent for the future of all our commercial
products
The Her1ick and Donaldson Letters and the
New York Herald.
The letters which we published few days
ago from Mr.. George II. Herrick, and Mr.. Peter
Donaldson of Upper F street, Washington, con-
corning certain claims before the Executive de-
partments, certain corrupt lobby agencies hanging
round the Cabinet, and the consequent dangers
surrounding a new administration, though evil
IDENTIFY, by the aforesaid Herrick and Donaldson,
designed for mischief, are bringing forth their
good fruits. In proof of this, we publish from
our regular Washington correspondent to-day,
some very interesting papers, including the deci-
sion of Attorney General Black upon two impor-
tant claims not involved in the Herrick CORES
pOndence; but embracing also, from Mr.. Black, a
full statement Of facts upon the Thompson claim,
and complete justification Of its payment by the
Treasury Department.
Our purpose in publishing the names of the
authors of the communications raising the issue
of bargain and corruption in the matter of the
payment of this Thompson claim, is perfectly I'M
derstood at Washington, though studiously mis-
represented in certain quarters az involving
dastardly attack upon the administration, and an
infamous breach Of private confidence. But
we think that we understand the distinction
between a legitimate claim upon our con-
fidcnce and an impudent demand upon
our good nature. Mr.. Herrick, for example,
touching his late comurun atiOn of 90. in a
Corner" had no right to demand that we should
stand between him and the parties accused. We
cannot consent to serve as the scapegoat or the
stalking horse of any man, or any clique, or any
party On the other hand, any man in any mat
ter entitled to our confidence will have no occa-
sion for complaint. 1t has been too much the
custom, and still is, for disappointed and vim
dictive politicians in their personal revenges to
skulk behind the editor of some newspaper,
leaving to the sily editor the responsibility and
the consequences of confidence which has been
tri1ed with and abused Newspaper editors, also,
have too much encouraged this artful lodging.
We can submit to no such triAing or impudence
from individuals who would use our columns
behind mask and upon false pretences.
Our long experience in the affairs Of the poll
teal world has not been thrown away. It has
taught Us many useful lessons in this very mat
ter Of confidence towards all sorts Of confidence
men, insiders and outsiders, Of all parties In
most cases we can now detect our confidence
man who has an axe to grind or an enemy to
stab in the back, and it gives us positive plea
sure to expose the interloper. And we may, at
this point, just as well admonish the scheming
and inscriptions political tricksters, of all
parties and all factions and cliques, in Office and
out of Office, at Washington, at Albany, in New
York, or elsewhere, that in every detected at
tempt to use and abuse our columns upon clan
destine plea of confidence, we shall saddle the
offender with his rascality and the consequences of
his folly.
This is our construction Of the law Of
editorial confdence-good faith on both sides
But where the contributor plays the sneak, and
asks our confidence in shelterng himself from
the results of an anonymous series Of personal
or political charges, suspicious and insinuations
resting upon personal malice. hatred, or revenge.
We hold him subject to instant punishment for
his insoicnce. We are happy to know that the
administration have properly interpreted our
alleged breach Of confidence towards Mr.. Herrick
and Mr.. Donaldson. We have seen letter from
the Secretary Of the Treasury, in which he says
that he did not regard the publication of the
Herrick letter as an evidence Of an unfricndly
feeling, but that he thinks ''the exposure of the
author was more than compensation for the pub
LEGATION Of the article" This is the correct view
of the subject And here we rest our justification.
| II will be perceived that Attorney General
Black makes a clear, satisfactory and conclusive
exposition Of the facts the law and the testimo-
ny in this Thompson claim. This is good; and it
is also well that the attention Of the administra-
tion thus early in the day, has been called to the
vigilant eyes and spies around and within the
party camp. Who comes next.
THE FREE WHrTE RE-CoLoSIzar1oS or vR-