Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-07-29
VOL. 80, NO, 81.


4 word With enc Of my counsel upon tho sub
iect, nor with any one else. Ny reconciliation
With my wife was my own Eet, done without
consultation With any relative, connection,
friend or adviser. Whatever blame. il any
(! belongs 10 the step. should fall alone upon me.
ann prepared to defend what / have done.
before the only tribunals recognize "a having
the slightest claim 10 jurisdiction over the
subject-my own conscience and tho bar of
Heaven. / am not aware ofany statute or code
Of morals, which makes il Infamous to forgive
q woman nor il il usual to make our domestic
life subject Of consultation With friends, no
matter how near and dear TO us. And can
not allow eyeD all the world combined to
dictate 20 mo the repudiaso1 Of my wife, when
think il right 10 forgive Der, aud restore her
to my confidence and protection.
II | ever failed to comprehend the utterly
desolate positiontof an offending though peni-
tent woman--tha hopeless future, With all its
dark possibilities Of danger, to which she 10
doomed when prescribed as an outcast--I can
nov see plainly enough, in the almost uni
yeFsal howl of denunciation With which shelis
followed to my thrhshoid, the misery and periIs
from which / have rescued the mother 6f my
child And although it is very sad for me TO
incur the blame Of friends and the reproaches
Of many wise aud good people, shall strive
to prove to all who feel any interest In me, that
II l an the first man who has yentured to say
70 the world an erring wife and mother may be
forgiven and redeemed, that in spite Of I'll the
obstacles in my path the good results Of this
example shall eDsitle it to the imitation of the
generous and tbs commendation of the just.
There are many who think that an act Of
duty, proceeding solely from affections which
can only be eompreheuded in tho heart of
husband aud father, is to be fatal 10 my pro-
fessionai, political and social standing. IL
this be so, then 50 bo il. Political station,
professional success, social recognition, are not
the only prizes OF ambition and / have seen
enough of the world In which 7 have moved,
and read enough OF the lives Of others 10 teach
ma that, il one be patient and resolnte, ii Il the
mar himself Tho indicates the place he will
oecuPFs and so long as I do nothing worse
than 10 renaite my family uader the roof where
they may find shelfer from confrnely and
persecution, DO not fear the noisy but fetting
voice of popular clamor. The p4aititada accept
i their FIRST Impression from few bnt I'm the
eud men think for themselves, ana IL know
the human heart, and sometimes thDk tia. in
career Of mingled sunshine and storm i have
sounded nearly all its depths-then ! may re-
| assure those who look with reluctant forebod-
ings upon my future to be Of good cheer, forI
will not cease TO yindicate just claim TO the
respect of my fellows: while to these motley
groups, here and there, who look upon my mis-
! fortunes only as weapons to be employed for
my destruction, to those | say, once for all, if
a man make good use Of his enemies they
will be as serviceable to him as his friends.
In conclusion, let me ask only one favor of
those who from whatever motive, may deem ID
necessary or agreeable to comment in public or
private upon this sad history; and that is, to
aim all their arrows at my breast, and for the
sake of my innocent child to spare her yet
youthful mother, while she seeks in sorrow and
eonuitiou the mercy and the pardon Of Him to
whom, sooner or later, we must all appeal.
Very respectfully,
Your most obedient servant,
DANIEL e. SICKLES.