New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-08-25
Gov, Seward and the American Life and
Trust Company.

The recent failure and assignment ef the Anne
riean Trust Company, has been made the occasion
of assault, from political opponents, upon Gov.
SEWARD, with how much of business and fairness
re will snow.
In the spring Of ICES. Gev. Seward, while upon
professional business in the city of Newly rk met
some personal friends who had then recently pur-
chased out The interest of the Holland Company,
to their lands in Chautauque. The settlers upon
those lands, and the inhabitants of the country
generally, greatly excited against these pur-
chasers. The popular feeling ran so high that the
Land Office had been destroyed, End the settlers
refused to recognize the rights of the purchasers.
In this emergency, they applied to Mr.. SEWARD to
take an interest in the purchase, and become the
A gent of the Company Actuated more by de-
sire 10 be useful in restoring order and law among
a large and highly Intelligent and enterprisins por-
ten Of his ellow-citzens, than By any hope pros
poet CT pecuniary gain, he became interested inthe
Chautauaue purchase, and entered immediately
upon the responsible and delicate duty OF establish
ing, upon terms of justice and equity, reciprocal
bonds Of interest and amity between the people and
the propretors. In this effort he was eminendy
successful. Order, confidence and goodwill, the
fruits of Justice, iberality and Cancellation, crown
ed MIR. SEwARD's mission to Chautauque. The
former disconnected restless settlers, holding lands
by precarious and unsatisfactory tenurss, are now
prosperous, independent FREEHoLDERs, in pos
session Of Warrantee Dscds of the soil they cuti-
yate.
The Chautaaque Proprietors paid $4,000 to
the Holland Land Company in 1889. That large
sum was negotiated by Mr.. SEWARD, as Agent of
the Proprietors with the American Life and Insur-
ance Company, upon whose Bonds the money was
raised in London. This Indebtedness has beendi.
10, Il
ut tho rate of more than 500, 600 per annum. And
the settlers, even in these times of pressure,
tinue to make liberal payments at the Chautauque
Land Office.
But the American Trust Company has Assigned
debt of $21o000 against Gov. SEWARD, and this
is seized upon by the Albany Atlas and Evening
Post, with how much of fairness and masnanimity
we eaye others to determine, not only for political
effect, but if possible, inAict personal injury
The object designed, and the impression created
by these papers, that the Gov. Seward
i. bad And yet there is not the color of pretext
for this wanton injustice. The debt will not fall due
until 1859, long before which time it will be cxtin
guished by payments for Land now worth double
the amount of the debt, and that are constantly
increasing in value The securities held by the
American Trust Company, and now Assigned
their English bond-holders, IRE good and ample,
beyond all question or contingency. Not dollar
has been will be, lost to the Company or its
Assignees by the Chautauque Proprietors. Gov.
Stewards business transactions with the American
Trust Company were marked by that frankness and
integrity which has distinguished his whole life
In reference all pscuniary affairs he goes sbroud
with a mirror in his bosom which reflects every
thought and action. OF the monies borrowed of
the American Trust Company he has repaid large
instameHss, and for the residue the creditors hold
abundant, productive and interest paying securities
Albany Evening Journal