Papers of Major Joh P. Heiss of Nashville

Papers of Major Joh P. Heiss of NashvilleSource: Tennessee Historical Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 2 (JUNE, 1916), pp. 137-147Published by: Tennessee Historical SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/42642628 .

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DOCUMENTS.

I.

Papers of Major John P. Heiss of Nashville. INTRODUCTION.

John P. Heiss, from whose papers the following letters have been selected for publication, was a native of Pennsyl- vania. Having begun life as a ship's carpenter, he was for a time a purser's steward in the navy. He was for a while employe*! as a clerk in Bristol, Bucks County, and received from his employer a testimonial as to his skill in accounting and his general business ability. On September 15, 1835, he was married by the rector of Trinity Church, Philadelphia, to Anna Molineaux.

In 1840 he was a resident of Nashville, Tennessee, where he had charge of the financial department of the printing establishment of the Nashville Union, then conducted Jby J. George Harris. In this year he applied, unsuccessfully, it appeals, for appointment to a pursership in the Navy. He received flattering letters of recommendation from Harris, General Robert Armstrong, James P. Grundy, Andrew J. Donelson, and J. M. Smith, of Nashville, and from James K. Polk.1 It appears, therefore, that his connection with the Union had established him in the respect and confidence of fbr. > m) 0f Democratic leaders in Nashville. This was fur- ther indicated in 1842, when Heiss, about to travel in the East, was given a personal letter of introduction by Polk to Cave Johnson. In this year Heiss was a major in the Ten- nessee militia.

The Nashville Union passed into the control of Heiss and Thomas Hogan. The latter was also a native of Pennsyl- vania, who had edited in Philadelphia a journal, the National Laborer, under the direction and patronage of the Working- mens' National Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. He had later edited the Times of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and had been admitted to the Tennessee bar. Hogan died in May, 1844, at the age of 32, and the Union passed under the sole control of Heiss.2 Arrangements looking to this end had been under consideration for some time, in view of the failing health of Hogan.3

The management and the editorship of the Nashville Union , 1The> foregoing statements and some that follow are based on documents or newspaper clippings in the Heiss papers, many of which are not of sufficient general importance to be printed. 2Nashville Union, May 14, 1844. 8See letter No. 3 below and note 10.



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always a matter of interest and importance to the Tennessee Democrats, now excited the special solicitude of Polk and his friends, as the campaign for Polk's nomination for the vice- presidency and for the redemption of Tennessee was demand- ing the most vigorous efforts. Samuel H. Laughlin, who had formerly edited the Union , was brought back to the editorial chair.4 The success of the campaign, resulting in the accession of Polk to the Presidency of the United States, led quite naturally to the reward of the faithful.5 Laughlin, shortly after Polk's inauguration, was made Recorder of the General Land Office. The editorship of the Union passed to A. O. P. Nicholson, one of the most prominent Democrats in Tennes- see. June 3, the name of James G. Shepard succeeded that of Heiss as publisher.

The cause of this change was the removal of Major Heiss to Washington City, where he assumed the business management of the Washington Union, the newly established "organ" of the Polk administration. The editor and joint proprietor of the Union was the venerable Thomas Ritchie, so long identi- fied with the Richmond Enquirer .

Surmises were rife in Washington as the explanation of the sale of the former Democratic organ, the Globe, by its owners, F. P. Blair and John C. Rives, to Ritchie and Heiss; and later the circumstances of the transfer became a matter of bitter dispute. In 1848 Heiss retired from the partnership. Some of the letters printed below show that the machinery of the business did not run smoothly.6

Heiss appears to have remained in Washington for some time and to have planned a trip to California. We next meet him, however, in 1851, as editor of the Delta of New Orleans. In 1851-2 Heiss engaged in a bitter controversy with John C. Rives, with unpleasant personalities on both sides. He seems to have been connected with the Delta until 1855.7 Doubtless it was his residence in New Orleans which led to the next interesting phase of his career - his intimate relations with the noted filibuster, William Walker, in 1856-1857. The papers of Major Heiss which bear on this part of his life were printed, with introduction and notes by Prof. W. O. Scroggs, of the State University of Louisiana in the Magazine for De- cember, 1915. Summarizing the facts there set forth we may note that Heiss was employed by Marcy, the Secretary of State under Pierce, to carry dispatches to Nicaragua. At the

4Compare Polk-Johnson Letters in the Magazine for September, 1915, under date of January 21, 1844. 5A note in the Madisonian, the Tyler organ in Washington, spoke of the Nash- ville Union as "now one of the largest and handsomest journals in the United States, as well as the ablest." Madisonian, January 11, 1845. ®A nuniber of documents in the next instalment have to do with this matter.

