New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-14
TIKI LETTER.


batim in the preceding column. 1t might be made
clearer on some points by notes, but have not felt
at liberty to add any. The only note appended
| TO the letter is a part Of the original. 1t can
hardly be necessary to explain that the morning on
which proposed to dissolve the partnership Of
| Seward Weed and Greeley, was that following the
day on which trusted, and with good reason, that
Gov. Seward would be elected for second term
| of six years TO the u. s. Senate.
| Under the circumstances do not feel required
| apologize to those who will be surprised to find
heir names figuring in this letter. They will know
hat. when l wrote it, / did not dream that
it would ever be printed, and that the personal con-
troyersy which has constrained me to demand and
publish it has been forced on me. Had the letter
| simply been shown TO certain of my enemies for
their private edifcaton, should have been silent;
but when 1 found in The Times statements i'm
| peachng my personal integrity dated at Auburn
| and couched in terms which pointed Enthusiastically
to this letter as their basis felt constrained to
| call for and print the text And l am glad that
| it has been sent me at last.
Let me here apologize to Messrs. John Fl.
Wheeler and Charles II. Marshall for the total
misapprehension of their respective characters
under which that letter was written. l then
thought Mr.. Wheeler true man and reliable
champion of Free Labor and Free Soil, aud that
Mr.. Marshall was the opposite. How griev0usy
was mistaken in regard to each, need not stop to
show.
beg the reader to be assured that thu foregoing
letter is the very one on which the imputations of
The Times and The Courier & Enquirer were
founded. Scrutinize it closely, and judge between
me and my assailants
Remember that The Times-its Editor fresh
from the perlsal of this letter, and writing at Au-
burn-alleged that had, in Nov. 1854, not only
privately but distinctly repudiated all further
political friendship for and alliance with Gov.
80 Seward" but " menaced him uih his tmy] hos
iEty nheperer IL could be nude most e6eetice, for
:. the ayowed reason that Gov. s. had never aided
" nor advised his [my1 election to Office"
Remember that The Times, in that same article,
resting on this letter. asserts that my opposition to
Gov. Seward at Chicago was Z" the long boarded
revenge of disappointed office-seeker." The
letter will show whether it breathes spirit OF
" revenge" or whether it was not written Z" more
" in sorrow than in anger"
Remember that The Times-untruly promising
that professed at Chicago to desire Gov Stewards
nomination there for President "upon the strong.
"est grounds of political and personal friendship"
asserts that would have been completely dis
armed" there had the contents of this letter been
generally known. And Gen. Webb says that Gov.
Seward had exercised, and continued to exercise,
" the greatest forbearance" toward me- in keeping
this letter private must say that feel far more
obliged to the Governor for his tardy surrender of
the letter for publication than / ever did or could
for any amount of his iorbearance" in keeping
it to himself and his intimate friends.
Gen. Webb in his attack on pe remarks that
"when, at our request, he [Gov. S. read the
" letter to Mr.. Raymond and the gentleman who
." accompanied him TO Auburn, the Governor dis.
" tnctly stated that while he thought it proper
they should know the of Mr.. Greeey's en-
nifty, and were at liberty to refer TO the fact that
" he was disappointed aspirant for Office, no ref
I" erence must be made to the existence of such
letter. Now shall not hold Gov Seward re-
sponsible for the language here attributed to him
by his impulsve and chiyalrous friend, yet must
say that cannot appreciate the distinction here
set mp. Ii my private letter to be used to my
prejudice, why should it not be referred to! If it
was right 10 read it to Mr.. Raymond in order that
he might the strength of it, charge with "ha.
'tred" and false pretenses, and wreaking the long
4" boarded revenge of disappointed ofdce-seeker,"
cannot appreciate the " forbearance" eyinced in
forbiddiDg all ausiOn to the letter on which these
charges were based. 1t seems to me quite as deli
cate and far more manly to refer at once and
frankly to the groundwork of these charges-nay
to give the letter itself to the publc-and let each
judge for himself as to its spirit and purpose. And
l especially regret that Gen. Webb-since he
thinks he could have used this letter with such an.
Initiating effect against me ut Chicago-had not
lad it in his possession and then and there asked
me to let him print it, l was not far to seek nor
hard to find, ard l assure him that he would not |
have waited a minute for the required permission
Enough of this and of these. A single word of |
Improvement to the young and ardent politicians |
who may read my letter and this comment The |
moral / would inculcate is trite one, but none |
the less important. 1t is summed up in the Scrip. |
tural injunction" Put not your trust in princes"
Men, even the best, are frsil and mutable, while |
Principle is sure and eternal. BE no mans man |
but Truths and your country's. You will be |
sorely tempted at times to take this or that great |
man for your oracle and guide-it il easy and |
tempting to lean, TO follow, and to trust-but it il
safer and wiser to look ever through your own eyes
to tread your own patb-to frust imnlic;tly In