The Arkansas banner., 1850-04-02
NRS. FORRESTS REPLY.
To Mr. Forests Petition for a Tliyores

To Mr. Forests Petition for niyoFee.
 HarrisbWg, March !. The annoyed is tbe tenl; cation of Mrs Forrest, read n the Senate yesteray morning.
 To he General Assembly, sftAs Sfsts of Pennsvt- raHn.--I, Catherine Forrest, wife ut Edwin Forrest now in and being resident of the city ofNew York and State of New York, respectfully represent-
 That the imputation contained in the petition of Mr Forrest, now on the files Of your Senate and printed in numerous public journals are Of such character that silence on my Part is impossible.
 Though would cheerfnlly snffer any other evil rather than say oF do angat a opposition to my has band, ID this particular manner, cannot give even iaeit admission cf charges which, fl established ia due course ftFial, would justly exclude ,ne from the socfeiy of sll viFiuouy persons, involve say innocent young sister in shame, and briug the gray hairs Oi my beloved father with sorrow to the grave To do and suffer all things tha, Mir Forrest desired this have freely oH.reh but to submit to tfls degredatioR have declined. and must still decline Silence might seesH an admission, and therefore an constrained, most reluctantly 10 make this daie- men'.
 Mir FS-r~s. ssas.ssss aaiaasss with nc "a Nevem ber, ls4S, for difference Of opinion on subject not relevant 10 the present question, from that time was subjected to occasional marks of his dispiras- ure. h January, IS49. about The l7h he staied to me that lady had influenced me against him. For her sake repelled the charge. The denial was couched in terms too direct and unequivocal This MT. Forrest al onre pronounce aa urpsrdonsbls offence. He stated that he could noi peImit any man so 10 address hin, nor live with any woman who did it. He imperatiseiy demanded that we should live apartI reluctantly, but fully and im- phoiiy, acquiesced in his pleasure.
 From thIs tiRe |, was distc,ly understood that we saoulc seperae and live apart and ihe precise tune was fixed. Circumstances connected with his con venieHce caused several posiponemenjs: but, from January l7th until April 29th, ls49. when we setu- ally parted, there was always certain day for our hnai separation agreed and fixed upon between us. On the last named day, Mir. Forrest accompanied me fo the residence Of MT. Park Goodwin, and there leit me 10 he an inmate ol that highly es,irnable gentieman's house, and the associate of himself and amiable and gifted lady Not merely for this bu' for my first introduction to lhis estmabIe family was Indebted 10 Mir Forrest. They are his friends -iur them he has always expressed and believe entertained, and still entertains highest respeci- MT. Goodwin and his lady had subsequently, 10 Jan uary, visited Mr orres and myself al residence by hIs invitation, and entertained by our mu- tual care and attention. After he thus introduced me into theIr family, he visited me two occ asion These undenahie circumstances refec, light upon the couise ol MT. Forests adviser upon witch will not comment.
 Alter we had been long separated, Mr. Forrest in- iormed me that report attributed our separation 10 cause which reflected un.avorably upon him and that he must establish the existence ot another mo- tive. He suggested a divorce, employed counsel and, at length. Tn JannaTy. 1850, l sought similar assistance. Our counsel met, anh, with my approval II was offered that would mol oppose MT. Forests application for divorce any similar act which mi5ht condace 10 his happiness, provided he would not lmpeach me with want of virtue IL was said 10 be impossible to obtain divorce without making this charge and many propositions for the presetva ton of secrecy were made to me. To all such pren- osiiions, though accompanied by the offer of pro vision for life, felt myself bound by every consid- efation o' honor, virtue and duy to return an ab. soIn'e and unqualified refusal.
 When giving thls refusal, 1 had already been al. vlsed not 10 Appear- before the Legislature of any sister State which might be solicted 10 pass an act against me. 1 was advised that such act if aLy Legislature could be induced 10 pass ii would be wholly imperative. Especially was ,his consider ed to be the case in respect to Pennsylvania, the constitution of that State expressly forhiddng the trial of such by the legislature. For this rea- son have not lefi the State ot New York 10 appear before the committee to which Mir Forests petition was referred Nor has it been thought proper that should appear notice of Mir. Forests counsel 10 cross-examine his witnesses. My counsel conceived that the only consistent course on my part was a lull appearance and defence, or total declinaure ot the peculiar and inappropriate jurisdiction invok ed by MT. Forrest.
 am without,pecuniary means to follow MT. For rest into another State and there conducts litigation Far from my native land and only male relation, 1 nave no it protector to accompany m tine quisite journeys. Distant from The witnesses who know of my life anu conve versation, and without pro- cess 10 enforce their attendance, wou! appear before yonr body under great dsasvanlagrs But If none oi these objections existed. my would have been the same. In this to me, uhtried held must submit to the judgment of others, better in- iormed. and by their advice am governed. in spectuy protesting against the exercise of judsdic- tion by your honorable hotv
 have too much respect for your honorable body 10 suppose this ,aotrst necessary; and my sole mo,iv In this address IS, to place upon your files, side by side win the accusation, this solemn decar ton.
 I have never committed any act of inhtelity to my marriage VOWS; have committed no criminal act inconsistent with Inc ,!ignty and purity o the marriage state; l have 1aser, in deed word thought tevisted m the s gNest degree from entire puiy and chastity of If. Nor have I, since my mar iage with Mir. Forrest, tailed in affection or honor for him, unless II be in thoughts and ocea- sional expressions wrung from me by wounded pride since this most cruel accusation.
 Whenever summoned. suh ready ;o appear ina court o justice, and there 10 yndicate my perfect innocence. In any result oi the present proceedings am coaseled by the moral certainty that Divine Providence will afford opportunity of disproE- ing the charges now before your honorable boiy.
 Respectfully submitted.
 CATBERINE N. FoRREsr