The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-08
Nem Eork Correspondence.
NEW Y ORR, Jan. 5. 1912
LETTER XXI.

New Y DIRK, Jan. 5, 1912.
The Message of Governor Seward reached the city
asst night, in less than nine hours from Albany by an
express run by the enterprising editor Of " The Sun"
II would have been here at minutes before 10
instead Of minutes before H. but for detention of
one hour caused by freight train, AS it was, it is
the shortest time in which intelligence has been
pressed between the cities of Albany and New York,
either by horses, railroad or steamers. BY O'Clock
the other city papers had copies from the Sun Office and
this morning the document appears in nearly all the
city papers. The Herald which seems to have
set it aside for more tempting moroccan the
of many the trial of the Rev, VIM Van Zandt, FOR
the seduction Of Miss Murdoch, the report of which
very interesting trial it gives in full The testimony
of the young " lady is remarkable; and the whole
examination mfods some Of the most extraordinary
facts in human dcprayity 1t appears that the Rev,
gentleman, not only took liberties with Miss Muir
dock, but with her sister girl twelve years Of age
and with other members of his congregation young
and interesting ladies of the highest responsibility, he
took all the freedom that they would permits This is
certainly most extraordinary disclosure and for
the purity and honor Of the sex, trust it will prove
false. The testimony goes strongly against the Rev.
gentleman. In his defence, he makes strange
fesson, which is likely to strengthen rather than
weaken the general opinion of his guilt, He says,
" It cannot be mc--for kno,ring my propenSteS,
have invariably taken particular pains to avoid meet
ing the females Of my congregation alone, eren for
religious conversational This is certainly one of the
most remarkable confessions ever made by any man.
Yet this man, who knew himself 10 be weak, con,
tnlied to remain in the ministry, where temptations
to dcre ELECTION from temperance and chastity are sup
posed to lie more in the way Of g the weak than in
other professions. Judge Sclden in opening the case
for the prosecution, makes use of these words;
"CTergymen have more frequent and favorable OPP
portmities for this kind of indulgence-ther avoca-
ons bring them oitener in contact with the females
OF their congregations, ii being important part of
the pastoral duty TO visit the members of their
churches at their own dwellings and hold religious
conversation with them These visits are chiefly to
the lades--the clergy find them aone-thc male
part of the family is generally out of doors at their
various avocations-our pastors have abundance of
leisure their hands, and il would be remarkable
if they were not brought into the company of females
less able to withstand the addresses of men like the
defendant, than ohersless practised in the ways of
the world"
Mr.. Van Zandt lays the whole affair upon a scapc
grace of nephew, II years old who was an inmate
of his family and who had confessed to him, upon
which he had sent him away, and his father had
despatched him on a three years voyage; and that
she had plotted with the nephew TO lay the guilt upon
him That he knew the two girls Murdoch to be
no better than then should be, and that ii was too bad
that his hitherto fair character should be ruined by
them The irresistible convection left upon the
mind, after reading the testimony is, that the
Ray he \ClIth ntron
ves," are both guilty, and that the young
lady would have kept her credit if a certain
little stranger had not bilbbedl This is trough
out, as it affects christianity, which is +" known
and Judged of by its fruits it affects the charac
ter Of the clergy at large and it affects the honor
and purity of the sex--a painful and humilia,ing
affair.
have not yet read Governor Stewards message
1t is very long one, and from a casual glance
over its several paragraphs see embraces every sub
iect that comes within the official cognzance Of the
Executive. 1t closes with the following ibtrol and
patriotic sentiment in reference to the fiscal cmhar
easements Of other states
"If moreover, we declare Thai at no time, nor under
any circumstances, can this State justify violation OF
public faith by any oour sistr States, but The same
tin yield 10 those States in performing their dhliga
tons cur sympathy, support and such all as T. within
our constitutional provinces il we staad Ivy those
younger less wealthy, and less powerful, but equally
patriotic members of the confederacy in this crisis
We know full well they would stand by US ii men
accl from abriad-we shall them lpidly recover
ing from their advertisements, and worthiIy regain
inc the confidence Of mankind. Then each star will
he firmly fixed, the clouds now gathering will specl
ly dispcsc and the consella ion continue shed it's
cheering hight upon the way along which the naians
Of the earth advancing to constitutional liberty y
1.-THE stockholders of the United States Bank carry
out the Intention which il is said they have in view
Of publishing The names of all their delinquent debit
ors, there is likely 10 be fiscal secrets" dis
closed than many men would be willing to have di-
vulgcd II the actual amount ofindGbicdnoss ofsome
individuals TO this institution really known their
position in the eye of the ,rd would be very mate
rally changed All developments that 90 to expose
corruption and fraud in banking Institutions, should
be hailed with pleasure; but il is question whether
thesr threatened publications of debtors exactly
belong TO such class of exposilions, but rather oroi
nate from spirit of retaliation the revenge Of the