7A number of letters, dealing with the business of the Delta, have been omitted.



Heiss Papers 139

same time he indulged in a small business undertaking for the sale of some corn mills. In June Heiss was left by Father Vigil, William Walker's Minister to the United States, as charge d'affaires to look out for the interests of Nicaragua on the occasion of Father Vigil's rather undignified retreat from his post. In September Heiss was named by Walker special commissioner to Great Britain and the United States to adjust the dispute over the Mosquito Territory, and was au- thorized to ratify on behalf of Nicaragua a treaty made be- tween Nicaragua and the United States in 1855. At this time Heiss was described as "a duly naturalized" citizen of Nica- ragua. As the Walker government was not recognized, this authorization was an empty honor.8 Heiss appears to have continued in close touch with Walker until the autumn of 1857: after that there are no more letters. In 1857 Heiss had returned to Washington and established a newspaper known as the States. But Heiss retained his interest in Nicaragua. This is shown by the letters which he received from that country, and from the fact that in 1860 he was again appointed as bearer of dispatches to the United States legation, this time receiving his commission from William Henry Trescot, acting Secretary of State at the time. In 1.861, Heiss was back in Nicaragua. Apparently his chief concern was the cul- tivation of cotton in Central America. From 1863 on, he served as agent of the British bondholders who had claims against Nicaragua. Concerning the affairs of these creditors there is a considerable body of papers, the publication of which must be reserved for another occasion.

The date of the death of Major Heiss has not yet been ascertained by the editor. His son, Henry Heiss, served in the Confederate army, and after the war became one of the editors of the Republican Banner of Nashville. He continued in this post until 1872, when he became managing editor of the St. Louis Times. In 1874 he returned to Nashville and was managing editor of the Union and American for about a year, until that paper was consolidated with the Republican Banner.. He then accepted the managing editorship of the American. He married Miss Mary Lusk, of Nashville. It is to a nephew of this lady, Mr. Robert Lusk, of Nashville, that the Magazine is indebted for the use of the Heiss papers.

8The instructions given by Walker to Heiss for the British-United States mission, in Walker's own hand - a document placed i n the hands of the editor only recently - will be found printed separately as Walker-Heiss Papers, II, below.



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PAPERS OF JOHN P. HEISS. 1. James K. Polk, Columbia, (Tenn.) to Maj. Jno. P. Heiss,

Nashville. May 5, 1842. I received your letter of yesterday this evening and herewith

enclose a letter to my friend Johnson 9, who will I know take pleasure in introducing you to others and making your visit to Washing- ton agreeable. I supposed this would be better than special letters to half a dozen individuals. If however, you desire letters to any persons specially , if you will suggest their names , I will forward them to you. 2. W. G. Harding, Brig. Genl. 16th Brg. T. M.,10 Belle Meade.

To Maj. Heiss. October 8, 1842. You are hereby notified to attend the Brig.de Court Marshall for

the 16th Brigade T. M. at the Court House in Nashville on the last Saturday the 29th Inst, to show cause, if any, why you have not organized the Batln. of the 88th Regmt. according to the requisi- tions of the law now in force in the State of Tenn. 3. James K. Polk, Columbia, to Maj. John P. Heiss, Nashville.

December 21, 1843. Confidential.

I have received your letter11 of yesterday. I am very anxious for the reasons assigned to Mr. Hogan and yourself - that the Union should be made a more vigorous and efficient paper, than I fear Mr. Hogan's present state of health will enable him to make it. If Mr. H. desires to sell his interest and you should become the purchaser, - you ask my opinion whether the Democratic party would assist you personally as they proposed a few days ago to assist the firm jointly. I have good reason to believe that they would. I have no reason to believe that they would not. As a member of the party I can say - that the change if made - by the mutual assent of Mr. Hogan and yourself will be entirely satisfactory to me, and especially as you propose - to leave to your Democratic friends, the selection of the Editor, if they will contribute the amount named a few days ago, and that you will pay him a fair salary. I would much prefer this arrangement, - to see Mr. H. sell his interest to a third person whose future course in conducting the establishment might be un- certain and indeed such as to injure the cause. The Editor who is to be preferred above all others, for the coming contest, is our friend Laughlin .12 He has talents and experience, is perfectly familiar with the politics of the State and the Union, and is extensively known as a sound democrat. In his hands I doubt not the patronage of the paper would be greatly increased, and the cause advanced. What we want is a sound and able Democratic paper - as a reliable organ of

°Cave Johnson, Representative from Tennessee, later Postmaster-General under Polk.

