Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-07-21
LETTER FROm DANIEL f. sIoKLEs.


New YoRK, July 20.
The Herald Of to-day contains letter to
the Editor from Hon. Daniel Il. Sickles, in
which he corrects a statement made in that
paper yesterday, regarding the recent event
in his domestic relations
Mr. Sickles says
The reconciliation was my own act, with
out consultation with any relative connec-
ton, friend or adviser Whatever blame, if
any, belongs to the step, should fall upon me.
am prepared to defend what have done be-
fore the only tribunal recognize as having
the slightest claim TO jurisdiction over the
suhject--my own conscience and the bar of
Heaven. | am not aware of any statute or
code Of morals which makes It infamous to
forgive woman, nor is it usual to make our
domestic life II subject of consultation with
friends, no matter how near and dear TO us;
and | cannot allow even all the world COM
bned % dictate to me the reputation 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 peni-
tent woman, the hopeless future, with all its
dark possibilities Of danger to which she is
doomed when prescribed as an outcast, | can
now see plainly enough in the almost uni
is followed to my throshhold the misery and
peril 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 re-
proaches of many wise and good people,
shall strive to prove to all who feel any inter
est in me- that if | am the first man who has
ventured to say 10 the whole world that m
ering wife and mother may be forgiven and
redeemed, that in spite of all the obstacles il
my path, the good results of this exnmpl,
shall enttle it to the imitation of the gencr
Gus, and the commendntion of the just.
There are many who think that an act o
duty proceeding solely from affections whicl
can only be comprehended in the heart Of {
husband and n father, is to be fatal to my
professional, political and social standing
If this be so thon 80 be it,. Political station
professional success, social recognition, ut,
not the only prizes Of ambition; and so long
ms ! do nothing more than TO re-unite my fam
lily under the roof where they may find shell
ter from contumely and persecution, do no
fear the noisy but iieeting voice Of popula
clamor.
The multitude accept their first impression
from n few, but in the end men think 70
themselves and if | know the human heart
aud somo times | think that, in career o
sunshine and storm, | have sounded nearly
all its depths, then lsmay rc-assure those VIII,
look with reluctant foTebodings upon my hl
ure, to be of good cheer, for | win not ceas
to vindicate just claim to the respect of m.
ellows,-while to these motley groups her
and there who look upon my mistortunes on
ly as weapons to he employed for my destruc
ton, to those / say, once for all, il II ma
makes good use Of his enemies they will b
ms serviceable to him Ms his friends.
In conclusion, let me ask only one favor q
those who, from whatever motive may deer
il necessary or agreeable to comment in pull
lie or private on this sad history, and that il
to aim all their arrows at my breast, and, il
the sake of my innocent child, to spare he
yet youthful mother while she seeks in sol
row aud contrition the mercy and the pardo
Of Him to whom, sooner or later, we must a
appeal