, 1861-11-19

The independents Sensation Item.
The N. 7. Lndependent Of the 14th inst. says
that no one could have been more astounded
than we're its editors Of the appearance Of the
paragraph in it's previous issue, to the effect
that Mr. Seward had expressed his conviction
Of the certain failure Of the Government in
the present war, and that ThurloW Weed had
been commissioned by the Secretary Of State
as an envoy extraordinary to secure from
England and France the most favorable terms
for the United States, in the event Of recog
tion Ct the rebel ConfederacJ by European
pcwe1s. The editor then procseds 70 tell how
tie item got inserted, as follows:
No words could better express the feelings
Of the editors or reading this paragraph, than
those Of Mr. Weed himEelt in regard to it :
s'Ihi6 moet ridiculous and yet vicious false
heod exeites mingled contempt and indtsna-
tion."
Ha,ipg prepared the paper fer the press, the
eGitors had LETT the office. At the last mo-
| ment before going to pre=e, gentleman ko
| has been an occasional contributor to the
paper, and who has sometimes furntshed
items Of Information from the Seat Of COY.
| er1ment, came in hurr1edly With this item OF
news, which he claimed to have obtained per-
| eonally and upon the best authority. The
| gentleman.i in charge Of the "make up,'' pre-
eum.Dg the information to ba authentic, in-
considerably gave the story place IN our
the leaEt authority to involve the Iat1epeadest
in so grave responsibility. The veteran
Associate Editor, who has been connected
with the paper since its commencement, and
who is fully informed Of the editorial plRla
ard views. was entirely ignorant Of the article
ours, tie responsible editors must necessarily
leave to other hands certain details in the
routine Of the office. We snail endeavoF here
after, by st1icter regulations IN this reepecs tc
guard against the repetition Of so morsifytng
s blurder. It is but just, however, to the
gentleman who furnished this extraordinary
Information, to etate that hs is neither astoak
| iobber politician, nor an armJ. contractor
but that, believing be could trace his state
ment directly to Nh. Weed, he gave 1t pub
llcity frcm motives Of patriotism.
Upon investigation We are satisfied, that hi.
own 6uImiseR and impulses mlsled him as t:
the weight and authority Of his sources Of in
formation ; and he is deeply mortified at be
ing the occasion Of SO much mischief.
The Independent proceeds to comment on
: Washington dispatch which stated that tn
author Of the offending paragraph would b
sent TO Fort Warren:
5 So, then, it would be regarded as Treason
b. sin high quarters" at Washington, if q mem
i ber of the Cabinet should adVise the recogn
ton Of the South Conf. deracy, or peac
8 with rebels unsubdued It Is worth some hu
4 initiation on our part to have secured sucl
f an avoMal. For month past rumoTs that
= peace policy on the Fart Of some men
q ber OF members of the Cabinet Was obstruc
ing the prosecution OF the War, have bee
b floating il the air, and have gained credsnce
e high political and fnanciai circles. Such
e policy tee should regard as reasonable; an
If ii we had convincing evidence Of such charg
n against any member Of the Cabinet, We shoul
il not hesitate to prosecute 1t tin high q12
;e tere,' until The offender should be sant to Fo
s Lafayette. For We take it that in such cas-
p not the prosecutor, but the traitor, shou
s. come under condemnation; and that trease
is would be at least as grave crime in ca
10 net Secretary as in an editor! We are gii
te to learn that the same view IS entertaint
Ie by the Government; aud that the bara In
Is nation, Of hurried Paragraph in q cora
ct Of q newspaper, that the Admmlstfas1oa
,e any member Of it would favor peace vi
u. rebels, is resented " in high quartefs" As
le charge Of treason"