St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-07-28
Letter from Daniel Z. SiCkleS.

The New York Herald contains
letter to the editor from Hon. Daniel
Z. Sickles, in which he corrccts a
statement made in that paper, regard
ing the recent event in his domestic
relations. The reconciliation, he says,
was my own act, without consultation
with any relative, connection, friend
or adviser. Whatever blame, if any,
belongs 10 the step should fall upon
me. l am prepared to defend what
have done before the only tribunal |
recognize, as having the slightest
claim to jurisdiction over the subject,
my own conscience and the bar OF
Heaven. | am not aware OF any
statue or code of morals which makes
it infamous to forgive woman, nor is
it usual to make our domestic life
subject of consultation with friends,
no matter how near and dear to us,
and cannot allow even all the world
combined to dictate to me the rcpuda-
ton of my wife, when | think it right
to forgive her and restore her to my
confidence and protection. If | ever
failed to comprehend the utter DESC
late position of an offending though
penitent woman, the hopeless future
with all it's dark possibilities of dan
ger to which she is doomed when pros
cribed as an outcast, l can now see
plainly enough, in the almost unlver-
sal howl Of denunciation with which
she is followed to my threshold, the
misery and perils from which have
rescued the mother of my child, and
although it is very sad for me to incur
the blame of friends and the reproach.
es of many wise and good people, !
| shall strive to prove to all who feel
any interest in me, that | am the first
man who has venturcd to say to the
world, an erring wife and mother may
be forgiven and redeemed that in
spite of all the obstacles in my path,
the good results of this example shall
entitle it to the imitation Of the gen
erous and the communication OF the
just.
There are many who think that an
act of duty proceeding entirely from
affections which can only be comprc-
hended in the heart of husband and
a father. is to be fatal to my profess
sional and political station. Profess
sional success and social recognitions
are not the only prizes of ambition,
and so long as | do nothing worse
than to reunite my family under the
roof where they may find shelter from
contumely and persecution, do not
fear the noisy but flecting voices Of
popular clamor.
The multitude accept their first i'm
pressions from few, but in the end
men think for themselves and if
know the human heart, and sometimes
| think that in a career Of mingled
sunshine and storm have sounded
nearly all it's depths, then | may say
to those who look with reluctant fore
bodings on my future, to be Of gooc
cheer, for will not cease to vindlcate
a Just claim to the respect of my fcl
low citizens while to those motley
groups here aud there, who look upon
my misfortunes only as weapons t.
he employed for my destruction, | sa.
once for all, if man make good u.s.
, Of his enemies, they will be as sci
viccable to him as his friends. In con
clusion let me ask only one favor o
those who from whatever motive deem
it necessary or agreeable to common
in public or private on this sad !isto
ry, and that is, to aim all their arrow
at my breast, and for the sake of m,
innocent child, to spare her yet you'll
r full mother, while she seeks in sorrow
and contrition, the mercy and pardon
Of Him to whom, sooner or later, w
must all appeal.