Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-11-05

honor, patriotism and morality to protect that gov
ernment in ali its parts, fully as the President
the Attorney General or any Of the ether function
aries TO whom we entrust our lives our fortunes
and our homes.
| May 9Th 1853 Forbes writes to Howe as follows
"On Saturday, May lst, had an interview with
Senator VIM. H. Seward, of New York, having been
| introduced TO him through letter from leading
abohtonist, Dr. Bailey, Of the Era. went fully irtC
the tchos matter IN all its bearings. He erprssred re
gret that ks had been od and said that hs ia his posi-
fio, ought not TO hare been informed of the circ1HlstdF-
ees. In part agree with him, and in part differ
regret that the misconduct Of the New Englanders
should have forced me to address myself to him; but
being now enlightened the subject he cannot well
Let this business continue in its present crooked con
dton, instead Of causing il TO be put straight both
as regards my ehildrens situation well as the cot
ton speculation of the humanitarians.s
And Mr.. Greeley and the Eeening Post now wish
10 have it believed that they are blind as 70 read
this statement that Forbes only told Mr.. Seward
about his suffering family.
He did take his budget of complaints" to Mr.
Seward and the chief and great complaint was this
Cotton speculation He told Mr. Seward 'the
tohoe matter in al its 6eaTiags" He left Mr.. Seward
with the conviction that he would the business
put straight" including this cotton speculation Of
ue hliBldnitdTiqnS.o
The Post and Mr. Greeley think Mr. Stewards rsq-et
proceeded from Forbes family troubles. Spmpa-
thizing Mr.. Seward TendeF-hearted United States
Senator! whose duties are so ORerous, whose posi-
tion so abOriOus, that the communication to him of
poor FOrbess family troubles, is a matter that "he
regrets that he has been tald them and thinks IN his
position he ought not to have boen informed of the
circumstances
III his position! Mr. Seward was right in belev-
ing, in feeling from his inmOst SOUL that Forbes's
complaints were serious weighty responsible
secret for man in his position Had he been Presi-
dent of the United States them Gas his friends once
hoped he might one day be,) what course can it be
supposed he would have taken! Would he have
felt his position any more responsible? Would he,
when Forbes told him Of the business in all its bear
iags, "o0ttOn speculation" "mixed plan,o John
Browns plan, Forbess plan. Harper's Ferry srm0-
ry to be seized stampedes to be organized Northern
Convention to overthrow the Administration to be
called, means and arms already collected and placed
in Browns hands, Forbes's determination to be-
tray the whole unl.ss the cotton speclLotiou was
abandoned-these and all the other inducements to
procure Mr.. Stewards aid in putting it straight
would he, we ask if President then himself, have
felt it his duty look after this terrible nsurree-
tion violence rapine and blood? Perhaps the ques-
ton is too hard for his friends to answer. He was
only United States Senator, from the great State
of New York, and perhaps he thought it was only
the outbresking Of the iPrepFessibe conflict and if
FPepFessihle, Of course il was useless for him
mot to say none of his husiness) to attempt to re-
press it
He was silent then, but spoke six months later at
Rochester. His speech was well calculated to aid
the plans which had Deen communicated to him. II
went into the hands of hundred thousand men
who regarded it as the war-cry. Then came the
Harpers Ferry end Of the plan, cotton speculation
and all; and we now ask the question, whether men
who in high position" can receive and keep secrets
ike this until they break out in marderous insur-
recuon, fit men to remain in high Office, or to be
saders of the popular mind2