Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-04-08

ior an immediate examination. This favor was
post. e0n' w 'n'p
am anxious to make full and explicit
report OF what know-not, beg YOU TO believe.
70 screen myself, but to prevent. II possible'
suspicion falling upon loyal and Innocent men
- - l was alone interested, / believe, rather
Iuan confess my knowledge of the cause of INV
arrest and the trouble have unwittipply occa.
sloned' would prefer running nv chance un.
der an unsupported charge of disloyalty. But
tne interest OF others demands that I should
ADMIT not my guilt, but my folly.
MY only guilt, sir, lies in attempting to play
on practical joke upon the Detroit press.
III Is Impossible that 10 the short space OF a
ieW months all Old party animositea and preju-
olces shouid De forgotten. Although the Dem
1claho press ana people acqulesce with more or
tion, still beneath it all there Ia an updercur.
rent on minor subjects of political rancor which
still maintains old party lines. Aotuated nv
such feelings, the Democrats charge the Repub.
llcans with abolition, while the Abolitionists.
without any show Of reason, charge all Demo-
Gratis With either disaffection TO the Govern.
ment or outright treason. In Lapier county,
Micnigan, In particular, remote from the wide
whlrl oil political and warlike events, these
feelings exist in oil their strength--so much 80,
indeed, that there is scarcely any communist.
ton between members o. the two parties.
"Some time In September, think, nv enc.
mics having reported me q secessionist, nv Of
flee was attacked in the night and ransacked,
and other acts OF violence committed, of course
by Abolitionists. About the same time | no
tced frequent paragraphs 10 the Detroit papers
charging the Democrats with treason, and oft.
repeated reference to secret league favorable
to the Confederate States. These events, the
accusation OF men whom admitted as states.
men and loyal Americans, the disgrace heaped
upon me BY Canadian Abolitionista, who knew
at heart bore little love to my native country,
living remote from civilization, and, although
reading, not realizing the fearful change which
mad taken place In the past six months, the uni
Versal reign OF suspicion, revenge and desire
10 eel tne Detroit treason. shrieking press
all this and many Influences which | will not
occupy your time in rehearsing. On reading
very Irritating paragraph on Democratic treason,
IL suddenly entered my mind to "selI" the De- |
troit press, by writing letter full Of dark In.
uendoes and hints but which in reality would
mean nothing This idea was hardly conceived
before 1t was executed. My only fear in wri.
ting II was that ii would be immediately seen
through; and caught at every circumstance
which would add to its plausibility, without for
moment considering that might be weaving
WEB, not only to catch myself 10, but one
which would be very difficult to unravel. NY
iurthest expectation was that il would be sent |
10 one OF the treason-shriekiDg presses, and, |
when exploded, would produce lots of "fun."-
iancied thai such "sell'' would be apt to |
quiet their howls. My firm, only belief was
hat it would be Immediately seen through, OF,
4 the tish took the bait, it would be sent to the
Tribune, drawing from that admirable journal
, yell OF intense satisfaction.
what that letter contained do not distinct,
y remember. know used nothing but mi.
tials, leaving 1t to the we'll known ingenuity of
The very penetrating Dstroiters to fIl out the
olsnks, Not an hour passed after the concep.
lion OF this piece Of folly before the letter was
In the Postofice. After it was written, not
knowing who best to direct it to, | left il to
chance, by picking up Detroit paper, looking
through the advertising list, and at last select
ing the name, ] think, Of NJ Mills. Weeks
passed away, and nothing being heard from the
fanciiul practical joke, it passed from my mind
until my place OF residence was visited by one
Jenkins, alas Whitney. The name used, his
visit to the POstottce, etc.. caused me to suspect
wrong, and TO fear more serious re.
u, L
vas on my way TO Ypsilanti, to look after some
property fallen to my family, at the time of nv
arrest. was not surprised, but after thinking
over all could remember of the doubly-ac.
cursed letter, / felt very much distressed. II
hen, for the first time, realized what | had
lone; for myself did not so much care. felt
deserved all suffered; / feared, and greatly
cared, that had been instrumental in casting
suspicion On good and loyal men; and they
night at that very moment be under arrest,
Vith no other evidence against them than such |
ss my folly had furnished. Influenced by these
.esra, begged they would give me an imme-
dete examination, but either from want of in.
clination or want Of power it was refused.
III have only one word more 70 say in con-
necticn with this letter. l beg and pray that
whatever penalty Is attached TO this act NAV be
,onined to the only party guilty, and that moth
ng in 1t may be allowed to reflect upon any
me whom It may seem to hint at. should GER
alnly feel myself the worst of men, If any act
II mine, however innocent in intention, should
last stain of dialcyalty upon others. speak |
'f this letter as If | knew it to be the only |
,hRrge against me-. do not know II; simply |
know it to be the only thing wherein am gull. |
y. AS to any other act of treason, can only
lay belong to no secret society, was never even
tempted TO join any such society, or TO commit
any act whatever, favorable or otherwise, to
The Confederate States; also, to the best of my
knowledge, never saw a secessiOnist till my
advent here.
"As an act of justice to the Detroit Free
Press, desire to state that the manuscripts
'ound in my trunk, addressed to that paper,
we're never sent, and were only written to paas
away the time. No communication was ever
lent ny me to that paper. more than gubscrlp.
ion letter.
"l repeat, my only Objec! in writing this COM
10, il possible, to relieve others of
my suspicion which may have fallen upon them
through me. To further this object, am viii.
ing to attest to what | have here written IN.
Ter oath
"For myself, leave myself as needs must,
1t your disposal, only praying that may not be
100 severely handled for one moments indiscre-
lion. Very respeotfnlly, yours,
"GUY S. HOPKINS.
"HOn. WIN. II. SEWARD. Secretary of State"