The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-05
SECRETARY TUUoEY's LETTER.
from the Virginia Sentinel.

From the Virginia sentncl.l
We deem It an act of Justice to Secretary Toucey to the
administration and to the democratic party topubsh
as we do To day the late Latter OF the Secretary In this
letter by plain and lucid statement Mr., Toucey most
eecaay disposes OF the bold allegations aud the less
manly but equally sianderous inBinuations by which il
has sought to throw dscredt and shame upon the
conduct of the Navy Department. and through IL upon
the administration The moral prostitution Of the admin
istlaon l. OF the chief intermediate aims OF those
whose grand endevor is to break down the democratic
patty and In this they find too much support or indu
gence IN the miserable jealoscs and petty grief and
captous censures of the ambitious the disappointed
the qeluous among ourselves Mr. Bpchanan Is treated
badly by the politicians of both parties. IL repans for
the people to silstan him and his coabore and ooun
seiom.
The letter OF Mr. Toucey u 40 complete vmdication
that but single point is left for eayil and that Is
imp.oper letter which Mr. Patteson ventred to write
10 the President touching the bestowal of contract at
Philadelphia MIR Buchanans private secretary,
certann that the letter related to business OF the Navy
Department reported it for reference to that department
in conformity with the regular proceedings in the thou
sands Of similar That it thus found its way to the
tiles Of the department only proves that the letter received
NO corrupt consideration.
We sspcat ii the wagonoas of letters by which the
nyads Of Office seekers aud leir friends have sought to
Influence successive Piesdrts but which were quietly
ded in red tape and laid by to gather dust il these
searched through through light it would be
found that Mr. Pattson has been the first by many
thousands TO write silly letter and that his letter
not the hrst among many thousands that were simply
auned when perhaps might have been better used to
kindlc fire. 1t Is, however, the custom to place all
letters of recommendation advice to the government
on file and they stand there, not reproach to the
government, but as record against the Writers.
But IL objected to by the Baltimore Sun that the let
ter aot visited with stern rebuke that the Pres-
dent Mr. I1ncey did not reply to Mr. Pateson, and
odmonish him that he had written very improper let
ter To this the sufficient answer Is, that 1t Is, and has
long been, the uniform and standing r9le ia all the de-
papeDts not to letters of ecoipcndQtiop adj
Vce. They receive only such consideration they may
DE worthy Of aud then go to the record to the praise
or shame of the writer's, and them alone IL the Fres
dent his Secretaries undertook to correct the principles
and inform the Judgments OF all who fit to write
them government matters they would probably find
uec for nothing else. We think il the Baltimore Sun
had given these considerations little candid attention it
Wotd have spared Its readers lis fit of Indignation yes
terdag. il showed its independence, it may be but
1t was an Independence Of Justice and charity we'll
N men, such only the portion OF the partisan
press' would be willing b. exhibit
1t is sufficient TO add Shat tila question to which the
Pat'eson letter referred decided ~ regular and i'm
peratye of law upon its just merits and in con
fornity with the opinion of the proper board
sustained by the subsequent Judgment Of the linguistic
nal comn,itteof the House The matter OF MI Pftesns
letter Affords 10 very small men very small petcxt f.r
saitiag caumny but the generous and the candid
WI see aotLipg in il inconsistent with that purity Of
adainisxativn conduct which yeIything else demon
staies majority uf The committee we're Mr. To,cey' s
political opponents Int yet tie committee
peed "a their seasrh with the resolve by ma
joity THAT nothing aas been poyen in this inyestg
ton which impeahcs In any way the personal or official
integrity Of the Secretary Of the Navy"