New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-03
MR. MILBURNS REPLY TO Mr.. MORSE.

To The Edito, Of The n. y. Tribune
SIR: Nv attention has been called to a passage in
your issue Of the 3lst ut purporting 10 be an extract
from letter of the Hon. lsaac f. Morse, formerly MEM
Der of Congress from Louisiana. Mr.. Morse If this
letter be genuine) takes 10 task for statement
in Harper's Monthly, with regard TO transaction
occurring fourteen years ago, in connection with my
name. What the statement in the Monthly may be
! do not know; but the transaction is narrated
in the pages of my recent book, Ten Years of
Preacher Life. For every point there stated ! hold
myself fully responsible, and hereby reaflirm the ac-
curacy and veracy of the account in all it's particu-
lars. beg to assure Mr. Morse, however that de-
cline TO be responsible for words which his negleetful
haste or vehement temper attributes 10 me- but winch
[ never used. | said that Mr.. Morse, Mr.. Crit
tenden or any other Congressman on board the boat
WAS ID drunkard, or gambler. Mr.. Morses
denial ON this point, thererefore, may be adroit, but
il is not to the purpose ] hold myself second to
man in this nation, in respect and esteem for Mr..
Crittenden, whose public character has been the OBJ
iect Of my highest admiration from my boyhood to
this day. As to Mr. Morse, i have always held his
acts of kindness to me III grateful remembrance and
do STILL in spite of his public recital of them in his
unfortunate letter; albeit, confess, never knew,
until his publication, that i was vastly indebted
70 him as he makes out. So much for Mr.. Morse. A
few words more are due TO the public and myself.
The statement in my book Up. no is, that " the boat
was very much crowded. and among the passen-
GERS was a considerable number of Congressman"
that not few Of these representatives out
rageously, played cards day and night, and drank
" yillainous whisky to excess This is the whole
count as far as relates the misconduct of members
on board. No name is mentioned, and the fault il
ascribed not to the whole number, but only TO por
ton Of Them If Mr. More denies that Mis statement
is true and demands that names shall be furnished,
| am quite ready To give name at least. Bat the
ipdscreton of fixing general statement upon ndivi
dual men, il only equal to its indecency; and GER
tainy this fault is not mine. The public will thus
perceive that stake both my yeracity and my memory
in support of the accuracy of the account OF this trans
action given my book.
Nv truthfulness is perhaps highly estimated by
the American public az Mr.. Morses, and my memory,
thanks To the discipline of my almost lifelong IN
trinity of vision s TO say the least, more than orna-
riy reliable. In this particular case, the transaction
WAS merely an incident of one of Mr. Morse numer
Gus trips on the Ohio River; for me, however it was
the turning point of my whole career in life. Which
of US therefore, would be most likely to remember lie
details accurately, leave for the public 10 decide.
told the story in my book simply, and naturally, with
out exaggeI alton and without malice; naming man,
harining no man, unless, perchance, Mr. Morses I'M
fortunate Interference should educe evil of what
wholly meant for good. Retaining my feelings Of
gratitude and kindness, not only toward the member
of Congress with whom made that famous trip on
the Ohio but also toward all their fellow-member- in
Washington from whom received many acts of kind
ness and good viii, Of which they have never reminded
me, am, - 49,. .
Dear Sir, very truly. : ". ii. MlLBCRS.
.srookiyn. Nov I. 1859.
p : Editors ofnewspapers who have published Mr. Mor-s
letter. viii greatly obige me by copying this reply.