10Tennessee Militia. nIn the Polk Papers, now in the Division of Manuscripts in the Library of

Congress, are several letters of Heiss to James K. Polk, beginning December 19, 1843. This letter of Polk's and others that follow are answers to these, or communications addressed by Polk to Heiss. Several of the letters of Heiss are of considerable extent and value. In the letter of December 19, for example, Heiss claimed credit for the organization in Nashville of the Democratic Association based on similar organizations in the Eastern cities. (For a description of one of the meetings of this association, see the Diary of S. H. Laughlin in the Magazine for March, 1916, under date of October 28, 1843.)

12For a sketch of Laughlin see Diaries of S. H. Laughlin of Tennessee, in the Magazine for March, 1916.



Heiss Papers 141

the party in the State. He would make it so, whilst some others into whose hands it might pass, might not. It is a matter of importance, - that whatever arrangement is made should be speedily made. The public need know nothing of what is contemplated, until it is consummated, and announced by the parties. In whatever is . done I must urge first that Laughliris services be secured during the canvass of the next year.

After closing this letter, I will envelope it to Geni. Armstrong ,13 - that it may go directly into your hands, - and not run the risk of falling into the general packages for your office and run the risk of being opened by your clerk. I will mention to Armstrong its general purport, of course confidentially , and desire that you will have an early interview with him. Any arrangement agreed upon be- tween you and Him with Hogaris assent will be agreeable to me as a member of the party.

You see our paper here has taken ground for V - Buren . I men- tioned to Hogan and yourself the propriety of the Union's doing the same things: to which I understand you both to assent14 Since my return home, I am the more confirmed in the views then expressed. A. V. Brown writes under date of the 9th Inst. "The relative strength is estimated as follows - Calhoun 24 or 25, Buchanan , 11 or 12, John- son, 3 or 4, Cass none, not one I believe unless the Michigan men be counted for him: All the rest for Van-Buren." Cave Johnson writes under date of the 11th, "All the fragments of our party seem likely to unite upon Van-Buren, make his nomination unanimous , and each party seek the succession by distinguished services in his behalf."

You can if you choose show this letter to Mr. Hogan , who is my friend, and I would do, or advise nothing that would be prejudiced to his interests. I sincerely regret his feeble state of health. Show it to no one else unless it be to Hogan and Armstrong, and that in the same confidence, that it is written to you.

P. S. I have said to Armstrong that you would show him this letter. 4. James K. Polk, Columbia (Tenn.), to Hogan and Heiss, Nash-

ville. Jany. 21, 1844. Private.

I neglected when I was at Nashville to suggest to you the propriety of placing Mr. Van Buren9 s name at the head of your column in the paper, as well as mine. It is now certain that Mr. Van Buren will be the candidate, - and some of my friends out of the State do not understand why it is, that my name is at the head of the column of the Union and Mr. Van-Bureris is not. Some of my opponents - or rather some of those who urge the nomination of another for the Vice-Presidency, - are attempting to use the fact that Van-Buren' s name has not been hoisted in your paper to my prejudice. If you see no objection - I hope you will run-up his name - subject of course to the decision of the National Convention. 5. James K. Polk, Lawrenceburg. To Hogan and Heiss, Nash-

ville. Febry. 18, 1844. Private.

Some of the friends of Hon. A. V. Brown are disposed to complain that his two speeches on the Jackson fine , and the abolition questions , have not been republished in the Union. I myself thought they had

13Robert Armstrong, of Nashville. 14Van Buren's name was not placed at the head of the Union until February 8, 1845. For Polk's view of the policy of supporting Van Buren see Polk-Johnson Letters , under date of January 21, March 18, May 4, 1844.



