Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-01-05
HENRY ECKFoRD AND HUGH MAXWELL

by q member Of the New-York Bar, relative
to the late existing difficulties between HENRY
EcKFoRD, Esq. and HUGH MAXWELL, the
former, a gentleman of undiminished integrity,
and until recently, a man of immense wealth
the latter, Dis,ric, Attorney, for the District of
New-York, a man of some eminence as a pub
lie officer, but not remarkable for his talents.
That the reader may have a clear under
standing Of the subject matter disputed about,
by the parties, It will be we'll enough to state
the facts as they stand, and thus afford a his
tory Of the late correspondence between the
disputants, which has led to the unusual excite
city Of Now-York.
1t will be remembered, by most of our read
ers, that among others. who were indicted,
and said to be guilty Of being concerned in the
celebrated New-York Conspiracy cases, Mr..
Eckford was included and rendered somewhat
conspicuous, and no mall effort was made, by
those who resort 10 popular clamor, to aid their
designs, to produce his conviction. In the
month of September, 1926, Mr.. Eckford's
trial came on, associated with that Of seven
others, among whom was the grossly in
jured and much abused Jacob Barker, and
after eight days had been exhausted in cruel
litigation, the Jury retired, and having DELHI
trial, to be had on a more distant occasion,
was ordered. Thus the matter rested, and
though Mr.. Eckford begged and entreated the
District Attorny to give him his trial, that he
might have an opportunity Of disproving the
false and foul charges which had been mali
ciously preferred against him, he entreated in
vain; = and thus untried, his fame, and all that
was dear to him, remained suspended and
furnished, subject to the sport, derision, and
cruel assaults Of an uncharitable world, until
the month Of December last, when the Dis
trict Attorney caused a nolIe proseq.i to be
entered against all the indictments against
him.
During tho existence ofthesc shameful pro-
ceedings, Mr.. Eckford, not only suffered in his
pride and feelings = but actually suffered a loss
Of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
saw his credit impaired, and the hopes, happi-
ness. and ysprtation ga large and interesting
family, whitening before the approach Of the
malignant caIumniator. When discharged
from the indictments which had so long hung
over his head aggricved and smarting be-
meath the dreadful, and unremittcd chastise-
ment he had received with a heart pierced
10 the very core "A reputation heretofore un-
sullied = now stained by imputed crime sur
rounded by a large and beloved family, who
mourned over the traduced fame Of father
and husband,-he demanded, as he had a
right to do, some satisfaction, from the Dis
trict Attorney. for the injuries he had sustain
ed. He did not ask that officer to meet him
in mortal combat,-to meet him arm to arm
and breast to brcast,-he simply asked him to
say 10 the public, that he was convinced of the
innocence Of Henry Eckford, and was salts
fled that he had been wronged.
In private conversations. with gentlemen,
neither avowedly friendly to Mr.. Eckford, or
hostile to Mr.. Maxwell the latter had said that
he would ''on all proper occasions both public
ly and otherwise state il as his opinion that he
consid cred Mr.. Eckford entitled to the same
degree of confidence in society, that he had
enjoyed at any former period, and that he had
full confidence in his integrity and honor, and
that by such o course, he would render him
more service, than he could by any other man
ner, and that it should be satisfa Glory to him.
self and his friends"
Having had this from a source, entitled TO
unqualified confidence, on the 18th Of Novcm-
Der last, Mr.. Eckford wrote to Mr.. Maxwell,
asking lrss~to~1as him that justice which he
had promised, 10 which Mr.. Maxwell replied,
in an cquivocai manner, which plainly indi-
promises good. This led to acrimonious feel
ings on both sides, and to considerable cores
pondence, at the close Of which, Mr.. Eckford
wrote with sosss asperity, and in a style which
b~espeaks the feelings of an injured man smart
ing under the pains he endured, and wrongs
sustained at the hands of those, who had med
itatcd his moral and physical destruction.
The letter will give "a far better history OF
Mr.. Eckiord's wrongs than wo can, and there
fore we copy it, precisely as it was written by
its suffering author
II. ECKFORD To II. MAXWELL.
SIR Yonr percmptory declaration. in your
letter Of the 9Th ult., that you a. would not be
further in,errogsted,'' was probably intended