Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1855-09-15

in social intercourse with others as wei
as yourself, surely not for the purpose o
proving political bargain with Arch
bishop Hughs, or with any other Catho-
lie person in the last presidential election
of the United States; for, as you properly
remark, chad been for years out Of
the country, and was not thoroughly
conversant with the charges and issues
and under-currents of the presidential
election" | had nothing to do with it;
but as a representative abroad, endeav-
ored to serve the interests of my country
without reference to party distinctions OF
any kind whatsoever.
But | have mentioned this conversa-
ton for the purpose Of showing the in
terest taken in our country by the higher
order of the Catholic clergy in Europe
and as an illustration Of what have had
several occasions to observe, as | did to
yourself on this subject and in this very
connection, that the leading members Of
that church are as familiar, or more 50
perhaps, with the character Of our insti-
tutions and people eur resources-our
geography-our general history and pro-
gresham many of the wisest statesmen
of Europe. | repeat, | have never con-
nected it in my own mind, or otherwise,
for tie purpose of provinT the charge of
political corruption to which you refer,
but for totally different object, as just
stated. And herein lies your great mis-
take, hut one into which, with your
views on the subjectof that charge, and
without the knowlelg Of the facts con-
nected with the conversation which
possess, you might naturally fall. /
mentioned it for one purposo-you en-
ploy it for another, without, as l think
any just ground FIR doing SO. You are
mistaken in supposin that | ever men
toned il 70 you at any time as confrma-
tory of the political charge to which you
refer ! conld not have done so, for
never believed 50 | do not now believe
so. It would haze been absurd in me
to believe 50, unliss hal IMAGINED, as
you seem 10 thiak, but which the facts
do not sustain, Chat The Nuacio had pre-
vious knowledra that the appointment
was to be made, and before it really was
made. The first time | saw, in what
regarded as an imperfect report of your
speech at Washington, published in tho
Raleigh Relster, the circumstance o.
this conversation Gsel as proof of this
CHARGE, / fastened to correct the eiro.
neeus impression IN ry letter to you O
the 9Th Of July st Niagara Falls. An5
when | saw that | was afterwards quoted
as authority for q statement in 4th-of
July Grafton at Washington, for saying
not only that the Pope's Nuncio a
Madrid gave me this information, bu
thai it was given even before the cabi
net of the President was known to the
public here" IN the United States, anC
thai it was used to establish, in part
this CHARGE Of political corruption,
wrote to the author, 1Ir. Ellis, to correc
the statement in a letter which had beei
published.
Il was entirely proper, and not ecu
of record, that | should state, as / hay,
done in the letters on this subject, m,
own differences from the information com
municated to me. It was essential t,
the whole truth; for, without it, er
roneous Impressions were being madt
never intended by me, and, in my opin
ion, not justified by the facts. Whel
this matter was referred to by us at BaIti
more in June last, when / met you bu
for a shor time, | did not at all suppose
that it had been, or that it was to be
used in connexion with this charge; no
did | suppose, in our frs5 conversation
at Raleigh, that it would be used for an,
purpose publicly; for, although the con
versations with you were not confidential
but in the freedom Of casual social inter
course ] eoald net suppose l would b.
quoted as authority on such a subject
and for such purpose, in public address
ses, without a written permission anC
statement from me. In reply to you
inquiry whether | intend, in my letter
to say that my opinion nor is 4" tina
there was no such understanding as tina
referred % in regard to the Roman Cath
alic vote being given to Mr.. Pierce, o.
whether your opinion nom is that tht
Pope's Nuneio had no previous know
ledge Of an intention TO appoint Mr.
Campbell" | answer, unhesitatingly
that my opinion has not changed, anc
that | certainly think the communication
made to me by the Pope's Nuncio afordi
no proof ef such a charge or un1lerstond
ing Whether there be other allegation
and facts, circumstantial or direct, which
may be presented TO sustain this charge
or not, | am not aware. And, as al
honest man, am bound to presume in
nocence until gilt is shown, in all cases
and especially in a matter affecting 81
deeply The honor Of the country as wei
as the high parties immediately ;upli
Gated.
You need not fear, my dear sir, tina
any unWillingness on my part that
should be misrepresented to the injury
of Mr.. Pierce, or the Pope's Nuncio
could operate to allow my name or opin-
ion to be used Or prevented to my injury
| wish to do justice TO all and the cause
Of truth. Your integrity or veracity i
not in question. You state what you be-
leive to be correct. You only drawn al
infcrcnce and form an opinton from {
fact xhich you think is legitimate, bu
which |, with necessarily better know
ledge Of the circumstances, feel confident
is erroneous and i'll founded. As TO any