The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-13
THE PHILADELPHIA PRESS ON PRIVATE CORES
PONDENCE.

LIE IIlliHADIAlLi lila IhTsoo YIN IhlSA1E CONNFSo-
PoNDENCE
After the publication by the Philadelphia Press,
the other day Of forged letter purporting TO have
been written by Mr.. Buchanan we were quite pre-
pared to in the columns Of that paper the private
correspondence of any ono who might have been inn
prudent enough to trust his opinions persons within
the reach of the journal in question. About year
ago, it will be rccollectcd, Mr. Senator Biger was
in Kansas. Enjoying friendly relations with Mr..
Stanton, he endeavored to serve that gentleman by
inducing the President to appoint him to succeed
Gov Cumming as superintendent Of Indian affairs.
After the return of the senator he wrote Mr.. Stan
ton friendly note expressing his conviction that he
(Stanton) would receive the coveted appointment
To this note which, from its very nature was strict
y confidential he added paragraph expressing his
confidence in Gov. Walker, and that his course in
Kansas endorsed by the country The Press
publishes what purpors to be this paragraph, in
obedience to it's repeated threats that it would do
Of course nobody can feel any confidence in the
correctness of the publication, coming before the
reader as it does in violation of the sacred rights of
private correspondence. Is it brought out to convict
Gov. Bigler of Inconsistency in advocating the adj
mission of Kansas under the Lecompton constitu-
tion2 The letter written long before the meet
ing of the Kansas convention and how it is to be
regarded as bearing upon the question which the
decision of that body preciptated upon the country
utterly unable to see. Gov. Bgler ex-
pressed his opinion freely and fully, in Kansas
and out of Kansas in Pennsylvania and at Washing
ton, in favor of the submission of the Lecompton
constitution to the people. That was Gov Walkers
plan It was ours. 1t should have been SO submit
ted. We earnestly advised this course. But while
these opinions entertained by Gov. BigIer and
Others including the President, the legal power to
decide the question was intrusted to the delegates to
the convention. That decision was made by them
long time after the alleged date of the private letter
to Mr. Stanton, and in opposition to the advice of
the gentlemen referred to. They had the right SO
to decide They did not derive their authority from
Governor Bigler and Governor Walker, but it was
conferred upon them by the people Of Kansas, with
out any restriction or limitation.
The Press says, the senator's denunciation of
Stanton in Pennsylvania is particularly severe This
is all fetch to give coloring to the sublime act of
impropriety and gross breach Of confidence in pub
fishing private letter. We are very clear now that
Stanton and his publishers unless we suppose Stan
ton himself has been betrayed, are fully rescued
from any further criticism ; az they have chosen
voluntarily to surrender their character as gentlemen
to the lowest of detraction, malice, and mis-
representation.
What was Gov. Walkers programme in August
1852 To induce the blackrepublicans of Kansas
to stop their rebelous opposition TO the laws, to
vote at the elections, and to rescue their rising State
from scenes of civil war and blood When Gov.
Walker himself opened campaign against the con-
stitutod authorities of the Territory and denounced
the laws he was instructed to recognise and enforce
was Gov. Bigler enlisted as one of his recruits that
he should DO charged with deserton in not support
ing him Was Kansas set apart exclusively for
Gov Walker aud Mr.. Stanton2 Was the democratic
party committed to their policy of upholding the
laws in August and setting them aside in October
Gov. Walker and Mr.. Stanton denounced the people
of Kansas as rebels for not voting in June, and as
patriots for refusing to recognise the laws enacted
month or two after by representatives thus chosen.
Was it a part of :" tho programme" that the demo-
cratic party should adhere to those gentlemen in all
their sublime acts of folly? 1t will take more than
the disclosures of private correspondence to con
vince the people that such was their duty.
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IHn POSTMASTER GESERAL--We understand that Hon