New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-06-04
LITTER FROM SENATOR BEEKMAN.

ALBANY, THURSDAY, June : 1883
HORACE GRIZZLY Esq.-Dear Sir; You know have
much service and been to soundy abused 70 be
surprised The TrituRes attack upon this morning
! value your reputation for truth you, am sure regard
seine of my public acts with apprOval-such as School
legislation. Educ atiOna and Benevolent matters and a
sincere effort TO de good according 20 my best under
standing.
ibtg you to inquire of any Temperance in my
district whether
not distinctly asked by Committee to sustain
law hke the Maine Law.
Whether ! cid not distinctly refuse to make such
promise.
g. Whether the Temperance party did not thereupon set
up another candidate and the of the election with
out any other interview with resolve to drop that
didate and 10 vote for me
You will ste that however we differ as to our notions of
what is best this question is not fair to represent me
traitor have deceived no one DO me the justice
10 say so lmus expect to be abused Believe me, am
iut sincere in thinking that the Maine Law is wrong,
you in thinking ii TO be right and proper Bat do
Ios think the cause you advocate will be served by mrep
do not share the bitterness with which you seem to
regard ne. / am Catholic enough 10 think other men
may entertain views Of duty quite different from my
ana yet be neither traitors nor scoundres Your no
items often give pain yet have firm faith in your
purity Of viii and kind hearteduess in spite of your intol
ersnceyes that is the bes' word am firm friend to
Your iird JAMES w BEEKMAN
ought TO ado in proof Of my general sympathy with
Temperance views and objects that last year introduced
aud urged and would now urge but for the opposition Of
Temperance friends whs insist upon the Name LAR
upon the Supervisors Of Counties. Presrrng the
practical 10 tie pose be | willing 10 pass the bill
copy Of which send thought and still think It would
do good and personally would sgree never 10 taste aught
but water while live, ii my abstinence would preserve
my brother nom ruin.
Remarks.
We have printed in full Mr. Beekman's own diagnosis
Of his case Now let US see how t stands
l. He does deny that he owes his election to the
Temperance voters of his DistTict-that ia, those
who voted for him Temperance men, and in the hope
that the cause of Temperance would be advanced by
his election
?. He does not deny that in his action Senator,
he has resisted and hwarted the efforts of this class of
his supporters TO he utmost--tha he has volunteered
TO be their active and conspicuous adversary in
the Senate.
3. He does not assert nor pretend thas when he
found himself nominated dstinctiyely as the Temper
ance candidate and about to be voted for such he
took any step 20 dsabuse the Maine Law voters of his
District, who were going for him expressly on the
ground Of his presumed sympathy with their objects
and efforts Then be might have fairly and honOraby
said in a card through the journals" Seeing my
displayed that Of the Temperance candidate feel
bound to explain that am hostile TO the Maine Law
or any law embodyDg its essential principles" bu.
he chose keep silence and be elected by the votes
Of those his subsequent bas deep, shamed and
outraged.
T. Mr. Beekman processes to be opposed in priaeiple
the Maine Law, believing that il would ojure rather
lan promote the cause of Temperance. And yet this
same Nr. Beekman proposed and urged substitute
for said Law authorizing and enabling each County
Board Of Supervisors TO enact in substance this very
Maine Law for their respective Counties How could
be do this If be deemed that Law essentially aud prac
tically bad one What shadow OF difference in prin
ciple in effect can be discovered between Legi.la-
lure passing the Maine Las directly and ts clothing
Boards Of Supervisors with authority to pass IT, know.
sg well that many Of them vii exercise hat authority
VIII you say, In the hitter case, the act viii only
take effect where the public voice is ready to sustain
" and enforce it"-Then you make distinction where
there is no difference, since the act Of County Board
would operate localities where Rum was popular and
the Name Law disliked, just as q law covering the 1
whole State would Mr. Beekmans dodge, therefore. /
instead Of tIsusDg bis recreaney shows to have no
shadow Of principle to rest upon He brought forward
bil which could not pass merely excuse bis voting
against enc that might aud would have passed had /
those Senators from City who ose their seats 70
Name Law votes stood b. il.
>. Nj Bee khan own voluntary act, therefore stands
n tie way Of believing him sincere in opposing as
We are in supporting the Maine Law. Had be been 50,
se would have proposed 10 cothe other function
lries with the power to pass it, knowing well that such
1OEer would be exercised Were be as sincere az he
Processes, be would have long since inquired care
aIly into the operation of the Maine Law in Maine Ma.
sehusetts and Vermont and no longer thrust hi. gues
into the face Of myrsds Of recorded facts And fhe
loes not know by this time that his total abstinence from
Alcoholic Liquors rOud tend to save his brothers from
uin. tsen We say he has viuy and culpably summed
opportunities Of acquiring knowledge which many
chOOlbcy has vOrihly improved ]