"WASHINGTON, _December 19, 1845_.
"MY DEAR SIR,--I sent you Fremont's report, which I presume you have
ere this received.
"As to matters here, I really know as little as yourself--I mean of
the views and intentions of the administration. My intercourse with
the President is official; and the Secretary of the Treasury I have
not yet seen. I came here with the determination of acquiescing in
whatever should be desired in respect to organization. I have acted on
this determination. In respect to measures, I consider myself free to
act according to the dictates of my judgment. Happily, the President's
recommendations I cordially approve, and I shall give them my zealous
support. Where we shall land is doubtful. We have an able and adroit
opposition; and advantage will be taken of the minutest error in our
movements. We had abundant proof of this in the matter of Cass's
resolutions. I never saw two cleverer cases of genteel sparring than
that of Cass by Crittenden and Allen by Clayton.
"I wish to open a correspondence with Mr. Kittell. Will you put me in
the way of it?
"There are a few measures I have much at heart--the warehouse system
and the branch mint at N. Y.; the great measures, of course, take care
of themselves.
"You know I shall always be happy to hear from you. I will write when I
can. But I am a new member, have everything to learn, and not half time
enough to learn it in.
"I cannot yet say whether there is any truth in the report as to
Lawrence. His name is not yet before us. Indeed, we were in executive
session yesterday for the first time, and I suppose the President has
been waiting for us to organize before sending in the great mass of his
nominations.
"Yours truly,
"JOHN A. DIX."