The New York herald., 1876-09-02
TOoMBs, STEPHENS AND WEED.
LITTER FROM AN OLD VIRGINIA EDITOR.
From the Cincinnati Times, august SOL

A LETTER yRoM AN OLD VIRGINIA EDITOR.
From the Cincinnati Times, august 3ol
PoRTsMouTH. Ohio, August 2s 1915.
In your paper Of Tuesday last nnd extract from
letter OF tho venerable Thuriow Weed to tho NEw
YORK HERALD, relative TO angry interview between
Messrs Stephens and Toomos and General Taylor, In
1850 and the letter OF Hon II. Hamn, OF Maine, sus-
tanning Ar. Weed in his assertion or that special in
tervew of course, know nothing but of events
ing upon the matters dwelt upon by Mr. Weed think
statement might be Of interest now and what know
them sustans his views Of the status of the South
ern leaders at the time
From 1885 to 1855 was the editor and publsher OF
the Wheeling WAY Daily Times All from East TO
West, and many from South to North were compelled
90 by boat through there. and often remained half
day or day. had large, free reading room vhsro
did all my writing and had all the dailes hle You
may judge how attractive that to men who had
travelled for days without nows 1t gave me an init.
acqualnt with the OF tho most of ous
prominent men, l was the earliest and ardent sup
porter of General Taylor, knowing tha though slave
holder he opposed To the extension Of slavery In
anu my room daily during his stay. One day said -
"Doctor do you think General Taylor an honest
man Y"
"a moro honest never lived, was hts reply.
''Do you think nm competent for Pres,denty'
'None more so. He Is close reader and clear
thnKer."
"May ask, then, why you consent to bc an elector
Tor General Cass, in your State, General Taylor being
your near neighbor aud personal iriendT'
he replied IN words that have been ndeJtbly in-
pressed on my memory
General Taylor although large slavehoder is op-
posed 10 the institution and especially to Its extension.
am in favor o It, ana know Mr. Cass will submit "a
It, while General Taylor never will, for he is very
stubborn There Is another reason, II General Taylor
Is elected and lives get Washington he will surely
die whenever he refuses sanction any the
South may PROPOSE and do not wish TO lose personal
friend"
was not SO much surprised at this should have
been, had not been satisfied, from other
stances, that General Harrison had bcen poisoned
through tho agency OF Southern democrats boz
cause he woild sign United statos Bank bill
that would affect State rights and Tyler would
not ono that would operate per Sc. l SAID
''Doctor, never publish private conversation With.
out the consent OF parties Have you objections to my
publishing thisy'
"Nonc at all But think hero Virginia it will do
you more harm than good"
wrote IL out II 10 him and he said Il wns cor.
rect; published IT, aud noticed 1t was much copied ~
the North
was in Washington and heard much violent language
from Southern members. On the day that General
Tayl"r issued his hrst special message in opposition
think, 10 the fugitive slave part Of the "Omnbuy
BILL" was in the room OF Hon. II. W. Thompson Of
Indiana There were several members present, who
did not attach much importance to 1t as calculated
disrupt the whg party. When some had lett cx.
pressed to Mr. Thompson different opinion, and,
believe related the above conversation You know the
Omnibus bill was defeated and the several measures
passed separately Before the Fugitive Slave was
passed General Taylor died. and Mr. Fillmore signed it
The prediction OF Dr. Scott was verified.
It well understood by those familiar Mt Washing.
ton that Mr.. Mason, OF Virginia, as delegate from
Southern fire. EATERS forced that law upon Mr. Clay
a necessity 10 preserve the Union. All know about
it Is ths:-In 1851 Mr. Clay passed through Wheeling,
and him for the last time. Gong down tho
wharf he stopped and said
~ see by your paper you do not like the Fugitive
Slave law"
repsd:-'I do not but regard 1t as very oppres-
sve and unconstitutional" "
He said, very earnestly, $50 do I; but what can
brought me that bill. word for word IL stands, and
asked me 10 read IT, and he would call morning.
He called, aud told him the bill clearly unc0n.
stitutionaL He replied Il know 1t; but 0l the
South have determined to divide this Union. Take up
that bill and pass word for word the North will
be compelled TO rebel. II you do not will That 10
our ulIimatum. had confidence that the North would
preserve the Union had mono In the South;
my life has been mainly given to that purpose 40
cepted it."
The North did bear Il, the KansasNcbraska bill and
the murtcrs OF Kansas, while the South would not
bear the success OF party who wore pledged not -
interfere with one OF their rights Yours truly,
j. f. WHARTON.