New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-09-21
,.ase Hammond on his Life of -ilas Wright
and the structures of che Tribune.

Kindness, ON the third volume of my Political
History, in which is included the Life Of siias
Wright on which ] propose TO submit some OBJ
Bsvsions.
When man elects 10 publish through the Press
4 h, own thoughts aud views hold that bis works
come fair subjects OF criticism fnd animadver-
,oa. aud therefore do not complain Of the course
o, have taken in relation TO my recent publication
ave no doubt may have, in the course Of The work,
,sn.eniionaly committed some mistakes to matters
fact but hope those mistakes are few and inmate
la and "a for the opinions have expressed am far
from claiming to be exempt from errors OF Judgment
ard am therefore thankful to those who in spirit Of
andor will point those either OF fact or opinion
But as think you have instances mistaken my
meaning or intention reluctantly at this time when
an aware that there press Of matter for the news
papers ask Of you in your columns for the fol-
loving statement.
You quote a sentence from me in which IT is stated.
that in $40 plan was conriycd to smuege into the City
inhabitants the City Of Philadelphia, who
should be rauduleny introduced legal voters at the
election in November of that year, and that this plan
was discovered and disclosed by Jona. D. Stevenson
Who was icq qc'iu1 with the Wing party This you
say u no, true that Stevenson never was Wing for a
You will observe that do not say that Stevenson
Wing but that he ras acting with the Wings. The
truth H. that until saw your statement, never knew
nor pretended to know whether Stevenson was Wing
or Democrat before the year 1870 nor did suppose II
Of the east consequence To which party he belonged
found him. according 20 his statement consulting
cOuhdcntisly with Wing oilcehOIder, whose deputy
believe Stevenson was and that Circumstance msied
nae. You may be- and probably are, fght IN the oph'
ion yOn express that GCntworths real object was not
10 obtain fraudulent votes from Philadelphia in 1910
but 20 get of evidence that fraudulent voters
had been procured from that city in the year 1888
nevertheless presume II will not De denied that ste
yenson in pursuance of instructions from Glcntworih
did negoiiatc with some persons in Philadelphia Tor
sending voters 10 New York al the election of 1910
But in truth my object was, as will be obvious 10
every candid reader. TO give account Of the
proceedings by the Governor and Senate, on the
charge against Mr.. Morris as Recorder OF Now-lOrk
As this was the first action Of the Executive and
senate under the clause in the Constitution author
zing tie removal of officers for alleged malconduct
which was contested deemed il proper and thought
II might be useful 10 give a detailed account OF
IL had not then, nor have now. any other dOcu
nents before me in relation to Glentworths proceed
than the copies of those found IN the Journals
the senate The transactions of GlentwOrth and
i.tevensOn with others incidentally referred 10 In
Explanation of the proceedings against Mr. Norris
did not regard their conduct of any Importance,
IT. related 20 the main facts wished to record ana
therefore not so solieiious as perhaps ought %
have be minuly accurate But one thing Il Ger
tain which that did not mean to inslnuato charge
tha, the Hhig party IN manner participated n me
acts OF Mr. Glentworh On the contrary II vi" De lounu
hat state expressly the reverse by reference TO the
=, psrsaraph on page 2s, which Il seems to me, hnd
YOU eNercised your usual fairness and lioerah'y you
would have quoted
Yoi criticise with some severity the remarks made
lbs me that Mr. Wright in lc2ii, did not pledge
himself To vote for an Electoral Law although mad
ssfed that whenever and whomeyer he conversed on
the subject he decl red his opinion in favor OF the elec-
lion of Electors by the People = and this you pro
uouuce most excellent tOOlng.
had ia my second volume stated what some OF tne
friends OF GOV Wright considered amounted 10 an
allegation that be had plcdged himself to vote Tor an
Electoral Law. This they alleged was not true ana
they took great pains 10 convince me- ana did IN iaci
prove that such was not the fact but they admitted
hat in his conversations before the election he had UNI
ormly declared mis- opinion 10 be in favor OF the meas
ure Tiey believed that there is material difference
between solemn promise made IN answer To intefrog
sves put to a candidate by his fellow citizens that II
elected he will vote for or against gwen measure,
which WAS their rs well as my, understanding OF what
politician means by apledgel ana mere expression OF
IN opinion in ordinary conversation in avor or against
such measures they held that Ia that the candidate
aiter his election might honestly change his opinion
aud that he might with equal prOplety believe thatl
his constituents had the same means OF Judging mat
he possessed they would change theirs aud therefore
that II would be- no breach of faith for him to vote IN
pursuance OF his opinion last lSmed while IN the
ormer case they held that If the candidate alter the
ELECTION should change his opinion, hewOuld De OOuhu
in honor to resign.
