The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-31
AN UywRIrrEN CHAPTER OF HISTORY.

MR. THunLow WEEDS NARRATIVE OF HOW TIN
HERALD's INFLUENCE WAS OBTAINED ron
PRESIDENT LINcoLNs ADMINISTRATIONS
To THE EDITOR HERALD
AT the breaking OF the rebellion the sympa-
thlcs OF tho HERALD the South or ut least
its marked hostility to the administration not only
induced that opinion, but had the effect OF cncourag.
ing rebels and strengthening tho rebel cause. rho
Daily Ners also sympalhized even unequivocaly
with the rebels Fernando Wood, then Mayor OF tho
city, with many promiacnt citizens entertained
Kindred sympathos and sentiments. All this created
strong popular feeling among the great mass OF Tho
people who manifested their loyalty by displaying tn,
SMss aud Stripes not only upon public buildings but
from the windows housetops of private mansions.
The HERALD called upon TO display tho Amer
lean flag, upon ITS refusal neglect do
Icncc was threatened By tumultuous gathering,
which, hovevcr dispersed without committing
any overt act
Meantime the HxRALD. by Its largo circulation Ia
Europe was creating dangerous public sentiment
abroad Our representatives in England France, Boil
gium &C., regarded the influence Of the HERALD upon
tho public mind Of Europe with apprehension
That circumstance, added pur disasters during thu
early mouths Of the war, induced President Lincoln
bring the subject before his Cabinet Il was dsomes
important, If possible change the conl 50 Of thu
but how this be accomplished was q question Of
much difficulty II agreed that an earnest appeal
must be made to Mr. Bennett Several gentlemen were
named myself among tho nunbcr) tor thin delicate
MISSION Tho Secretary Of State that my re-
lal:ons with Mr. Bennett such as to InsuFS the
failure of the object conlcmpiatcd but il was nnaIly
determined that should be summoned 10 Washinrton
by telegraph On my arrival while at breakfast win
Secretary seward, was Informed Of the business IN
hand. Calling after breakfast upon President Lincoln
he remarkcd IN his peculiar way, that he understood
hsA
with tins introduction, proceeded to say that view
especially oil the influence the HEnALD oxeri,ng IL
Europe he deemed II OF the greatest importance
that Mr.. Bennett should be satisfied that the
course Of tho HERALD cndnngcrng the government
and Union, adding his belief that Mr. Bennett could
be brought to things that light no would change
his course While approaching tho imporancc Of the
mission assured Mr. Lincoln that was the last per-
the country to DO selected Tor such duty but
he insisted that should make the trial. and departed
on the first train for New York.
1927, when no was tho Washington reporter Of tho
New York Courier and Enquirer then conducted by tho
late NJ. Noah was Ia Washington several weeks
during the session OF Congress- Tor tho purpose
justing then existing political complications which,
Clay tor President Mr. Bennett, IN his letters 70 Tho
Courier and Enquirer, attributed acts to Mr.. Clay
which, IN the then excited state Of the public
mind, defeated the hopes and efforts OF hia
friends. II Is not now necessary TO recall tho
past in this connection. Out OF those charges grew
entirely separated us, politically, personally ana
calIy for more than thirty years. during which time,
had spoken Notwithstanding this cmbarrass-
mcnt, remembering that General Miller, whom asked II
p III that o would y 70 acs re-
enemy Upon my arrival In New York called upon
my friend Richard scheIl, between whom and Mr. Ben.
nett knew that intimate relations existed. Mr. Schell
readily undertook 70 arrange interview. and IN q
couple OF hours aiterward called at the Aston House
with message from Mr. Bennett inviting to dinner
that afternoon. In stepping out OF tho cars at tho
Washington Heights station met Mr.. Bennett, who
had gone out in the same train Alter cordial greet
IN
the Heights We then walked tor half hour about
the grounds when servant camc and announced
dinner. Tho dinner frugal one, dur
ing which, until tho fruit was served, W.
