The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-06

mistaken when he speaks OF ST. Domingo az the
most valuable island In the West indies thus ignoring
the supreme importance OF Cuba. Some are OF the
opinion that too much space IL devoted 70 SC. Do
mngo while others think that the President defeats
opposition TO the purchase OF the island and meets
MIR. Sumner and those who acted with him ON their
own ground. II Il well known that Sumner pointed
out, IN his speech against the treaty, the
propriety or doing tho very thing the
PRESIDENT now ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, tho appoint
ing OF commission to negotiate treaty. The man
ner IN which the treaty negotiated was one OF
the OBJECTIONS Sumner urgea against It, Considerable
sstohshment was expressed that he did not dwell
more upon the subject OF the Alabama claims The
pubic mind had risen TO fever heat upon this
point, partly by reason OF the recent pellige.
rent expressions OF Ben Butler. who was believed
to have foreshad0wed the Presidents IDEAS ana 1t
WAS expected that some dennte line OF foreign
policy would be ofnclally announced however, the
recommendation that the government assume the
responsibility OF settling the claims with Great
Britain. so ~ 10 make the question altogether u
national one, as stated Ia tho HERALD
this morning Is universally c0mmended
That part Of the Message which referred to
our relations with the Dominion OF Canada upon
the fishery. navigation and other vexed questions
was commented upon In favorable terms, as u clear
and able exposition OF the situation and its remedies.
The facts act forth by the President caused deep
feeling against our Northern neighbors. ana In the
minds OF members fully jusuded the which the
President proposes pursue. There no doubt but
this question win receive early attention The recon.
mendapons about the pubic lands are generally re-
garded favorably. II seems TO be understood that
the President, Ia deprecatng tue OF granting
land subsidies TO railroads. refers merely TO those
| railroads which are OF local ana not OF national
nnpoUance. ths Is SO the Message
| Is against all the railroad projects now
! before Congress except the sonthern Pacific road
which VIII cross the Continent. Tne summing up OF
the policy OF the administration the President de.
fines It 70 be-a thorough enforcement OF every law
| faithful collection OF every tax provided for;
| economy the disbursement OF the same:
] prompt payment or every debt OF the
nation; a reduction OF taxes AZ rapidly as
the requirements OF the country WIN admit reduc
ton of taxation aud tariff 70 be arranged az TO
| AFFORD the greatest relief TO the greatest numbers
honest aud fair dealings with all other people TO the
| end that war, with all ita blighnng conse.
quences may be avoided. but without surrender
| ing any right obligation due 10 us; a
reform IN the treatment OF the Indians and
in the whole civl service Of the government and,
/ finally, In securing a pure, untram melted ballot,
where every man entitled to cast a may do so
| gust onccr ~ each election without fear OF
/
| hts political iath. nativity or color-seems
to give general satisfaction. az DO ascer-
tanned tonight. 1t is probable thar Congress VIII
enteavor at early day 10 comply with some OF
| the recommendations Of the President especially
with those referring the revival OF American COM
| merce.
| The Misnndcrstandin Between tho President
and Admiral pOrter--A Manly Letscr from
! Porter to the President.
/ The publication OF tho letter written In 1885 by
| Admiral Porter 30 Gideon Welles. VINO was the n
Secretary OF the Navy, created sensation for
the moment here; but the excitement when 1t occa-
! sioned IN certain circles has now almost subsidea.
| When the circumstances under which the epise was
indicted and friendly relations which have long
existed between the President ana the Admiral As
well as the high opinions which each entertained o
| the other were carefully considered. the matte
lost the fictitious Importance that attached
10 at nrst, so the general sent ment here is tina
the publication at thts time will fail produce tn
effect that evidently Intended. President dram
ana Admiral Porter nave always been the mos
friendly terms, officially and socially; and tn
friends OF each the mutual friends or both
| deeply dep0red an occurrence which Threatened
to The bonds OF amity when were formed be
tween them during trying period OF our nationa
| history and strengthened by subsequent official and
| private intercourse After the publication or the
| letter the greeting which the President gave the
! Admiral, when the latter called al the White
| House to confer with him about It was
! anything but cordial. Immediate reconciliation
| was Impossible. The President felt not so much
ncensed against the Admiral a. injured by him
and at that interview. ab0rlng under the impression
| that he was deceived In his estimate OF one In
| whom he had placed implicit confidence the Presl
dent gave uttrrance to the melancholy expression
had ttp,
human nature" After considering the subject an,
listening 10 the cOnciliatory sentiments or gentle
men who are admirers OF himself we'll az 0
the Admiral the President does not now seen
disposed to look upon the matter In serious
manner as he did IN the beginning. In explanation
OF the circumstances under which the letter wal
written the Admiral has addressed the followin,
frank communication to tho President. and 1t i
undoubted that whatever reflection the letter MAJ
be thought to have cast against The President Is full,
removed by the Admiral's ameade honorao,e:--
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3. 1870.
| Mr.. PREslDENT-My first impulse reading thu
letter published III The New York Wo,td TO 20 {,
you at once ana pronounce 1t fabrication; for a:
such considered 1t; put as 1t pnrporled to have
been written SIX years ago and published by per
son who once neld proininen. position under tn
government determined TO ascertain fully II hat
ever indted such letter before addressing you OF
| the SUBJECT Neither myself nor my secretary
VINO has served with me eigh, years could recall
| to our recollection any circumstance OF The kind.
could mol conceive that hau uttered sentiments
know never felt. ana which are so AT variance
with those that have uniformly expressed towards
you. me letter. II appears was private one, anc
yinlictiye must have been the part Of the man tha
| could be guilty Of 80 grave Il breach OF confidence
| ana depraved, indeed. must he the character who
to CRAFTY his mschievons instincts could max,
public a confidential letter, written, perhaDs
under great excitement, and NJ thus diston
day not even remembered IL seems ike poor re
! turn for your uniform COINCIDENCE aud klndness X
me, and | am too glad that ! remember noLning con
nected with the letter. At about tile date OF tht
| letter had passed through long and fatigning con
test with Fort Fisher and my numerous fleet was
| almost ovefp0wered by the elements. saw 10,
coveted prize within my grasp aud then slip IRON
me. For another month ! had TO battle with the
storms OF winter anchored OH an open coast. WIN
| the responsibility OF that large feet on mi
hands, my nina ana body narassed by extraord-
| nary fat!gues. Tho whole nation was looking Oh
excited, dreading a defeat that might proong con
test that was already sapping its vitals. You and
others know what had To undergo bodily ant
1 Iuenl L IL under z