Importance but rs others do thought IL my duty to
State the facts As understood them TO be- and IN doing
leo stated that Mr. Wright did not expressly pledge
himself 10 vote for an Electoral Law but that before
his election he had IN conversation frequently declared
his opinion in favor of the That the intelh
GENT aud liberal minded Horace Greeley should suspect
that here was any attempt at disguise or gloss, IS to
me really astonishing.
Thai mart oi INV book which you appear To condemn
most ind enanty is the following You say tina, after
stating the course pursued by Mr Wright on the Elec
ra Law after relating the lac, that he voted Tor the re
movs OF Gov Clinton from the Canal Board ana alter
detailing his conduct IN the Senate in ls1 In which he
With others took course which prevented the cccuOn
u Judge Spencer To the Senate OF the Oni'eo states
By preventing any election by tue legislature also tnai
/ iier declaring explicitly that IN my Judgment nj
Wright vofed wrong on these questions, that say IN
excuse for those votes that Mi wright hohesuN anu
shccrey believed whether enormously or justly Is NOT
i nNa subject Of inquiry that the asccnddncy OF tn'
Democratic party in this state would pest secure 'o no
cites and promote the prosperity OF the FcoPe' hone'
T. REGARDED AS dirclciion Of duty any consent 70
gpport men OF measures, the conscque noes % "'"
.e had reason 10 apprehcud would produce the over
! brow or even cause diminuton IN the suehS'h O'
l nn party" Aud for this you condemn me A..
Bu, does not Nc. Greeley himself believe thS' +u-
Wright honestly and sincerely bcitcted thal 'no -
oepdsncv al the Democratic party In this state would
oest secure the interests and promote thc prosperity %
tie people OF does he believe that MT Ntls.t va
ayPocrlc, and protested to oehoSe "n" vr MI,
Would Mr. Greeley or the biosrSphcr OF Mt. Nt'suS
consider II his duty 10 characterize him as hypocft
il 30 conceded that Mr. Wright was sincere IN nj
belief that the ascendsncy of the Democratic party va"
essential and necessary to promote the prosperity V
the country was il not his duty 10 support sach men
nd such measures as he deemed best calculated 10 &C
tcomplish that ohectt The suggestion that TINS doe
tne might lead 20 the Justification OF ASSASSINATION i
hoo eNtravagant a. require reply. Every man knows
none better than Mr. Greeley that when an n1slu
"a consents 10 become member OF political party
must occasionally yield his preference Tor men ana
minor measures to the opinions OF the majority Of m,
t,ariy for the purpose Of accomplishing higner ana
more important objects.
II rightly read the Nclc York Tri5uHc you, my good
81, believe th-t Gen Taylor is not the most ~ man for
President OF these United states and Mr. webster IN
BIS Msrshhcd speech ayOws, believe IN terms, ina
jVeh his sentiments and yet hc declares ne shsl
ksuppor Gen Taylor. Both he and you believe the ss
eendancy ofthe Wing party ia this nation VIII promot
q best interest and therefore you consider II the duty
every good msn 70 endcavOr defeat the election OF
lea Cass Mr. Webster nevertheless viii vote for Gen
isyioT though ~ the very time he makes that declare
Won DC ahrms that be does not believe the General Is
me most 81 man for that Office May not in the face
u These svO~sls, declare that consider Mr. Webster
great and good man.. and that think be honestly and
.heeiey believes u his duty vote for Gen Taylor
hat should do II would seem that should violst.
your code 81 n orsy. and incur your condemnation
Mr. Webster votes for Gen. TAYLOR, not because he
links he Is the best In the ned states for pres
dea but because he thinks the interest OF the country
ennenty requires that the election OF Gen Cas- shouj
! Dc defeated. The nj lau o.. ....14