Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-10-14
LETTER

| h0tnaS SOTWII1 HOW OOEolnoI VI ChIOj
the Hon Benjamin Tappan now a Sen.
alor in the Congress Of the United
States, the Hon. J, C. Wright, laIe
Judge of The Supreme Court of Ohio,
and various other gentlemen, and then
be directed and sen 10 the Governor OF
the State Of New York, and to The Gov
ernor Of the Common wealth Of KEN
lucky.
SlR-We earnestly desire you to no,
tic0 IN suitable terms in your next mes.
sage to the Legislature o fIhe State over
which you pre- side, the case Of Cyrus W..
Hart, Esq. You are the constitutional
Chief guardian for the proper execution
Of the avs of your State, ard it is self.
evident, therefore, that il is peculiarly
proper for you, nay a duty in you, when
ever any Of the laws Of your Slate have
been violated, TO the delriment Of either
the State or individuals, TO see that they
be duly executed; and also, whenever
any such laws may have been violated,
without any such attendant injuries (as
we are persuaded have taken place in
the case OF Mr.. Hart,) that the ACTOR ia
them should be visited with the just be-
nightly which belongs to misfortune,
and with thai appreciation which should
be a Always bestowed upon ~uprightness of
purpose and energetic (though unpre-
c~edented( decision of character.
From the statement of Mr.. Hart,
whose character for truth and integrity
stands fair in this community, it appears
that no was married, some years since,
in this State, when partially insane
that he did not consider himself bound
by the contract, and that as by the de-
(ectiye laws Of lhls Slate he could get no
divorce, (hIs friends having everywhere
refused TO assist him in making appIica,
lion to the Legislature of Ohio 10 put
him in the right conditiOn) he, believing
himself to be de jure, a bachelor, mar
ried another woman gear Plat sburgh,
N. Y, in October, 1889, Tor in Coving-
ton, Kentucky, August, 1901 Under
what circumstances he left her, we re,
fer your ExceIlency TO the document he
sends you. His object in making wal
against the State, over which you are
The Chief Magistrate was undoubtedly
that he might efIec. a family revolution,
should be finally legitimate both
by the laws of God ard the laws OF man.
We are Of opinion, if The statements
Of Mr. Hart are correct land that they
are so. we fully believe from his we'll
established reputable character, and his
that the facts involved in them
should DO %enquired into) that according
10 the proper import ofthe term bigamy
or a plurality of wives, he has v
committed that offence in the reason
and spirit and understanding of the lawj
for the whole history of Mr.. Harris case
shows a manly uprlghtness. 1t is mani.
fest thai the Usual concominants or cir
;umSlances of bigamy are a corrupt, in.
Drincipled and base neglect OF the vel
fare OF husbands and wives and children,
and a disgusting exhibition Of the odious
,in Of Nervousness. These circum
could not have belonged 10 Mr..
case, for he did all that a reason
man could do, 10 preserve and per.
q good home for his first wife
and children; while he was not, accord.
to his statement, lacking in duty to
hose he afterwards associated with, nor
The public in any demeanor or conduct
VI his.
Belonging as Mr.. Hart does to most
respectable connexions by birth, and
the honorable profession Of the law,
and supporting as he does the character
If a benevolent, feeling, and industrious
nan; we hope your ExceIlency wild
your views Of this letter
md The documents relating thereto, as
'arly as may be-, to the Legislature of
New York Tor Of Kentucky
1t will be seen that Mr.. Hart asks for
10 unreasonable examination, for il any
members Of the community may feel
iggrieved at what he has done, or may
any doubts Of the truth Of his
your excellency cannol and
he State OF New York (or Kentucky
will not be bound to grant his prayers.
1t is not the lear or danger at any
"a bsequent time Of an arrest which i'm
pels him to ask what is now sought, so
much as it is his cha iacter 10 the esti-
of the virtuous and enlightened
our land, which requires that vindp4
,ation which the liberal and correct &c.
ion Of New York Tor Kentucky alone
,an put upon tho proper level, and by
which he may hope to enjoy those just
md equal rights, which he trusts he has
in reason forfeited, and which
,ughL to be sacred both to him and To-
very citizen of the republic, II may
,e said that what is now sought TO be
lccomplish he'd by Mr.. Hart would be IN
,onfer privileges on a person incompati-
,o with republican equality. But an