Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-30


From the Albany Argus. 2lstl
II seems that Thurlow Weed holds the
key to the mystery Of the death of Chan
ceilor Lansing, who nearly sixty years
ago left his hotel in New York for the
Albany boat, and was never after heard
from.
Mr.. Weed relates that, twenty-three
years ago, an eminent citizen of this
State, now deceased, put him in posses
sion of information which, in the judg-
ment ofthe informant, clearly proved that
Chancellor Lansing had been murdered,
and that through the agency OF GER
tain parties whose names this emil
nent citizen communicated. This person
further received promise that should
Mr.. Weed survive the parties implicated
parties who lived useful lives and died
leaving unblemished regulations = he
(Mr. Weed would publish the facts. The
contingency on which the promise was
based has now occurred, all concerned
in the alleged murder having gone to
their final account. Mr.. Weed, however,
on mature consideration and consulta-
ton, has concluded that circumstances
absolve him from his promise. The facts
to him, he concludes, are
sufficient TO produce moral conviction as
to the guilt of those TO whom they point,
but as testimony, they would be ipsutii-
cient to satisfy court or jury.
Besides, he reasons, while the parties
named are beyond the reach Of human
tribunals, others, Immediately associated
with them and sharing in the strong in
ducement which prompted the alleged
crime, survive, occupying high positions
and enjoying public confidence. To
these public attention would be irresisti-
bly, drawn by publication Of the proofs,
and the numerous descendants Of the
implicated persons would also be brought
into undeserved odium. Summing up all
these considerations, and rejecting,
moreover, on the recent inlelicitous
experience of distinguished literary
parsonage who, under circumstances
somewhat similar, felt called upon to re-
veal what had been communicated to
her affecting the regulations Of eminent
persons long since deceased" Mr.. Weed
decides to keep silent.
The final allusion is to Mrs Stowe,
who, for the purpose of destroying the
popularity Of Byron's works, concerted
with the discarded wife Of the poet to
spread the story oe his incest with his
half-slster The accusation Of Mrs.
Stowe was malicious on its face, and the
very circumstances she cited TO corrob-
crate it, disproved it.
Mrs. Stove would have betrayed no
trust, II she had withheld from the pub
lie the morbid condolences Of Lady
Byron; for that lady herself was in a
condition TO leave her accusation. with
its proofs, in proper hands for publiea-
ton. That she iorbOre to make the ae-
cusation thus formally, shows the extent
Of her misgivings as to its truth.
. Mr.. Weed, having accepted a conf
dental trust, refuses 10 fulfill il. The
reasons he gives are plausible and of a
q generous character. He alone can
measure and weigh them; and no one
doubts that his experience and knowl.
edge Of the world makes him discreet
} Judge OF his position and duties.
For ourselves we have always regarded
the course Of Moore in suppressing tbs
5 Byron memoirs-out Of censideratior
for the feelings Of cotemporaries-th,
suppression of the Aaron Burr papers
and similar violations Of trust Tor m,
sake of the living, and in disregard o
obligations to the dead, as wholly indie
. feasible.
But there is another aud more impor
tant consideration in a case like this
q II Mr.. Weed had known who were n
murderers Of Chancellor Lansing. q
/ any time when the law could have take