The Portland daily press., 1884-02-06
The "Reniamin', Letter.

Mr.. Thurlow Weed Barnes in letter to
the New York Tribune, gives bis reasons for
believing that the letter signed sBenjamin,' p
which is published in the volume of me-
moirs of bis grandfather, Thurlow Weed.
is the work of judah P. Benjamin. The
letter, he says, was found among Mr.. Thur
low Weeds papers and was in the hand
writing OF member of the family, who for
long time acted as Mr. Weeds amanuen-
BIS. 1t was endorsed, "CoDy of letter
from Mr.. Benjamin 10 the English Consul
In New York; original sent to Lord Lyons.''
TWAS ascertained by investigation that
the letter came into Mr.. Weeds possession,
soon after the war, through an eminent Eng
lish gentleman, who lived for time near
Mr.. Weed, and with whom he was intimate
1t was carefully kept by Mr., Weed among
MS valuable papers, together with letter
from the gentleman above referred 10, in
which reference is made to it.
The objection which has been made hat a
Senator would not be likely 10 seek an in
PRODUCTION to the British minister through
the British consul at New York, when he
might have obtained it much more easily
through some channel at Washington, Mr..
Barnes answers by showing that the British
minister, at the time this letter was written,
was not in Washington, but in Canada, ac-
companylng the Prince of Wales on his tour,
and that he did not return to the Capital
until November. It is also shown that at
about the date of this letter Lord Lyons had
succeeded Lord Napier as British minis
ter to this country, a fact which Mr.. Barnes
thinks disposes of the assumption of the
critics of the letter that Mr.. Benjamin was
acquainted with the British minister, and
therefore not in need of any Introduction.
To The objection that man of Mr. Ben
jamih's ability and atiainments would not
have been likely to write so foolish and bad
ly constructed letter, Mr. Barnes replies
that it is no more foolish or worse construct
ed than many speeches he made 10 the SEN
ale, which Henry Wilson in his work on the
''Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in Ameri-
ca'' describes as "wild, extravagant and
meaningless rhapsody"
All this is valuable evidence to show that
Mr.. Benjamin. might have written the letter,
but none of it has very strong tendency to
show that he did write the letter; and the
latter is the fact which il is incumbent on
Mr. Barnes to prove This is not a case in
which man alleges that letter, apparent
ly signed by his own name in his own hand
writing, is forgery, where the burden of
proof is on the person who alleges forgery.
This letter is not signed Judah P. BENJAMIN.
nor is ii in Mr.. Bsnjamins handwriting. All
it purports to be is a copy of letter from
person who signs himself Benjamin, :,
but says this is not his name. to the British
consul at New York. It was incumbent.
therefore, upon Mr.. Barnes to be able 10
prove, before he paraded the letter as Judah
2. Benjamin's, not only that Mr. Benjamin
might have written it, but that he actually
did write it. Mr.. Barnes has fallen far short
of doing that. In court of law such evl-
dence as he presents would not have far
things value against the positive denial of
Mr.. Benjamin.