The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-08
THAT 'TNVR|T7EN CHAPTER. y
Alexander b. Stephens Answers
Thurlow Weed.
HE REASSERTS FORMER 'DENIALS.
Mr.. Weeds Memory and the
Records at Variance.
GENERAL TOOMBS' DENIAL.
LIBgRyY HALL,
CRAwroRDsvILLE, ca, July 20, 1915

| LIBgRyY HALL,
CRAwroRDsvILLE, Ga, July 20, 1876
70 THE EDITOR THE HERALD:-
Hon. Thurlow Weed In his reply to my communica-
ton In your issue OF the 18th INST upon tho subject OF
his "Unwrtcn Chapter Of History" seems TO think
that II my purpose 10 raise question Of personal
veracity between II is proper that he should be
assured tina, had such intention Ny object was
simply 10 assure him and The public that the intorma-
ton upon which his statement was based was utterly
groupdicss lie also expresses regret and surprise
that my denial Of the OF that part OF his
chapter which eave account Of interview between
Mr. Toombs, Mr.. Ciinyman and myself with General
Tay the subject OF the admission of California
the linton as a FREQ State. had departed from
my habitua rankness in stating what did occur at
tho interview. had simply protested against the cor
RICHNESS OF his statement and denied that any such in
orvicw forth by him taken place. This
no regards and argues that ought to
have stated what did between Mr.. Toombs, MT
Cingman and myself and General Taylor. This is his
language:-"lf after saying no such interview OF
Messrs Toombs Clingman aud myself took place
with General Taylor, Mr.. Stephens had informed us
what the OF that interview really was any reply
from me would have been unnecessary" This Ia Ger
tainly strange logic and extraordinary specimen
OF reasoning the Of the facts 1t will he reco
cccd that Mr. Weed, his ''Unwrttcn Chapter of HIS
",
Bennett of the HERALD by which he secured his in
ucncc behalf OF the administration Of Mr.. Lincoln
made this statement:-'I gave him the then
known particulars OF an interview of Messrs. Toombs
and Stephens, and Ciiugman members OF Congress
IRON Georgia and North Carolina, with General Taylor.
Tho object OF that interview was to induce General
Taylor, Southern man and STAKEHOLDER, to veto tho
bill permitting California the Union free
state. II stormy interview, with threats Of dis
union the ope hand and hanging the other. the
facts were catcd to Senator Hamn. OF Maine,
and myself within ten minutes after the interview
closed "
Now, In answer to this statement, simply entered
my unqualified denial of the correctness of the matter
us set forth. l intended my protest to be entered
against the correctness OF the entire statement not
only In whole but In every part and particular. re-
affirm the same again. No such interview that set
forth over did any like It, How II dis
ingenious in me- cvincing any want OF frankncss in
stating what the nature OF that interview really
which never occurred? Mr. Weed had designated
time; but say, without qualification, that at time
there any unpleasant. much less stormy, in
between General Taylor and myself between
him and any other person persons in my presence
/ never said word TO him in my life to induce
voto any bill Nothing could have been more out OF
place absurd than urg, upon him to the bill
OF Congress Mt tho time of his DEATH
In sustainment of my position submit to the public
the following communication to from General
Toombs, received to-day
WASHINGTON Ga, July 49, 1875
DEAR Shiny attention was called several weeks
ago tho letter OF Thurlow Weed, OF New York touch
ing an alleged interview between you and myself and
the hon. Thomas L. Cngman OF North Carolina, and
President Taylor in 1850 The whole story is fabrica-
ton far as concerned and believe equally
yourself mover did call on General Taylor with
you, Mr. ClIngman anybody else on the subject of
vctoing tho bill for the admission OF California any
OF tho pending Territorial bills No such bills passed
Congress during L's lifetime; was 1t possible for
such a BILL with Congressional prohibition OF slavery
to pass the Senate during that session There
large and decided majority against such action In the
senate led by Webster Calhoun Clay and other DIS
tinguished Senators Therefore necessity
tor any such Jolly as requesting Taylor 10 veto
such Territorial measures. While the circum.
stances connected with tho formation OF whit
called the California constitution wholly regu-
lar and highly Objectionable, yet you and myself
majority Of tho representatives OF tho siaveholdng
States wcro willing TO accept 1t IN competition with
other measures adjusting tho question OF slavery,
we then hoped, forever, between the North and the
South. These other questions were slavery in the
Territories the Fugitive Slave law and settlement Of
the Texas claim upon the Territory of New Mexico.
Taylor's administration opposed THIS policy. THIS
threw you and myself and many other Of the earliest
and hrmest friends OF General Taylor, in opposition
his administration Six of IRON the South deemed
It duty to defeat that able, accomplished
man, Mr.. Winthrop for tho Spcakcrship, in order
deprive Taylors administration of the organization of
the House. We succeeded IN that effort Mr. Cobb
was elected Speaker, Taylor died, Fillmore camo
in and turned out Taylor's Cabinet and APP
pointed favorable to the compromise
measures, which passed approved by
large majority of the people, demonstrated by tho
election OF Pierce. You and l supported these COM
promise and severed party relations In
Georgia. Both OF us werc.e!ccted 10 Congress these
issues 1851. Cobb elected Governor in 1851 in
opposition to the opponents OF these measures, and
that year elected to the Senate OF the United States
under tho new party organization resulting from these
and the State oil Georgia called convention
in 1850 OF which were both members, affirming the
compromise, including he admission OF California, as
final settlement oil all the questions involved them.
Both of us had frequent interviews separately aud
together with General Taylor and urged upon him
Abandonment policy and adoption OF the
promise meas urcs Some of these interviews were
and declded both sides but such language
as that attributed to General Taylor by Weed
used by him my presence. General Taylor was an
honest, hrm truthful man, with but little knowledge
civil government and was incapable OF making the
statements attributed TO HIM by Weeds informants.
As 10 Mr. CngmaD, do not remember that he
ever present at any OF those interviews with Taylor.
In TACT, II now occurs to me that he neither In
sympathy with Tay policy nor With that cd
BY us but he is alive and can speak Tor himself HIS
oharactcr is sufficient guarantee Tor any statement
ne may make.
above five years these events trans
pred, have not consulted any OF tho records OF
the inc but " Ill do s. ! am able, II IL be-
necessary TO correct my memory - any OF
these events am, respectfully, your obcdicnt SER
| Hon. ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS, Charlottesville, Ga
/ With few remarks shall bring this commu-
ncaon close IL will be rcccllcctcd that stated
my hrst letter upon the subject, that there but
point in Mr.. Weeds 'Unwrittcn Chapter OF HIS
tory" that intended to notice still adhere To this
position, and shall not bc drawn into any discussion
with him upon other question: .ncctcd with the
All these matters I1havc fully treated OF IN my
work upon The late war; its causes character, conduct
and results TINS subject the admission OF Calfor-
MIA, with The position OF my colleague Mr. Toombs,
aud myself upon II, is fully treated of In tho second
| volume OF that work, page 200. Ct sequens
Mr. Weed, r his last communication, gives General
Taylor as his informant touching the acs set forth IN
his statement ON this po.nt will not assume To
assail his yeraclty or TO attribute deliberate I'M
! truth 10 him, but do assume to qucs'
ton the accuracy OF his memory. He
| must DO mistaken. No fact VIGOROUSLY
| known In Washington, and perhaps throughout the
! whole country than, that and my colleague, MI
Toombs, sustained Mr. Clay's measures OF compromise
~ in,rodu ed IN the Senate, which included the al
mission OF California Notwithstanding the irregularities
9Th l.arG NM