The New York herald., 1876-09-18
Letter of Alexander b. Stephens to
Thurlow Weed.
The Alleged Interview with
President Taylor.
Mr. Weeds Coroborative Testimony
Considered and Answered.
THE DISTINGUISHES and TRAITORS OF 1850.
LrBKRrY HALL,

CRAwFoRDvnLE, Ga, Sept 10, 1915
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Pressure of business, In connection with my enfce
bled physical condition, has prevented an earlier re-
sponsc to Mr.. Weeds last communication (Which ap
pcarcd your OF tho 21st uI) upon his 'Unwrt-
ten Chapter OF History" That communication contains
matter which cannot permit to pass unnoticcd and
therefore ask Of you tho indulgence Of further
your columns for comments flew and brief
possblc upon this very long well very cxtraor
binary paper
In IL no claims that he has Substantially established
tho of his original statement upon which,
and upon which alone, Joined issue with him. He
now, however virtually admits that his memory was
at fault in several particularly though he insists that
its substance has been fully maintained. But let
us SEQ how tho fact is; and let the public
judge whether he has presented in 1t the shade Of
shadow Of fact to sustain his original statement,
either in letter spirit and, indeed whether he Is
not quito as much at fault in his last communication
in his first His first statement be It remembered,
that Mr. Clngman, of North Carolina, Mr. Toombs,
Of Georgia, and myself, had interview with General
Taylor while he was President. in which wc en-
deavorcd to induce him to veto tho bill admitting
California as free State; that the interview
stormy ono, with threats of disunion the ono side
and hanging the other. 1t was this statement
every aspect in whole and in part upon which
Joined issue with Mr.. Weed l affirmed that such
interview anv like II, had ever taken place
between tho parties named, nor between General
Taylor and any othor persons In my presonca Mr.
Ciingman af1rms the Same thing OF himself
VI his published letter in your paper. So
also states General Toombs In hts letter which
had published in my last communication on this SUBJ
ject These letters of Mr.. Toombs and Mr. Clingman,
tho array ndsputablo historical facts OF tho
day, showed conclusivey that Mr.. Weeds memory
fault. While he virtually admits this, as
have Just stated, yet he most extraordinarily comes
out again claims in his last production that he
has substantially established the correctness OF his
first statement Now, upon what grounds docs ne
rest this claim shall deal fairly with Mr.. Weed,
and give him tho full benefit Of every particle OF evi
dcDcc which he cites adduces in sustanmcnt of his
position having substantially established the cor
rcctness of his first statement
First-He citcs Mr.. Toombs' letter. which he said
that he had had many interviews with General Taylor
some Of them very s'decidcd" character, and that
l was present at some of these. MIR. Weed secms to
citc this make good that coloring Of his rst state
ment Of stormy interview Mr.. Toombs says
cral of our interviews wore very "decded;' but
Mr. Weed seems most singulnrly, to pass over and
not notice what Mr.. Toombs says the subject
object Of those decided" interviews They wore.
distinctly stated by him. not to induce General Taylor
voto tho California bill. any other BILL but to
urge upon him to abandon his policy in reference to
the Territories and to support tho compromise meas
which were intended as settlement Of all qucs
tions then disturbing the peace and harmony of tho
different sections of tho Union. BE also distinctly
states that though severalof these interviews
very ''decided" character both Sides yet in
Of them was there any such language used as that
stated by Mr.. Weed Now, Is 1t not most singular aud
to cto this from Mr.. Toombs' lettor as
evidence 10 hts assertion that Messrs Toombs
Clngman and myself urged General Taylor the
California BILL when Mr.. Toombs distinctly states that
the object OF these interviews to
induce General Taylor to use the power Of
his administration in support OF the CON-
promise measures, ono OF which tho
admission OF California FREQ StateS So far from
Mr. Toombs' statement sustaining Mr.. Weeds version
Of the ''dccided or, he peasos to characterize
it, "stormy" interview, It most clearly knocks every
prop from under IL.
lSecond-As new evidence in his behalf M. Weed
adduces letter from Mr.. Hamlin of recent date.
shall givc him the full bcneAt Of this notable
testimony Mr.. Hamn says that certain nomina-
tom the Senate by General Taylor before
n committee Of which he was member; that charges
had been made nganst tho nominee, and that he re-
qucstng him to call and the President next
ing on the subject He accordingly called the next
morning and sent in his card and received message
that the President was then very much engaged but
to wait and no would SEQ him alter awhile. In about
half an hour no received word that the President
would then him. After these prcminarics of
which have given tho substance Mr.. Hamiin goes on
to say:-
IL Immediately rcpaired to the Presidents room.
As was approaching thc~door Robert Toombs and
Alexander II. Stephens, Of Georgia, came out. They
excited in their tn degree that attracted
my attention. We did not speak each other went
into the Presidents room and found him alone lie
was evidently much excited have frequently said
that no appeared like cnragcd lion In his cage as
the best description could give. In fact, he must
have walked across the room thrso four times
before no even noticed after my entrance Ho
then spoke to Inc. but still continued pacing the room
crossing It several times more. lie then addressed
you doing at the Senate with the Omnibus biiY' (so-
calicd) then before tho Senate. My reply prompt
sMr President, / bcicvc tho bill wrong In prn-
ciplc and I am doing what l can TO defeat IT,,
His rcjondcr prompt and very decided
stand hrm don't YIELD it means dsunion, and am
paincd to learn that have disunion to contend
with disunon is trcason;' and with expletive
which will not repeat here, he said, with an emphasis
which shall forgot, that IL they attempted TO
carry out thcir schemes while he President they
should be dealt with by law thcy deserved, and
cuted'
Now what docs this most remarkable array OF de-
tails forth by Mr. Han,n amount to in the issue be-
tween Mr.. Weed and myscli2 lie scoms TO think that
establishes the fact that there something said in
tho interview from which Mr.. Hamln says he saw Mr..
Toombs and myself departing about 'disunion on tho
one side aud treason tho other.'' This his
original statement and can imagine object In his
ndducing this letter of Mr.. Humlin but to sustain
himself infcrcntialy on that point BA how utterly
IL fails do even this. The only legiti-
mate inference to bc drawn from Mr.. Ham,
Inns statement is that tho 'hon-lke ragc-
Of General Taylor was aroused against Mr.. Toombs
and myself for urging him to support the "Omnibus
bill, which everybody knew included tho admission
OF California free State. General Tayor's rage