The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-04-15
HORACE GREELEY ON THE SPURIOUS MEMORIAL
DEBATE


HORACE GREELEY ON THE sPuRIou MEMORIAL
DEBATE.
The letters Of Horace Greeley to the Tribune show how
terribly tbs black republicans worried and mortified
by the discovery and rebuke of the attempt to smugge in
TO the Senate spurious memorial from the spurious iegs
sture OF Kansas Mr. Greeley is comfored however, be-
cause he says the memorial given to General Cass Tor
pre- entaion against his (Greeleys) advice He would
have ntrused 1t 10 some black republican, who would
not have been honest enough TO wash his hands OF the
dirty thing when the trick discovered OF course this
shows that Mr. Greeley eognizant of the attempted
fraud otherwise he could have advised against in
trusting tho paper to General Cass.
But Mr. Greeley specially comforted by the fact that
when Mr. Critenden turned upon Gov Seward, and "by
very broadcast nsnuatons accused him Of getting
this and similar discussions for purposes Of personal az
grandizement and sectional agitation "Goy Seward re-
joined with spirit which his friends would gladly him
manifest frequently" 1t eomforts Mr. Greeley
his great champion showing his spunh, and say
that If he considers Gov Stewards reoinder that
sion as spank he is easily comforted Mr. Greeley gives
the spirited rejonder of Gov. Seward follows;
s'Gov Seward rejoned with spirit which his friends
would gladly him manifest frequently He had not
mpugned the motives of senator he should not enter
upon the defence of his He had doubt Of the homes
y and patriotism Of the senator from Kentucky he bad full
confidence that justice would be done to his integrity
sincerity He would vindication tme and
could hardly be tempted again to auda to attacks his
honesty and purity of motive.
"Gov s. spoke much greater length in this strain justly
and forcbly though Indignantly these aspersons
deserve" nu
Mr. Greeleys description of another scene between Mr.
Crtenden and Gov Seward in the discussion shows
that Mr.. Greeley is compelled to rebuke Governor
Stewards want of shirt He proceeds
"Just before this some had started cav to the
regularity and authenticity of the memorial based the
fact that nensaon and appeared in the body Of
it, while the signatures all in the hand General
Glass; who had presented it, made explanation and Gov
Seward remarked that these cav worthy rather Of
examination in country court than discussion in the
Senate Mr.. Crtenden took fire at hisin fact bis temper
is not under good discipline this il into an
attack the legal profession and himself lawyer and
in the heat of his passion INDUCED in undy unworthy fngs
at Gov 81 who simply corrected his msapprehensons and
received them with entire equanimty know what wisdom
there 10 in "a soft ; but Crittendens passion
groundess and his angs unprovoked and think Gov s.
should have very squarey told him must consider that
the repress exhibitions of temper and arrogance
which are SO unbecoming the American Senate"
The modification with which Mr. Greeley witnessed the
closing scene when only three Of his friends had the
courage to sustain the spurious paper win be readily
derstood from the concluding sections Of his letter:
felt that the representatives Of free Kansas
making grave mistake when they ntrusted the presena
ton Of their constitution and memorial TO Gen, Cass but
they all Nebraska democrats and popular soveregnty
of Gen. Cs school, and took the to them most
natural and which they doubtless thought bss The issue
has justified my apprehension When the contest became
hot to-day and the special pesders had discovered what
they represented flaw in the indictment General Cass
backed and let his clients down the ground. He
couldn't anything about the geuuneness authenticity
Of the memorial and in effect up and if the intro
Queer could not uphold it, who could Butler and Mason
thai aAy and
sisted that the memorial was fraud, forgery and
amazed that any could be found in the Senate to
eounensnce it. There il In Washington
who has any personal knowledge the subject but Gen.
Lane, {senator elect from Kansas and Governor Sew
ard had him to know him till tbis day and
presume It nearly the with every free Kansss
present Wade, Wilson, and Fessenden, three of
beat senator's absent others astounded and per
picked By the uddenness Of this attack Those
who had half the day objected to the memorial that 1t
signed by those who had mpudeny assumed be the leg
ature of Kansas objected still vehemeny that 1t
wasn signed; the Senate virtually succunbed to
their clamor only Harlan, Seward and Sumner voting No.
(rumbu Hale and Foster absent Foot and Coamer ditto
slent) and recalled the Kansas memorial from the Com
mttee Territories and handed back 10 General Cas-
presented it, reckon that wbea 1t comes In again it
will be presented by friend of free Kansas who
will know what he about and that it will be fortified
to obviate all cavil, III. c."
The following extract Of Kansas Letter which fnd
in the ST. Louis Republican shows what Mr. Benjamin
meant when he called the memoriasts afugitives from
justice:p
The legislature of Topeka miserable and ludicous
abortion its members hiding themselves judicial
processes like frightened ostriches Some have ed Iowa.
Missouri and the rest hiding their heads the
bushes the vain hope Of security The grand jury Of the
circuit court under the instruction Of Judge Lecompte have
indicted only the MEMBERS but all the judges of election
1t intention Of his honor, at his Douglas
which begins noxt week. to have bills found against Gov
Robinson, Lieutenant Governor Roberts and all the oxecu
tive oficers."