New-York tribune., 1884-02-03
THE BENJ4MIN LETTER.
A STATEMENT BY THURLow WEED BARNES
WHY He BELIEVES IN ITS AUTHENTICITY.

WHY HE BELIEVES IN ITS AUTHENTICITY.
To the EdttOr OF The Tribune.
SIR: The publication in your paperOn Sunday
last of letter aegedto have been written In August
by MI Judah P. Benjamin then Senator In Congress
and the Queens Counsel in London has evoked
suc widespread surprise and ncredulity that that 1t be-
comes a duty show how the letter came into my pos
session. and to explain upon what grounds confident
belief in regard to its authenticity is based For this pur
pose permit to trespass briefly upon your columns
soon after Mr. Thurlow Weeds DEATH in 1882, his cor
respOndence and other papers carefully preserved were
placed my disposal to aid In the work OF preparing
memoirs of his life Among other letters one IN the
handwriting Of a member OF the family who for long
period acted as Mr. Weeds amanuensls. This was in
dOrsed Copy Of letter from Mr. Benjamin 10 the Eng
lish Consul in NewYork; original sent to Lord Lyons"
Careful investigation made before any decision was
reached touching the publication OF this document.
II was positively ascerained that the letter as printed
by you came into the possession OF Mr. Weed shortly
after the war through English gentleman, whose emf
nent character and distinguished attainments entte him
10 the high regard in which he Is held In England and
America. This gentleman lived near Mr.. Weed In New
York. for n time and they often together 1t may
he remembered that Mr. Weed had been In England and
France in SCI and 1902 deputed the unofficial agent
of this country TO do what seemed in his Judgment
hest calculated TO aay the feeling of hostility toward
Government which, il then feared, might lead TO
foreign Intervention behalf Of the Southern States 1t
was natural therefore that he should take deep Interest
in this document after receiving be did the best pos
sble assurance that genuine He kept il carefully
in place reserved for valuable papers together with
letter from the gentleman above referred TO- in which
reference the matter under consideration
The main objection raised against the credibity OF the
Benjamin letter IL the argument that Senator In Con
g1css would not be likely in letter TO Her Britannia
Majestys Consul in NewYork % mention his wish to
properly approael" the British Minister Washington,
when Senator may always easily procure an ntroduc-
ton TO any member Of the diplomatic corps through the
Committee Foreign Affairs some other channel at
Washington This objection falls 70 the ground for the
very simple that in August 1860 Lord Lyons, the
British Minister not IN Washington but IN Canada,
engaged in the festivities attending the arrival in
America Of His Royal Hghness the Prince OF
Wales who left England late In July, and
in whose party Lord Lyons remained during the
tour which did not terminate until the Prince sailed from
Port aud November. Aud Il IS equally ppant 70 say
that during his Congressional life al Washington prior
August 1860 Mr. Benjamin must have made he acqualnt-
ance Of Lord Lyons FOR thar argument ignores the fact
that Lord Lyons had just succeeded Lord
Napier "a Her Maiesty's Minister at Washington
Another argument against the le,er Is the assertion that
Mr. Judah p Benjamin could not have written anything
So bordering on the rhapsOdcal. This objection be
male only In gross ignorance OF American political his
tory During the er Of tremendous passion just prior
the war benjamin not surpass sed in the violence
Of his rhetoric by any politician in the United States
His speeches tue floor Of the Senate, which, presum-
ably were written and spoken with the utmost degree Of
literary ability which he possessed are by VcePresdent
Wilson, in bis standard work the Rise and Fa Of the
Save Power in America" deliberately called Wild ex-
trsrsgaut and meaningless rhapsody" Refer
ring to a speech by Mr.. benjamin in December,
1850 Vice President Wilson asks Could senselcss fan
faronade and bazen eron terry 60 furtherf And again
If ANYTHING moro need be said this point Vice Pres
dent Wilson adds, "Can any limits be prescribed TO tile
false and unmeaning use OF words u
Were il at all 10 the point gay that Mr Benjamin could
not have written this letter Il is foolish It
might with ten-iOd force be said that Mr. Benjamin
could not have delivered his speeches In the
Senate, and we should be compelled to believe
that they were pure f1bcauon' fostcd upon the public
reports Of what actually occurred but 10 the
base purposes Of some biographer.
The truth Il that this letter instead OF impeschng the
sagacy OF Mr.. JuGah p Benjamin, IL rather the most
convincing proof which has yet been aAduced Of the
adrotness with which leaders In the secession movement
sought foreign alliances. 1t has been said
that no man well acquainted with affairs In 1860
could have believed possible TO the southcrn
States TO the dominion Of the British Government. But
was not still the shrcwdes possible stroke Of diplomacy
on BeRaniua part 10 seek create the impression
among OF high position In Her Maesty's Govern
meut that this the souhs real purpose II Is not
believed that Mr. Benjamin seriously entertained
the hope OF securing the return OF the National Prod
gals" His aim was deeper than that It in aay
degree visionary lmprscticable. He was dety work
ing TO proptate England that when hosites began
England would be inclined 10 intervene behalf OF the
Southern COntederacy.
In an alleged conversation with Paris correspondent.
Immediately after letter appeared In this country Mr.
Benjamin il quoted saying, "Thcre Is not a word Of
truth in It." Not word OF truth In what In the same
dispatch the correspondent leads infer that the
letter was not brought specifically 10 Mr. BcHjamin's
attention. THURLow WEED BARNES.
Touags Hotel, Boston, Feb. l. 1854.