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been published, though I may be mistaken. If they have not been, I hope you will give them an insertion in your paper as early as practicable.15 Brown is a prominent member of our party - and may feel wounded (And I have an intimation that he probably does so) at the failure to republish what he says in congress, in the Tennes- see Democratic papers, and especially in the Union. If you have omitted it in this instance, I have no doubt it has been accidental.

I am here attending court but expect to visit Nashville in about a week from this time.

P. S. There being a Whig Post Master here and my hand writing being known as well as my face, I will send this under cover to Geni. Armstrong. 6. James K. Polk, Columbia, to John P. Heiss, Nashville.

Febry. 22, 1844. Private.

On my return home from Lawrence Court on yesterday I received your letter of the 14th Instant. I will write a pressing letter to Laughlin tonight, urging him to take charge of the Editorial Depart- ment of the Union at the earliest practicable day. He wrote me two weeks ago, that he would certainly do so on the 1st of March. The specimen No. of the "Star Spangled Banner" should [be] an able paper, and his first attention should be given to the preparation of matter for it. I am sorry to learn that our good friend Hogan's health continues so bad.

I wrote you from Lawrenceburg suggesting the propriety of your publishing A. V. Brown's* speeches on abolition and the Jackson fine in the Union. Brown himself has some feeling because it has not been done sooner. Insert them with suitable editorials, calling attention to them. I will be at Nashville next week. 7. [A. O. P.] Nicholson (Columbia, Tenn.) to Maj. J. P. Heiss,

Nashville. May 8, 1844. I thank you for your favor. I have not had the head, heart or

hand to answer it, not that I was surprised at Mr. V. B.'s course, but his letter10 produced such a prostrating and cooling effect upon our friends here that it did appear very much like we had disbanded. Indeed it has given many a pretext for doing that which they have had in their minds to do - to declare against V. B., and a considerable portion of them will never be reconciled to him. On the evening that his letter got here the democratic association met and Barkly Martin addressed them - he curried down V. B. smartly but when he came to speak of Cass as he did most eloquently, every democrat was himself and a more enthusiastic crowd I never saw - they made all sorts of loud manifestations of approbation and joy. - Well, just as the Dem- ocratic countenances had begun to contract, down came upon us the Virginia election, and down went our under jaws again. And here we are with our breeches down. But may it not all be for the best - How can Mr. V. B. be now nominated? Surely, surely, surely it will not be done. - But what ought the Union to do. I'll tell you. Just say in emphatic terms. - Let others do as they may, we go for the annexation warmly and constantly - and then as to men wait pa- tiently until the nomination - in the meantime keep striking for Texas and our other principles; holding yourself ready to take the proper course when the nomination is made. I have not time to

t5Aaron V. Brown's speech in the House of Representatives on the exclusion of abolition petitions had already been published in the Union, February 6, 1845.

lcVan Buren's letter to Hammett, dated April 20, and published' in the Globe, had just reached Nashville and had been republished in the Nashville Union , May 7, 1845.



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write any more. My head aches, my heart aches, and I am in the middle of a great law suit.

8. James K. Polk, Columbia, (Tenn.) to J. P. Heiss Nashville, Tennessee. July 31, 1844. Private.

R. P. Flenniken, Esq. of Union Town, Pennsylvania, requests me to forward to him some Democratic paper published in this State during the pendency of the present contest. Will you send him the " Tri-WeekJy Union and the Star Spangled Banner" - Mr. Flenniken is a distinguished lawyer of Union Town and is the President of the Democratic Association of Fayette County. He gives me a most flattering account of the Democratic prospects in that part of Penn- sylvania.

I hope the arrangement can be made to have the aid of my friend Harris's talents in the Union. The Union should be made in Ten- nessee what Medary's Statesman is in Ohio, and what the Union itself was in 1839. - It is looked to from all parts of the Union and must be a great paper during this canvass. It would do well enough as it is in ordinary times , but we are now in a storm , - and it wants more spirit and fire. Let Harris and Laughlin both labor for it. Harris is willing at a word. I have written to Laughlin and feel sure he will consent and take no offence. - Much depends on the next 90 days, and there is not a paper in the Union whose location makes it so important as the Union during that period. - Harris is willing. Let him lay hold immediately. There is not a day to be lost. All Laughlin can desire is the good of the common cause, and he cannot and must not take offense at having Harris's aid, in the great work. If the present enthusiasm and confidence of our party can be kept up for the next 90 days all will be well in the State, - and in the Union. I have written to Armstrong on the subject. Consult him. This letter is for your own eye alone.