held general conversation. ! thcn frankly
informed hT Of the object OF my visit closing witt
tho remark that Mr. Lincoln deemed II moro linrortan
TO secure the HEaALD's support than TO obtain VIC
tory in the Held Sir. Bennett replied that tho abo
litIonsts, aided by wing members Of Congress, had
provoked war Of the danger OF which he had beer
they we're rcaping what they had sown' they had no
right TO call upon MIN 10 help them out Of difficulty
that they had deliberately brought upon themselves
listened without interruption TOR ten minutes TO
bitter denuncaton OF Greeley, Garrison, Seward. Sum-
ncr Giddmgs Phillips and myself having by irr,.
tating and exasperating the south, brought tho
upon the country then, IN reply. without denying
attempting TO explain any oil his positions. stated
tho wnolc question from standpoint ! Informed
him OF facts and circumstances within my knowledge
showing concusvey the deliberate design scverina
the Union 70 prevent California from coming into a
Tree State. gave HIM tho then I'M
known particulars OF interview OF Mcssrs
Toombs stephens and Clngman, members or Con.
n
Taylor. Tho object OF that interview was Induce
General Taylor, southern aud stakeholder, 10
veto The bill permitting California TO enter the Union
free state. 1t stormy interview. witnthrca,s
OF dtsunion OH hand and OF hanging the other.
Tho facts were communicated TO senator Hamiin, OF
Maine, and myself within ten minutes alter The ntcr.
view closed Jefferson Davis General Iaylors son-n.
law though NOT present, was, rs General Taylor be,
lievcd, the master spirit In the movement General
Taylor's death and tho compromise measures. under
tho auspices OF his successor Mr. tmorc, brdecd
Rebellion for the time being. then called Mr. Ben
nciLs attention condition Of things 1860, when
the results OF the disclosed the TACT OF
mistakablc numerical and political asccndancy o.
freedom over slavery. This asccndancy crushed the
Southern hope OF extending slavery into Tree territory
that having been the object OF tho repeal Of iii
then pending. then reverted 10 the Democratic Ma
t,onai Convention of 1860 startling Mr. iicnnctt with
the assumption that Convention deliberately
dcmorazcd ~ IL leaders for tho purpose Of throwing
the government into whig hands and thus furnishing
harmonious nomination OF m available Candidate
would have insured the success Of tho dcmocrasle
ticket, that The Convention broken up by lead
ing Southern men, into whose hands general Butcl
and Caleb Cushing played Two democratic candidates
PRESIDENT placed In tho nc.d with the knowi.
edge apd for the purpose Of giving the election 10 Mr.
Lincoln, and then before word spoken act
performed by tho incoming administration, pro-
determined course OF secession and rebellion was en-.
'tered upon.
No one know better than ar Bennett tho truth. tho
force and the effect Of the facts presented. hut hs
mind had been absorbed IN hts idea of the per.
character OF abolition that he had entirely
sight Of the real Of rebellion. Hc rcnocted
few minutes aud then changed the 20 an
incident which occurred Dublin In 1S43 ~ an
OConncil meeting, which both Of attended, though
ut that time not speaking terms In parting Mr.
Bennett cordially invited me 70 visit him AZ his Office
or house M often found u convenient Nothing
was then said IN regard 70 tho iuturo Of tue
HEaALp; but that journal came promptly TO The sup
port OF tho and renamed earnest out
spoken against the rebellion.
II charged that Mr. Benefits changed COURSE
oceasl0ncd by tho mob which hts Office
and IL was also charged that tho HERALD bad brcn
bought up by the administration. Both OF these
sations were utterly unoundcd Up 70 the time OF
Interview with Mr Bennett, several weeks after The
threatened violence. there change IN the course
oil the HERALD, word spoken, suggested o.
intimatcd In conversation conveying the idea Of
personal interest or advanccmcnL Ny appeal waa
duty as an Influential Journalist 70 me government
and Cnion That appeal, direct nd simple, was sue
ccsslul Tho President AMI Sccrctofy oI State, wler
levcd and gratIncd VI 1ncc>4 (1e4uontly Expressed
10 mo his desire IN some WA 70 h1s sense
o. obligation 70 Ne geone,t ~. "a Hns two years