The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-03
[ooxnusIcArED roH TUE UNION. I

COMMUNICATED FOR THE UNION
The Intelligencer Of the 9th inst contains speech
delivered IN the Senate the Kansas bill the 30h u
April by the Hon Mr. Doolittle in which the speaker
quotes authority for charges he had made aganr the
pro slavery party In Kansas book profesn to give
history Of the affairs OF that Territory from the pen of
certain Dr. John II. Ghon late private secretary t.
Gov Gesry''
If the statements made by this most vcacous 'sPri-
vate Secretary to DO accredited II is undoubtedly
true that there is scarcely individual official unof
ncia who has been prominently connected with that
party who may not be- convicted Of almost every crime
denounced In the Dccalogue. 1t therefore becomes
question Vt interest to inquire into the character
Tor credby Of the witness upon whose testimony these
grave offences sought TO DO sustained and pro-
pose to suggest mode Of prosecuting that inquiry which
to bs better calculated lead satisfac
tory conclusion than any other that has occurred to
but before proceeding it, u perhaps proper
that should explain briefly possible, the special
motive which mpels tn the performance of this duty
and the reason why it has not been discharged at
earlier day
On having my attention directed to Dr. Gihons pub
cation months ago, found that uncomfortable
portion Of its contents devoted to the fouest and
most dabOical caumnes upon the character and con-
duct Of one who, having aen in the morning of life, by
the felon hand Of associate and companion of its
thor had left the natural and proper guardian Of his
reputation My first impulse was to take the course
adopt but confess that shrank from the humil
tion Of seeing name connected In the public prints
with that of hiIeng calumniator and branded knave
and yielding to the counsel OF friends and the prompt
Jugs OF my deliberate judgment, resolved to
defer any public notice Of these ISLANDERS their author
until some one OF decent position petensions to
spectabty should allude to tho book in such way to
justify in carrying out my original purpose. Such
occasion to be presented in the quasi
rial endorsement have referred to, and at
brace it.
The portion of DR.. Ghons book with which pro-
pose deal Is that in which he processes to naate the
facts and circumstances connected WITH and resulting
from. the personal difficulty which between Gov.
Geary and the late VIM. T. Sherrard. and which termi-
mated in the violent death Of the latter at the hands of
an inmate Of Gov GeaIy house who was subsequently
indicted for the murder, and Is fugitive from jus
tce. design to embrace In what have To say every
fact circumstance, alleged Infatuated, by the
writer Of this book ia dspaagement of the personal
duct and character of tho deceased including Of course
the circumstances attending the indgnity offered to
Geay, the difficulty with Jones, he murderer and the
personal chassement inflicted Gihon himself for bis
ofcious and impsrtnent intermeddlng in his masters
quarrel, and from which he sunk like whipt to
his and also the veracous account he has given
OF the which tanspred at the meeting got
up by the reners aud adhecnts Of Governor Geary at
which the deceased lost his life and ut which every
Der OF Governor Geay household present including
the hiaorian, Gihon the murderer Jones and the ins
gator Of the cowadly decd NcAlisterthe last next to
the immaculate Private Secretary, being his excel
lencys most trusted friend and counsellor Now pro-
nounce with regard to the version given of these
one and all that the author Of this book has
only been guilty Of the most dsgraceul and Ubiquitous
but that he has knowingly, ,cuy basey and n.a
cloudy And if he has done this when speaking of
FENCES passing under his eyes, and in his hear
ing what confidence is to be reposed in bis testimony
to other facts Of which he had personal knowledue
The proposition have to make is this That, ii the
aforesaid DR.. John H Gihon is not willing to acknowl-
edge his guilt in all the length and breadth Of the terms
in which have charged it, invite him to seek redress
by appeal to court and jury through the agency of
civil action for damages in which pledge myself to rely
upon the plea of justification my sole ground OF defence
Any lawyer will tell him that in such action If the
statements Of his founded in truth he will have moth
ing to fear. Win he accept the issue
single word in conclusion: If my proposition is &C.
copied, will undertake to show that the conduct of
William T. Sherrard in all that occurred between Gov
Geary and himself or between himself and Gov Gearys
subaterns, such became a brave and honorable
man. who felt and know that he had been wantonly and
cruelty wronged and that who admits the right
and duty Of gentleman to ayenge bis personal
wrongs find augh in anything that he said did to
censure or condemn. And furthermore / will gladly
throw open the door to the widest range Of investigation
into the whole history of his e and defy the utmost
malice of his to find in it single deviation from
the path of honor.
JOSEPH H. SHERRARD.
WINCHESTER, Va, May %, 1858.