In haste.

9. James K. Polk, Columbia to Maj. J. P. Heiss, Nashville. Aug. 21, 1844.

(Confidential.) Your letter of the 29th ulto, is at hand. I had anticipated your views in my letter to you of yesterday, which I sent under cover to

Geni. Armstrong^ lest it might fall into the hands of some one else in your office.

I had also written to Laughlin , and received his answer on yesterday. He says he is desirous to have Mr. Harris's aid. I think he pre- fers to remain, but will be entirely willing that Harris should lay hold with him, and make the Union such a paper as the crisis de- mands. - Harris is ready at a moment's notice. Let it therefore be done. The two can and will make the Union the great paper of the country for the next 90 days and this is what it ought to be. Both Laughlin and Harris can be well employed their whole time in making it a powerful organ. Let it be done. - You cannot imagine the importance I attach to it. It is indeed indispensible, that fire and spirit and power [?] should be thrown into it. The Nashville Whig press must be boldly and promptly met at every point and driven back by exposing their falsehoods and misrepresentations. Can you not in the [e]mergency and for the next 90 days spare more space in the Union for political matter. This is important if you can possible do it, as I hope you can.



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10. James K. Polk, Columbia, to Maj. J. P. Heiss, Nashville. Sept. 13, 1844.

(Private.) I send you today under cover to Geni. Armstrong, a Nashville

Union of the 11th Instant, - containing with the additional matter attached by wafers the material for the pamphlet which I wish published. The "Vindication" as published in the Union of that date, with the additional matter attached - by wafers - will constitute the pamphlet.17 Let there be a title page, - if there is room - upon which the title must be printed. I wish you to print $10,000 (sic) copies in net style. I wish you to advise me on what day they will be out and ready for distribution. - I hope they can be ready by monday or tues- day. The Title or heading of the pamphlet must be the same as that printed in the Union. - I wish it properly done and must therefore ask your personal attention to its publication. Not being a printer I do not know that you will understand where I wish the additional matter to come in, from the manner in which I have attached it by wafers. Lest you may not, I state that I wish the statement of letter of John Wallace to be inserted immediately after the statement of Jacob Lawrence. I wish the extracts from Mr. Senator Haywood's report, to come in at the close of the whole, and immediately after the address of the North Carolina Committee. There are two extracts from Mr. Haywood's report. I wish the more lengthy extract pasted or wafered on the left hand side of the page - to come in first; and the other extract to come in after the * * * and to conclude the pamphlet. I hope I have made my [self] under- stood. I have noted several typographical errors, - in the paper as published in the Union of the 11th, - which you will please have cor- rected in the pamphlet impression. If you get this letter in time to answer by Saturday's mail, let me know when the pamphlet copies will be ready. 11. James K. Polk, Columbia, to Gen. R. Armstrong, Nashville.

Sept. 16, 1844. Private.

A letter received today from Williamson of Somerville, renders it probable that Staunton may still come up in a few days. If he

17The pamphlet to which Polk refers so interestedly in this and the following letters had its origin in the bitter personalities of the political campaign. James K. Polk was a native of North Carolina and in no state was the party strife more violent: To damage Polk in the canvass the story was circulated in North Carolina that his father, Samuel Polk, had been a Tory in the time of the American Revo- lution. It was soon demonstrated that Samuel Polk was only four years old when the Revolution broke out. The charge was then carried one generation farther back and it was alleged that Ezekiel Polk, the grandfather of the candidate for the Presidency had been a Tory. In disproof of this latter charge reference was made to the activity of Ezekiel Polk and Thomas, his brother, as evidenced by documents connected with the alleged Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence of May 20, !775- Various commissions also were reproduced giving official positions held by Ezekiel Polk. A third charge was that in 1780 Ezekiel Polk "took the protection" of the British commander against the Tories. This was answered by citing the example of others, especially Hayne, of South Carolina, who did the same thing, while the consistent loyalty of Polk was proved by many witnesses. It is interesting to note the statement that the charge was first made in 1840 by a Whig paper published at Jonesboro, Tenn. This must have been none other than the newspaper of William G. Brownlow, who had an especially keen scent for any kind of scandal.

