The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-05-28
HORACE GREELEY AND GOV. SEWARD

The controversy that is going on between Hor-
ace Greeley and Henry j. Raymond, on the subject
of the motives that prompted the hostility of the
former to the nomination of Gov Seward is bring
ing out some rich developments. In reioinder to
Raymond's Auburn letter, published in the Times
of Thursday, Greeley, in the Tribune of Friday,
uses the following language:
Mr.. Raymond proceeds to state that | had, Sin
November, 1854, privately but distinctly, repudia
ted all further political friendship for an alliance
with Gov. Seward, and menaced him with hostility
wherever it could be made most effective for the
avowed reason that Gov. Seward had never aided
advised his (my) elevation to office" &C. This
| is very grave charge; and being dated ''Auburn
| Tuesday. May %, 1902 and written by one who
| was there expressly and avowcdy to condole with
| Gov. S. on his defeat and denOunce me as its au-
thor, it is impossible not to that Gov. Seward is
its responsible therefore call on him for
the private letter which did write him in Novem-
ber 1854, that may print it uerbatiD in the Tri-
June, and let every reader judge how far it sus-
tains the charges which his mouth piece bases
thereon. maintain that it does sustain them;
but have no copy of the letter, and cannot dis
cuss its contents while it remains in the hands of
my adversaries, to be used at their discretion |
leave to others all Judgment as to the unauthorized
use which has already been made of this private
and confidential letter. only remarking that this is
bv the first time it has been employed to
like purpose. have heard of its contents or what
purpOrted to be their substance being dispensed to
members of Congress from Gov. Stewards dinner
table in Washington. have articles based on
it paraded in the columns of such devoted cham
pions of Gov. Stewards principles and aims as the
Boston Courier. 1t is fit that the New York Times
should follow in their footsteps; but l. who am
thus fired upon from an ambush, demand that the
letter, which have not seen since sent it shall
no longer be thus employed. Let me have the let
ter-not a copy, but exactly what wrote-and it
shall appear ver5otin in every edition of the Tri
bune.
To.his, Raymond, in the Times of Saturday, re-
plies as follows:
AS to the contents of this letter, Mir. Greeley
processes to be oblivious He remembers that one
part of its object was 'privatey but in all frank
ness to apprse Gov. Seward that he "b0d fulI,
decided that he soould no longer be devoted to his
personal fortunes" This agrees precisely with our
statement, so far as it goes,-and confirms that
part OF 1t which asserts the fact of reputation
We have consequently very little doubt that the
letter in which, according to Mr.. Greelev's aver
ment, this decision was conveyed also alleged the
| reasons on which it was based;-for it is scarcely
presumable that so frank person as Mr.. G. repre-
| sents himself to be- would make such an announce
| ment without assigning its motives 1t does not
appear that he and Gov. Seward had come to diffar
upon any matters of public policy-that thew were
at variance upon any principle or measure of gov
| ernment,-or that Mr.. Greeley saw any reason
| whatever TO distrust Mr.. Stewards personal or DO
itical integrity or to question the wisdom and
| patriotism which he brought to the public service
His reasons, if he did assign them in the letter re-
| ferred to, were of different character;-and we
| feel perfectly warranted in repeating our original
statement that they related solely and crclusirely to
Mr. Greeleys repeated disappoinments in his efforts
at obtaining office. He had complained that his
party services had not been rewarded by appoint
ments which he coveted:-that Gov. Seward had
not even urged his selection for particular posi-
ton which had large pecuniary emoluments at
tached to it;-that he had been run for Congress
only to pave the way for the election of James
Brooks;-that he had been refused in advance the
nomination for Governor; and that his application
for the post of Lieutenant-Governor had not only
been rejected, but rejected in favor of one for whom
| he was known to cherish special and peculiar
aversion. These repeated failures to obtain office
were charged by Mr.: Greeley upon Gov. Seward,
| -and they were the motives upon which that
| PnIosophlcal and disinterested public instructor
naa !uily decided that he would no longer be de-
n uo 70 10y oewards personal fortunes" And
we venture the prediction, that if he really was az
frank as he processes to have been in III Va" it.as
winch ne coniesses he wrote to Gov s., thew will
be found written down quite as distinctly as we
| have given them,-and assigned openly and bnIai
| as the motives for his decision. A 'o'Oiy'
Now, we must not be supposed to overrate tho
| Importance of this matter. We quite agree with
| Mr. Greeley in thinking that "the qualification Of
personal feelings and aspirations should ALWAYS
| be held quite subordinate to the promotion of
| great public cause. But something is due to truth
as we'll as to the outward proprieties of political
| association. Mr.. Greeley has passed in the poti-
cal world at large for of the most dsinteresed
men in public life. He has acquired large degree
of credits and of influence from the belief that he
looked down with supreme contempt, from the
offices for which mere ordinary politicians toll and
scramble, and that no man was more supremacy in
different to the personal rewards of political abors
than he. Throughout this vass,-in the COL
umns of the Tribune for the last six months-in his
Tuesdays history of "Last Week at Chicago" to
which our Auburn letter was in reply, and even in
Yesterdays card, which is the subject of this no.
tice-he holds the lofty tone of one wholly superb
to all personal considerations, land especially
to all desire for personal and official reward.
| "There are those" says this sublime example of
dsinterested benevolence, "who will believe that
| my. opposition to Gov. Stewards nomination at
Chicago was impelled by personal considerations
ana an among these should expect to find the Hon.
henry D.. Raymond" His expectations are not dis
J appointed Few men know him better than the
one ne nameS;-few have had better opportunities
weighing ms actual practice by his professions;
ana only one man exists we venture to saw. who
understands more thoroughly the motives which
govern his conduct, in everything especially which
relates to individuals. What the TESTIMONY of tbot
witness will be, upon the special point under con.
sideration now, we shall know whenever Gov Sew
ard shall see fit to publish the record Of his evi.
dence, as consigned to writing by his own hand.
The Courier, which has been the organ Of Gov.