Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-06-15
THAT PRIVATE LETTER.
HORACE GREELEY TO WILLIAM Il, SEWARD.

Seward Weed, and Greeley, by the withdrawal OF the
junior partner-said withdrawal to take effect on the
morning after the first Tuesday in February next And,
as may seem great presumption in me to assume that
any such firm exists, especially since the public was adj
ysed rather than year agoby editorial rescrpt
in the Evening Journal, formally reading me out OF the
wing party that esteemed longer either useful
ornamental in the concern you WILL sure, indulge
in rcminisc ences which to befit the occa
sion.
was poor young printer, and editor of literary
Iouna-a very active and bitter wing in small way.
but not seeking to be known out of my own ward COM
mteewhen after the great political revusiOn Of 1884,
was day called TO the City Hotel, where two stran
gers introduced themselves Thurlow Weed and Lewis
Benedict of Albany. They told me that a cheap cam
paign paper Of peculiar stamp at Albany had been
solved on and that had been selected to edit it, The
announcement might well be deemed fatteriug by
who had sought the notice of the great and
who was not known partisan writer and eagerly
embraced their proposals They asked to fix my saa
ry for the year; named $1,000, which they agreed
and did the work REQUIRED to the best my ability 1t
work that made figure and made no sensation;
but loved it and did il well. When it was done, you
were Governor dispensing offices worth So 600 TO $40 600
per year to your friends and comparios, and returned
to my garrett and crust and desperate battle with
pecuniary obligations heaped upon me by bad partners
in business and the disastrous events of 81 believe it
did not then occur to that of these abundant
places might have been offered without injustice;
now think it should have occurred you. If it did
cur to me- was not the to ask you for it: think
that should not have been necessary only remember
that no friend at Albany inquired my pecunary cir
cumstances; that your friend (bu not mne) Robert c.
Wemore was one OF the chief dispensers OF your pat
ronage here and that such devoted compatrots A.
H. Wells and John Hooks, lifted by you out of pau
perism into independence, | am glad was not and
yet inquiry from needs and means at that
time would have been timely and held ever in grateful
remembrance
In the Harrison campaign of 1870, again desgnat
ought have something by it, in spite of its ex-
tremey low price; my extreme poverty was the main
work mailing, &C. done by the job, and high charges for
extra work nearly ate me up At the close, still
Now came the great scramble of the swell mob of coon
Ministries and cider suckers Washington-I not being
counted in. Several regiments of them went on from
this city; but not one of the whole crowd-though say
it who should not-had done so much towards Gen Har-
rSons nomination and election yours respectfully.
ought to have asked that be postmaster of New York
Your asking would have beenin van bnt it would have
been an act of grace neither wasted undeserved
soon after started the Tribune because was urged to
do so by certain of friends and because such pa
per was needed here was promised certain pecuniary
aid in so doiDg is might have been given without
cost or risk TO any one All ever had loan by
honored memory! did not ask this, and think it is
the sole case in which received pecuniary favor
Pohtcal associate am very thankful that he did not
die till it was fully repaid
Ana let me here honor one grateful recollection
When the wing party under your rule had offices to give
my name was never thought of; but when in 1928, we
party nomngton for state printer Whenwe again
TO nave state printer or to elect well as nominate the
IL
thing to know that there was time when it was
not deemed too great sacrifice to recognize be-
been created purpose give its valuable patronage
Il. j. Raymond and enable ST. John to show forth his
should have been still more grateful.
In S4s your star again rose, and my warmest hopes
were realized in your election to the Senate |
longer needy, and had no more claim than desire to be
recognized by General Taylor think had some claim
to forbearance from you. What received thereupon
was most humiating lecture in the shape of decision
in the libel of Redeld and Pringe and oblga
ton to publish it the other
supposed firm | thought and still think this lecture
needlessy cruel and notifying The plaintiffs, after
ing my columns TO the extent of their needs DESIRES
stopped writing, and called on me for the OF their
assaant. profered it them-a thoroughly RESPONSE
bic They refused to accept it unless ii sionld
prove to be of the four five first in Batava
when they had known from the first who it was and that
it neither of them. They would not accept that
which they had demanded; they sued me instead for
money and money you were at liberty to give them to
your hearts content. do not think eere at liberty
to humate me in the ewes of my own and your public
as you dld think you exalted your own Judicial ster
ness and tearessness unduy at my expense think you
when webb threw himself untmey upon you for par
den which he had done all man could do to demert.