The materials for the defense of Ezekiel Polk's character were presented in a report by W. H. Haywood, of North Carolina, and embodied in a communication prepared by the Democratic Correspondence Committee of North Carolina. This was republished in the Nashville Union of September 11 with the title, Vindication of the Revolutionary Character and Services of the Late Col. Ezekiel Polk of Meck- lenburg, North Carolina. It is this with his additions thereto that Polk wishes published in pamphlet form. A copy of the pamphlet is in the Polk Papers in the Library of Congress.



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does, Nicholson will immediately take his place. I promise to send you the names of the Democratic speakers, to whom the letter is to be sent by the Committee. I can only a part of them tonight. In counties where there are two or more speakers, one letter addressed to them jointly will answer. The list is herewith enclosed.

Major Heiss writes me that the Pamphlet Edition of the "Vindica- tion of E. Polk etc." - will be out this week, a part of them on Wed- nesday evening. I wish you to send 100 of the first that are struck to Edwin Polk, Esq. Bolivar, through the mail. Send them in such a way that he will only have newspaper postage to pay.

Send one copy of the first that are out to each Democratic member of Congress. When all are out, send 25 copies to each Democratic member of Congress.

Send 10 copies to each Democratic elector in the Union, - as far as their names can be ascertained from the newspapers.

Send one copy to each Democratic newspaper in the Union. Request Mr. Southall to send one copy to each one of the list of

persons in this State which he has. Send one copy to each Democratic speaker in this State. Send to any others in any part of the Union whom you may think

of. Reserve 1000 copies for me and 1000 copies for Edwin Polk, Esq

of Bolivar. Send them to Edwin and myself by the first safe opportunity -

so as to avoid Postage if it can be done. 1 wish 100 of the first that are struck sent to me. Send them out

to Mr. Loughtry on Thursday, if you can get them. 12. James K. Polk, Columbia, to Maj. J. P. Heiss, Nashville.

September 16, 1844. Private.

Yours of the 14th came to hand today. You say you will have one or two thousand of the Pamphlet out by Wednesday night, and the balance during the week, and desire to know how you are to dis- pose of the first copies which you get out. Send one copy to every Democratic newspaper in the Union. I suppose you have the name and title of a large number of them on your exchange list. Send 100 copies address through the Post office to Edwin Polk, Esq., Boli- var Tennessee. You can put them up in bundles of 25 or 50, and mark on the envelope the number of printed sheets which each bundle contains. - Put up 200 copies for me an dgive them to Geni. Arm- strong to be sent out. Furnish to Mr. Southall two or three hundred or a sufficient put up in single copies, to send one to each of the list of names which he has in this State. Have a single copy sent also to each Democratic member of Congress. Geni. Armstrong has a directory containing their names and Post office. Put up all the balance in bundles of 25 each and deliver them to Geni. Armstrong and I will inform him how I wish them distributed.

Send me one of the first copies which you strike off. I suggest that you put into the next Star Spangled Banner , the

additional matter, viz Wallaceys statement and the extracts from the North Carolina Vindication, which will appear in the Pamphlet, and which did not appear in the last Star Spangled Banner.

My news from New York and New Jersey is very fine. 13. James K. Polk, Columbia, to Maj. J. P. Heiss, Nashville.

Sept. 20, 1844. Private.

Your letter of the 18th is at hand. I wish you to reserve for my



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own use 1000 copies of the "Vindication." I have written to GenL Armstrong, particularly how I wish the balance distributed. I directed to send 1000 copies to Edwin Polk of Bolivar, and pointed out to whom the balance were to be sent. He has my letter I wish of course one or more copies sent to each Democratic Elector through- out the Union as far as their names can be had.

Will you put up 600 of the 1000 which I wish to reserve for myself, - in single copies - as you printers do your newspapers, so that I may direct them to individuals. Deliver all reserved for me to Armstrong as soon as they are ready, and he will send them out. 14. James K. Polk, Columbia, to Maj. J. P. Heiss, Nashville.

September 25, 1844. Private.

I wish you to send out the balance of the 1000 copies of the "Vindication of E. Polk etc" - which I directed to be forwarded here, as soon as possible. Have the balance of the 10,000 ordered to be printed been distributed over the Union as I requested [?] I wrote to Geni. Armstrong particularly how I wished them distributed. They ought to be off immediately. - Be pleased to inform me if they have gone. 15. James K. Polk, Columbia, to Maj. J. P. Heiss, Nashville. Private.

