The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-13
LEgEER fRoN SENAToR sLLpkLL.
sESAn cnAnBEn, January u, 1859,
70 DE Eaaor n he Union M


Ia note dated the Tth instant signed by tho Hoh.
A. Douglas, addressed TO the eitof of "1he States
and published lust evening Mr. Douglas after quoting
ho foiowiag passage from my published statement OF
toin december viz Mr. Douglas has, by author
lAng and countenancing anonymous attacks me,
through person officiating his private secretary lost
all claim 20 the explanation that would otherwise have
promptly volunteered 70 give him makes the follow
ing remarks " IL 10 due 10 myself 10 publish an EN-
phatic denial of the truth Of the implication in the
above paragraph II Is not true that have authorized
or counteneneed anonymous attacks upon Mr. Slidell
This declafaon imposes me the necessity OF show
Ing the grounds which ! made that charge. During
my visit to New Orleans in November last editor of
paper published there, who Is friend aud partisan of Mr.
Douglas but who at the time is not unfrendly
me) infcrihed me that he had received anonymous
letter from Chicago for publication In his paper
mentng very severely upon me, and that he did not in
tend to publish it, but desired me to it, lie accord
ngy produced the paper and read 30 certain portions
OF 1t extremely vituperatve told him that had heard
enough of it, and insisted OF khowing the name of the
author and how The paper had been forwarded 10 him
To this be at first demured, but on my urgent in
sistanoe that had the right TO know the name of
the author, no said that il had been sent to him in
the ordinary form of newspaper correspondence either
without signature with assumed one and had been
accompanied by letter from Mr.. James b. Sheridan.
requested him TO give me the name in writing, which
he did. have it in my possession had heard
that this Mr. Sheridan acted amanuensis for Mr. Doug
las had accompanied him through his late canvass re-
ported fis speeches. &C., and also asked the editor
whether Mr. Sheridan did not stand in this relation to
Mr. Douglas His reply that he so understood hav-
ing had other letters from him then declared TO the
editor In the presence of another person. and subsequent
y repeated the declaration 10 other friends that on my
arrival ia Washington, where expected, of course to
meet Mr.. Douglas, should call him for categorical
reply whether not he had authorized this letter Of his
secretary and should be governed in my towards
him by his - sf
AS heard Of the charge about the negroes and
before my departure ION the 2Gth November LAST from
New Orleans for Washington / had written to Mr.
Mediation, in whose possession the slaves were de-
nying in the most unqualified terms the statement
attributed to me by the Chicago Press and Tr-
bune. MIR. Douglas arrived in New Orleans on the
LIST or I'd December, both the editor above al
uded TO and Mr. Mediation and could not have failed to
know from them that had denied having made any such
statement about the negroes as had been falsely atrb
uted to me- He must also have known from the editor
that believed Sheridans letter to have been counte-
nanced if not authorized, by him. and that my oonvic
ton this point had been strengthened by the fact of
the editors having received Letters bearing the frank of
Mr. Douglas, thus, thought connecting him direct
y with Sheridan letters yet Mr. Douglas made com
muncaton to me, discaimed in any manner having
countenanced the anonymous attack. Nay, there is
paragraph in his card of yesterday which fairly admits the
construction that he had denounced in Chicago as
calumniator the authority of statement imputed to
DR.. Branard without calling on him to learn
whether there any foundation for his charge when
the event proves that pr Bainard If called upon would
have shown the whole story to be fabrication 1t seems
to that sense OF the courteses Of lc and
of our position senator's should have dictated the pro-
priety OF calling me either to deny the statement
vindicate its truth yet it occurred to Mr. Douglas
to suggest even doubt of my having been capable of
originating such caumny s.as * f4-sse .,ss II.
II not until the 18th or 10th December that
heard for the first time, that DIR. Brainards had
been cited authority for the statement imputed to me-
Two weeks had elapsed since Mr. Douglas had arrived in
New Orleans and been appraised Of the circumstances,
above detailed of my denial of the truth of the
ment and of my conviction that he countenanced She
dams letter had received from him assurance of
his regret at having denounced the caumny in Chicago
far connected with my name nothing to indicate
the slightest desire to undeceive me, if had, indeed
been deceived in relation 10 the letter of his secretary
and had no opportunity of calling him for explana
ton in person. Nor any means of knowing when he would
arrive in Washington. n..
1t under these circumstances and in view of these
facts, that made the publication Of the 18th ult In
my judgment they formed very sufficient warrant for
the deolation contained in it, hat Mr.. Douglas had
authorized and countenanced anonymous attacks on me-
through person officiating as his private secretary.
.as Very respectfully, your obedient servant, s.,
u. .a. .# ..asE .-.t.. n.s .3 JOHN SLIDELL