The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-09-09

the North against the democratic party We reoiced
that the Of the President has completely disap
pointed the anticipations Of his enenes The EFFORT 10
turn the ebbing tide Of black republicansn has ut
tery failed and il has evidently pecpitated the downia
of that traitorous faction
The only stand which black "republicanism has ut
tempted to take against the Presidents letter IL as sngu
lar the accusations ii made were henous and disgrace
full Ii was orsooh undgnhed for the President 10 re-
ply This Is the position taken by the Evening Post and
Times of this city they assert that the President has
committed ''sois, that he has descended INTO the
of politics, and that il looks like bud Tor rcnom
nation Let this nation decide whether their Chief Mags
trate shall be presented by grand inquest OF forty
three clergymen professors and doctors Of divinity OF
perjury and treason and not be permitted to word
in his defence IL is remarkable that these journals
make no attempt contover the facts and arguments
set forth by tho President, but conne themselves TO
discussing whether il dignifed for the Presi-
dent such provocation to reply. These modest
and charitable clergymen have prictsed in couch
ing the most terrible charges in language that APP
parently from other source than themselves
Thus they insinuate violation OF the solemn oath the
President has taken to support the constitution OF the
Union" In other words, unless Gov Walker states
what is untrue the President has trampled tho sol
emn oath he took at his Inauguration. The other
charge is the authority of levying war against
portion of the United States by employing arms IN
Kansas and this is fiat treason In the words OF the
constitution defining that offence Had the forty three
clergymen called the President forsworn and disloyd
traitor it might have been INDIGENOUS, but 1t would
have been far less serious than this attempt 10 prove MN
thus by argument Had the President been silent under
this ingenousl framed and carefully studied accusation,
the black Republican journals, now so careful of his
dignity would have been prompt to take every adyan
tge and draw every presumption in favor OF their party
from such silence.
We naintain that as a man. the Chief Magistrate
of this nation and democrat, he called on to
answer SO grave and terrible charge and arragnment
impairment and offensive this document might have
boon the design and conception of its concoctors still
in its phraseology it sttdedy polite even when it
made its terrible blows They sought to stab and be-
tray but like Judas they would cover their designs with
kiss Shall be told that because man is President
of the United States he shall be aagned before the
tion before all mankind and before all poserity, and
that like sheep dumb before the shearcrs he must hold
his peace? Strange logic of black 'rcpubicanism,
that side challenges answer and ON the other
reproves the successful defender OF his honor his
truth, and his loyalty ALL how black ''repubcanism'
would have gloated the triumph of the forty three
doctors Of Yale had James Buchanan proved craven, and
they taken judgment by default To what peine fort
dur they would have subjected him in their journals, and
how they would have worked on the popular mind at the
North on such tacit admission!
The democratic theory is that the President is not the
master but the servant Of the people. Mr.. Buchanan
admitted this relation when before his election he fully
and noby pledged himself to the platform OF his party
and subsequently when in his inaugural he laid down ex
picty and frankly the leading objects of his admins
tation The doctors of Yale have called him for
explanation they have laid down their premises they
have deduced their charge and they have appealed to
the terribe majesty of God to protect the people and
the constitution Was it for the President to stand on
point of etiquette when thus adjurcd by the faculty of
Yale College and its learned alumni to solve these grave
doubts and purge his magsera robes of the crimes
of perjury and treason The sovereigns have demanded
explanation from their servant, and he has answered
them
When matters Of large public interest presented to
the President, it is conceive, very proper for him to
give answer state Mt what time and through what
public channel he will satisfy the applicants. We inn
anc these reverend politicians will regret that the Pres
dent has been democratic rs to make them reply.
AS for the letter itself, there is but opinion
pressed by unprecedented minds 1t is unanswerable in
style and arguments it is among foremost political
papers it will reach the impartial tribunal where the
President araigncd and by it call mankind and all
posterity will Judge the of Kansas and affirm the
solemn and most suspicious decree that this nation gave
in November last.
From the Philadelphia Ledger, Independently
The clcrgymcn of New England who undertook to die
tate to the President how he should execute the laws in
Kansas have received and wclmerited rebuke
for their mpcrtincnt ocousess. This rebuke will not
be without its good effect in bringing such persons to
proper consideration of their conduct and in salts
flying the public mind that Mr.. buchanan means to be
President while he is in Office properly understanding his
official obligations and conscentiously prepared to dis
charge them.
We doubt whether in political history there
example of such gross improperly set by any body
of men, holding respectable position in society its
teachers and instructors has been presented by these
New England clergymen The humility, charity, and
justice which they profess to teach as virtues which exat
the Christian character are, in their conduct,
trely set aside They to know of the true
relations of affairs in Kansas than the President whose
duty it is to be well informed upon all public questions
and whose public life has been devoted to the politics of
the nation They chartaby that he is not govern
ed by views of public duty conscientiosy interpreted
but lends himself willing instrument to fraud and OPP
preston Their Of justice may be inferred from the
fact that without hearing, knowing what motives and
policy govern the President they declare his course, in
- ls.lll
up and proclaimed to the great derogation of
tonal character violating in its most essential p.rtc
ulas the solemn oath which the President has taken to
support the constitution Of this Union. They undertake
to lecture the President and forget decorum charity and
justice in the ACT He replies with dignity, and proves
them to be ignorant of the facts in the case and totally
unacquainted with the constitutional obligations he has
assumed the executive power and being thus shame
fully ignorant they very unfit guides to mark out the
path OF official duty very imperfect expoundes Of po
litical rights.
The President found the territorial government of |
Kansas established and sanctioned by Congress He also
found individuals there refusing obedience to the govern
ment and nstgating violence against it, He did he
was compelled to do by the constitution he has to
phod-sent armed force into the Territory to pro-
ect the laws just President Madison thousand
men to Connecticut to watch traitors who
holding convention at Hartford to decide whether they
should not lend aid and assistance to the enemies of the
country So long they arraycd in opposition to
he laws they rebels against the government estab
ishcd under the laws, and the President plainly
ellis the sympathzers with and promoters of this lawles
that he will employ the troops, If il becomes
,essary in defending from violence the convention called
mder the laws He moreover tells these mpcrtnent |