Sept. 30, 1844. I have received a letter from a leading Democratic friend in

Louisiana, requesting me to ask you to send the Nashville Union - in exchange to the "Bayou Sara Ledger published at Bayou Sara Louisiana. I will thank you to do so.

Have you send the 1,000 copies of the "Vindication" to Edwin Polk, Esq. at Bolivar as requested. If you have not, send them through the mail. Put them up in packages of convenient size, or request Geni. Armstrong to do so, in such manner they will be charged with Newspaper or Pamphlet Postage only. - Have all the balance been distributed? Send me the balance of my 1,000.

My news from Georgia is very good, as good as that from the North. In haste. 16. Robert Tyler,18 Executive Mansion, Washington City, to

Maj. J. P. Heiss. October 6. Your very kind letter addressed to the President has been re-

ceived, and in the absence of the President from the seat of Govt, (he is not at fortress Calhoun, Va.) I take pleasure in replying to it.

Without much arrogance, I think I can claim that Thomas Jeffer- son would not be, if he were living, very much ashamed of his dis- ciple the present President of th U. S.

Is there any other Republican in the country who has accomplished a greater work in the service of the Jeffersonian principles, that act of General Jackson' excepted which prostrated the National Bank.

You can only appreciate what he has done by imagining the con- dition of the country if it had not been for his accession to the presidency and his firm and honest course.

We should have had a national bank, a Distribution of the pro- ceeds of the public Funds, a permanent system of a high protective tariff, the country filled with Federalists in office from one end of it to the other, and other Federal abuses of a heinous character.

18Robert Tyler was the son of President John Tyler. The year is not given. It was probably 1842.



Heiss Papers 147

Besides we should have had No Treaty with England, but in all probability a war; for this treaty is one of the results of the Presi- dent's position without a party in Congress. If it had been made a party suestion, we should have had a war beyond doubt.

As to the Expunging Resolutions, you know my father resigned his seat in Congress rather than disobey the instructions of the people of his State, which in the absence of any personal ill will towards Geni. Jackson, but on the contrary with an admiration of his character, proves that he viewed the question as a constitutional one, and gives evidence of the honesty of his motives & purpose. Men will differ in their judgements, and with my father's views of that question, as purely a question of constitutional consideration, he would have been recreant to his own honour, to have voted for them. Think- ing it wrong, he would not have done so for the sake of the dearest friend he had in the world.

With respect to the Sub-Treasury as presented in its first crude form, no man pretends to say that the people did not decide against the measure. The Exchequer plan is but an improvement on the Sub-Treasury. Does the Sub Treasury, my dear Sir, alone exhibit and concentrate democratic principles? Can only one democratic form of a fiscal agent be suggested.

The Exchequer plan proposed by the President is Mr. Jefferson's otvn scheme, only I think a little safer and if anything a more democratic plan. Mr. Jefferson proposed that his issue of treasury notes should be bottomed on a specific tax , whereas the President proposes an actual sub-stratum dollar for dollar, of gold and silver coin.

Besides, my dear Sir, any party who goes before the people in that old issue , will assuredly be again put down.

The President is anti-bank - anti a high protection Tariff - anti distribution - anti-abolition - anti-Federalism in all and any forms and a strict constructionist of the Constitution. What more is needed to make a pure Republican?

(To be continued.)

II.

Walker-Heiss Papers, Additional. [In the Walker-Heiss Papers , published in the Magazine

for December, 1915, were included (pp. 338 ff.) documents bearing on the appointment of John P. Heiss as special commissioner from the Republic of Nicaragua to the governments of Great Britain and the United States. The document printed below, which has been only recently placed in the possession of the Editor, is the letter of instruction given to Heiss on this occasion. By it Walker's intentions are more clearly re- vealed. - Ed.] Wm. Walker to Mr. John P. Heiss, Special Commissioner to Great

Britain and the United States. Government House, Granada, Sep. 30th, 1856.

Sir: In the special mission with which you are charged you will be governed by the following instructions:

1st. You will proceed as early as possible to Washington City where you will present a copy of your credentials to the Secretary of State of the United States. If the information you receive there is of such a nature as to induce you to suppose that negotiations are



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