The New Hampshire Gazette

PORTSMOUTH
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1835.

LETTER WRITERS AT WASHINGTON. - We have but very little confidence in the reports put in circulation by the federal letter writers at Washington, though it is often not a little amusing to witness some of their queer speculations. Heretofore the President has been accused by them of being governed altogether by an "irresponsible" set of persons, termed a "Kitchen" or "back stairs cabinet;" but it now appears, if we may believe the notorious "Spy in Washington," that the present Secretary of the Treasury, has undermined and rooted out this ignis fatuus, and assumed the ascendency as the President's adviser. The writer states, that "Amos Kendall is compelled to stand at a distance." and that "his power and influence is supplanted by Levi Woodbury."

"Whatever" (says he) "you may hear to the contrary, you may rest assured that it is so. Yes, Woodbury is lord of the ascendant." "The Kitchen Cabinet," (he adds) "with Mr. Kendall at their head, must become the machines of Mr. Woodbury and pamper his mercenary views, or he will prostrate them, and rear upon their ruins a new Kitchen Cabinet, conformably to the New-Hampshire, instead of the New-York patent." Well, if all this be true, and the federal papers usually hold this writer as good authority, it is to be hoped we shall hear no more about the President's being swayed and ruled by a "Kitchen Cabinet," "irresponsible advisers." Mr. Woodbury is one of the President's "constitutional advisers" which the opposition have so long contended ought to bear sway, and among whom until Mr. Woodbury, they have never been willing to give any one the credit of having any influence, since Mr. Van Buren was Secretary of State. Now, it appears, the cabinet proper has confessedly the ascendency.

The interpretation of all this probably is, that the President, since Mr. Woodbury has been a member of the Cabinet, has had a fair opportunity of knowing his true character, and ascertained that he may be relied on for his talent, industry, integrity, and firmness of political principle; and it is not strange such a man should be held in high estimation by a President possessing strong discriminating powers, and who in some cases has had cause to feel the want of those high and indispensable qualifications among some of his constitutional advisers. which are so eminently conspicuous in the character of Mr. Woodbury.

A mere recurrence to the late Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury, show a degree of talent, industry and power of mind, that has rarely, if ever been equalled by any officer who has occupied that important station, from the adoption of the Constitution to the present moment. We have long known Mr. Woodbury, and known him well, and the opinions we have uniformly expressed in relation to his transcendant talents, his Republicanism, his integrity of intention towards the pure democracy of the country, are fast gaining ground, and the nation will ere long acknowledge his worth, in terms not to be misunderstood. The Democracy of the country have in store for him the highest honors of the nation; his march is onward. It is therefore no difficult matter to account for such a man's being held in high estimation by President Jackson.

The suggestion of the writer, that Mr. Hill is to be used as a "vassal," or "cat's-paw" of Mr. Woodbury, is a miserable, and we trust futile attempt to create a hostile feeling between these two distinguished citizens of our State. There is nothing that we perceive in the prospects of either of these gentlemen, which can militate with the other,-nothing which ought or can create any jealousy. They are, we trust, on terms of mutual good understanding; and as public servants, and citizens of the same State, having one great political interest in view, they, we suppose, act in concert, as they ought to do. But ever intent on a misinterpretation of the motives of leading men in the democratic party, this sagacious writer seems anxious to create a jealousy between the particular friends of each, by suggesting some cause other than the true one, for this union of sentiment; and hence one of them must be set down as the "cat's-paw" of the other. We need scarcely say, that among those who are best acquainted with the men, no credence will be obtained for this opinion.

The assertion of the writer that "Mr. Woodbury obtained a seat in the Senate by the most unparalleled perfidy," is an assertion, that if noticed at all, deserves only to be met with such an unqualified rebuff as wholesale and retail venders of falsehoods deserve. We therefore give it the lie direct. It is a repetition of the old charge, long since abandoned here, that Mr. Woodbury was pledged to Mr. Adams. We undertake to say, that had he been pledged to Mr. Adams, he would never have been elected to the Senate. The friends of Mr. Adams held out for Mr. Mason to the "last end," and Mr. Woodbury was elected by a union between his and Mr. Dinsmoor's friends, neither of whom can be accused of being friendly to Mr. Adams.