The Washington union., 1858-02-24
From the Now York Herald
SENATOR JOHNSON AND THE PUBLIC BINDER.

wAsmNoroS, Feb. Is, 1858
sIa On my return yesterday from New Orleans after
an absence OF several weeks your paper the 2ls of
January last handed me- and in it find an arti
Gle upon public printing the signature of Peter
j. Smith, which charges corruption upon the part Of
southern senator in the appointment Of Mr. Boteer AS
public binder Of the senate but gives of any
senator.
This appointment or election rs made by the Senate
Committee Public Printing and the committee is com
posed of but three membcs-one from the North and
two from the South OF the two from the South was
he only one who supported the firm Of Petbone Bote-
er who duly elected and appointed public binders
and, OF consequence, am the southern against
whom these charges are leveed
The charges defamatory to the last degree re-
quest you to read them In your paper Of the list ut
The charges without foundation and are utterly
untrue. l had business transaction with Mr.
Boteler and certainly his debtor for fifty dol
lars In my life have known him for some years as
merchant OF this city and always as an honorable man
and a gentleman. In supporting him for this appoint
ment was governed by interest direct contingent
or remote, and had motive other than that of be-
friendlng him In manner entirely legitimate and
Inconsistent with the public service
SO much for that charge.
The charge that sought to confer upon Mai HeiH the
appointment of public binder, upon condition that he
would share the profits with me, is equally wholly
true The truth Is, that neither sought ever had
conversation with Major Heiss upon the subject of the
public binding any other subject from the hour my
arrival in this city to the instant of the appointment
of Pcttbone Boeler did the name of Major Hciss
my lips but once whcn being asked If would
have any objection to voting for Major Hess he Mr.
Boeler desired to form coparncrshp replied that he
had my respect and confidence and would support him
with pleasure and this all the conversation that
ever had upon the subject.
The further allegations relating the politics of Mr.
Botcler-procaim moral urpitude and Of no con-
sequence in this connexon neither the assertion that
the President had administered rebuke to this
southern senator entitled to a thought No one would
believe that the President would stoop to ebuke he
thought capable of acts criminal and Infamous,
forget himself far to attempt rebuke upon any
senator whose and honor stood unarnished in his
estimation.
In view of the foregoing which presents unimpassion
ed, what are the facts, my knowledge it becomes
evident that your correspondent either deceived and
imposed upon, actuated by personal mali,nty
towards in making his statements In either event
conceive it to be proper that you should furnish his
address, since, in acting if he has been deceived it will
afford him opportunity to do that justice which
any honorable man under like circumstances would be
anxious to do. IT, the other hand he has been inu
enced by malice in this matter and has avacd himself
of the columns of your paper to promulgae slander
upon who has not offended feel confident that you
editor of journal aiming and protesting vind-
cate truth, let it wound whomsoeyer it may will
allow yourself to become his protector by screening him
from exposure.
As matter of justice therefore, respectfully request
that you will furnish me the and address of your
correspondent before mentioned am very respectfully
your obcdient servant, II. w. JOHNSON.
JAMES GoRDoN BENNETT Esq,
Editor ofMc Ncac York Herald