Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-07-23
LETTER FROM THE HON,
DANIEL E. SICKLES.

NEW YORK, July 10, 1853
70 the Editor of the Herald: Through the
course of sad events, which during the last
lew months have brought so much affection
upon my family, have been silent. No a.
mount of misrepresentation affecting myself
only could induce me now to open my lips
nor could deem it worth while under any
circumstances to notice what has been or can
be said in Journals never regarded as the sour
ces or the opponents of public opinion, for in
these it is too often obvious that only unwor.
thy motives prompt the most vindictive ass
aults upon the private life of citizens holding
public stations. But the editorial comments
in the Herald OF yesterday although eenso-
rious, (of which do not complain, whilst
read them with regret,) differ so widely in
tone and TENDER from the mass of nonsense
and calumny which has lately been written
concerning a recent event in my domestic re-
lations, that | cannot allow a mistake, into
which you have been led by inaccurate infor-
nation, to pass without such a correction as
will relieve others from any share of the re-
proaches which it is the pleasure of the multi
tude at this moment toheap upon me and mine.
Referring to the forgiveness which my sense
of duty and my feelings impeled me to extend
to an erring and repentant wife, you observe,
in the course of your temperate and digniied
! article, that, :" 1t is said, however, that the
last phase Of the affair was brought about
through the advice of his lawyers. This is
entirely erroneous. did not exchange awoid
with one of my counsel upon the subject, nor
with any one else My reconciliation with
my wife was my own act done without con-
sultation with any relative, connection friend
or adviser. Whatever blame, if any belongs
to the step, should fall alone upon me. am
/ prepared to defend what have done before
the only tribunals 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 ofmorals
which makes it infamous to forgive woman
nor is it unusual to make our domestic life a
4 subject of consultation with friends, no mat
ter how near and dear to me. And can not
allow even all the world combined to dictate
tome the reputation ofmy wife, when think
it right to forgive her, and restore her to my
confidence and protection.
If ] ever failed to comprehend the utterly
desolate position OF an offending though pen.
itent women--the hopeless future, with all
its dark possibilities of danger, to which she is
doomed when prescribed az an outcast--I can
now see plainly enough in the almost unvcr-
sal howl of denunciaton with which she Is
! followed to my threshold, the misery and per-
lis 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 in
terest in me, that if am the first man who
has ventured to say to the world an erring
wife and mother may be forgiven and redeem-
ed, that in spite OF all the obstacles in my
path the good results of this example shall
entitle IL to the imitation Of the generous and
the commentator of the Just,
There are many who think that an act OF
duty, proceeding solely from affections which
can only be comprehended in the heart Of a
husband and father, is to be fatal to my
professional, political and social standing. Ii
this be so, then SO be it. Political station,
professional success, social recognition, are
not the only prizes Of ambition; and have
seen enough of the world in which have
moved, and read enough ofthe lives of others
to teach me that, if one be patient and reso-
Lutte, ii is the man himself who indicates the
place he will occupy and 50 long as do
nothing worse than to reunte my family I'M
der the roof where they may find shelter from
contumely and persecution, do not fear the
noisy but ileeting voice of popular clamor.-
The multitude accept their first impressions
from few but in the end men think for
themselves, and if know the human heart
and sometimes think that in career Of
mingled sunshine and storm, have sounded
nearly All us uepths-tnen may feassure
those who look with reluctant forebodings up
on my future to be of good cheer, for i will
not cease to yindicate just claim to the re-
spect of my fellows while to those motley
groups, here and there, who look upon my
misfortunes only as weapons to be employed
for my destruction, to those say, once for
all, If man make a 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
1t necessary or agreeable to comment, in pub
lie 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 contrition the mercy and the par
don of Him to whom, sooner or later, we must
all appeal.
Very respectfully, your most obedient SER
want,
DANIEL Z. SIcKLEs.
NsW York Herald