Clis paper is paying you for it nOw)
have publicly set forth my view your and duty
win respect to fusion, Nebraska and party designations
Weeds reading me out of the wing party-my crime be-
ing in this as in other things that of doing to-day
to morrow.
Let speak of the late canvass was once sent to
secure seat therein for four years. think never
limited any human being that would have liked to be
put fOrw ard for any place. But James W. White (you
hardly know how good and true man he is started
thought could help him through; so was put on be-
una him But this last spring. after the Nebraska ques-
non had created new state of things at the north
two personal friends of political consideration,
suggested my name candidate for governor and
lid not discourage them. Soon the persons were
ltterward mainly Instrumental in nominating CLARK
bout me and asked if could the know-nothng
1ote; told them neither could nor would touch it;
N the contrary loathed and repealed it. Thereupon
hey turned upon Clark
said nothing, did nothing. hundred people asked
ne who should be run for governor sometimes indi-
Ste1 taItSTs Sod never nnea at my own name But
ell me why he could not support me for governor q
/ am sure Weed did not mean to humiliate me- but he
lid it, The upshot OF his discourse very cautiously
houid beat not myself only but you Perhaps that
rue But as had in no manner solicited his or your
riends rather than to suspect it is true that
'ould not have been elected governor whig But
party in the state this which could would have
Elected me to any post without inurng itself endan-
1t was in vain that 1 urged that had in no manner
'sked nomination At length was nettled by his Ian
lin to me-to say, in substance well, then, make Pat
erson governor, and try my name for lieutenant. To
ose this place is matter of no importance and we
zee whether am really so odous.'
'ut should have gored in running the post Iwant
2 nave my enemies all upon me at once; am tired of
leen beaten in the canvass, know that my running
would have helped the ticket, and helped my paper.
1t was thought best let the matter take another
course No other could have put on the tick
It bitterly humbng as that which was selected
The nomination was given to Raymond; the fight left to
ne And Gov. Seward, hare made it, though it be
3eited in me to What little fight there has BEEN
have stirred up. Even Weed has not been q sneak of
MS paper hearty in this contest while the journal the
wing lieutenant governor has taken of its own inter-
and the canvass take care of itself as IL do
Jared 1t would do That journal has (because of its milk
and water cQurse some twenty thousand subscribers in
this city and suburbs and of these twenty thonsand
venture TO say more voted for Uman and Scroggs than
0r Clark and Raymond; The Tribune aso because its
character has but eight thousand subscribers within the
same RADIUS and venture to say that of its habtual
readers nlne-enhs voted for CLARK and Ravmond-very
lew Ullman and Scroprs had 70 hear the hrnnt ~
lhe contest and take terrible responsibility in to
the wings uniting upon James Barker in order
70 deiea Fernando God Had Barker been elected here
neither you nor could walk these streets without being
hooted, and know-n0thngsm would have swept like a
prarle-hre stopped Barkers election at the cost Of
mourning the deades enmity of the defeated gang and
have been rebuked for ii by the lieutenant governors
paper AT the critical moment, he came against John
wheeler in favor of Charles IL. Marshall, (who would
nave oeen your deadliest enemy in the ouse and
yUaT col GensrSs paper which was even with me in
at the last moment, and went in for MarshalIhe Tri-
CIiisile 10 neeer 10 the last reJoce hai
tey VINO turned so suddenly were not able TO turn all
Gov Seward know that some of your most cherished
that John Schoocraf for insists that you and Weed
shall not be Identified with me trust after time you
will not be trust shall never be found in opposition
to you; have further wish but to glide out of the
join my family in Europe and if possible STAY there quite
atmeOng enough to cool fevered brain and
my overworked energies. All ask is that we shall be
counted the morning after the first Tuesday in
February, as aforesaid, ana that may Thereafter take
such course as seems best without reference to the past
You have done acts of valued kindness in the line
Of your profession let close with the that
these will ever be gratefully remembered s@b ed by
Hon. WIN. II. SEWARD Present.
HfIam not misakent this judgment is the only speech,
letter. document addressed to the public in which you
ever recognized my existence hope may not go down
TO posterity as embamed therein.
nyr,xryc