Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-07-28
P0LYTIGALa
EXOFFfClAL CONTROVERSY.
From THE GLOBE, Of July 90.
Mr.. Beriien TO Mr. Blair.
WF. Berfien 70 MT. Uf1lT.
NAsBInGTos, 18Th July. l93

WASHINGTON, 18th July, 1891.
SIR In an article under tho editorial head
in your paper OF this morning, which has -.
lation 10 a controversy between the Editor Of
the Telegraph and yourself, observe ,he fol.
lowing remark
Al this poin, we should have dropped the
controversy, but we have understood, that ii is
reported, 10 give counlenancs to the coniradc.
led statement ni the Telegraph thai MI. Ber-
rien has rec e,ed q letter from Col, johnson,
which shows that We had no warrant for ihe
denial we made as to HIM, We take The libeI-
", therefore, of quoting from the letter of Col.
Johpson, which we have, his express declaia.
iIon that the Pr sbent did not make the ex-
action of the members of his Cablnet, charged
by the Telegraph. The Col me- says, =" He
Ger. Jsckson,) never authorized me To re-
qnre social intercourse, &c. ~. lie always
dlsclaimed it | told the parties so" these
are the words OF the Col mel. TO the word,
point, and letter. lfthis does MOI satisfy, we
NUT refer the parties making the charge To the
witness called by them
The reference thus made TO me, renders il
necessary. that should submit the follow ing
observations to I've public, and have accor-
dinghy TO ask that you will give them a place
in your paper.
have not authorized the report Of which
YOU speah, and | would have told you 30,
without hesitation, If you had inGmated is
existence TO me. lhat such cour.e would
have been more conformnble 20 the views of
Col. Johnson, infer from the 10 lowing con-
sderatons.
have letter from that genilemhn. in
which. alter stating MS Object and motives In
seek ng The interview, which, with the Hppro-
baton of the Presiden,, be Id With MesTs.
Branch, ingham and myself, he proceeds to
remhrk that he has not himself seen the ne
oessity, or propriety, of any allnslon in news
papers 10 this inieryiew--and adds, thst Il any
should consider il necessary, then he greht
object should be 10 state the conVctssti0n COR
rectly, for which purpose his views were msde
known 10 that letter, IN order thai any misuu-
dersian1ing might be corrected. AcqniescinS
in the pTuprieiy OF this Suggestion, nnmeoi-
atelY communicated to Col johnson IA state
ment oil the Conversation referred to, ia It WAS
very distinctly Impressed upon my memory,
and suffic IL nj time has no, yet elapsed, Je-
lieve, to authorize Ws 70 expect an answer ia
the regular course of the mail, However thIs
may be, have moi received any. indepen-
den,y, therefore, OF my reluctant TO appear
before The public, in r.atlos TO any matters
connected with the dissolution al tue late cabi.
net, Il reluctance which could only be yielded
10 my own sIong conviction Of the pfoprety
OF such II measure, | have thought that The un-
ders LANDING implied in the correspondence TO
which have referred, would be violated, by
publishing a statement Of what passed hl the
interview III question, unnl II could be accom-
panied by the remarks OF Col. Johnson, On
that which had transmitted 10 him. de-
paIture from this understanding, by The gentle
man himself, would OF course relieve me from
lis obligation. But from the tenor 81 your ed
itorial article, infer, thai the act ~ PuoHShIhs
"a. fra, latter. not author Dv
hun. adhere, therefore, at present, 10 Tue
determination, which, had formed-and sssu'
ming that your object, as pubic I1drha Isl, 10
/ 10 present nothing TO your readers which Is moi
irur, and not TO withhold from them that which
| Is SO, | take the liberty OF suggesting, MS well
| TO the ediior of The Telegraph, as TO yourself
| The proprieiy OF abstaInIOg from Hdy paftal
| and imperfect statements Vi tue conversation
which occurred III tue mierVie" a. qnrsiioh
| Tue delus,on produced such sttirhrhis,
| must be speedily corrected un'l inh' c'I
rection Is made, their eject is to instead the
pubic mind, on a subject OF awakening inter
est to the American People.
am, very respectfully,
Sir, your ob'l serv'i
JNO. MACPHERSON BERRlEN.
To FKAscts r. BLAIR, Esq.
Edlior Of the Globe.
Mr.. Blair To Mr.. Berrieu.
WAsu'SGToN, July 10, 1881
Denr Sir have InIs moment received your
lettet, 70 winch | will give Immediate puLli'
city.
did not suppose that you had authorized
The reoor, which imposed on me the necessity
Of giving an extract from Col. Johnson$ let
Ter, Under such an impression, / would mol
nave nesilated TO call upon you to dlsaVo" IT.
The report, knew, WIS false, aod was merely
circulated 20 keep in countenance The charge
made agains, the President until II could woi
some prejudce against him in the public mind
| | did no, suppose that you were an acces'ary
! in This business, and, therefore, would mol
| iusul, YOU by an application WHICH could on'
be founded on such an inference.
| The course have taken with regard TO Col
Iohnson's letter, grew out of circumstance
which will Justify me to MIN, although De di'
no, authorize me 10 publish his letter. MY sole
o,,iec, was, at once, TO clear the skirts OF The
| p,.sideu of a charge which you are wei
ayar. ought pot to oe attached TO Dim-io
,ou have, as l understand, explicitly declared
mat he dtsclainied TO you, at the tune "he" Yo'
| .e,e IN communication with Coionei Johns0o
an. design like III at now imputed to HIM
| With regard to conversations eeswssn your