The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-02-20

merchant and did very extensive bust
ness. During his residence in the place
last mentioned, which was between three
and four years. generally attended to
his legal business. On winding up his
mercantile affairs, which l think was in
184I or 1912, he removed to Texas, leav-
ing with me the collection of a large
amount Of outstanding debts. l think it
was not until 1851 or 1859 that 1 had
final settlement with Mr.. Lincoln, which
resulted in my purchasing from him a
considerable amount of real estate, and
there being a defect in the titles, 1 was
kept in occasional correspondence with
him up to 1854 or 1855. About this
time. Mr.. Lincoln connected himself with
what was known az the Texas land grant,
and formed one OF many of large compa.
ny that conceived lthe idea of making a
railroad to the Pacific coast. About this
time Congress had under consideration
the same subject. This brought Mr..
Lincoln TO Washington each session there.
after as regularly AS Congress met. 1t SO
happened that was one Of special COM
mittee Of nine raised in the Senate on the
occasion to consider and report upon
some plan or route of railroad to the Pa.
cific. This again brought me in commu-
nicatiou with Mr.. Licon. Seldom a week
passed that he did not visit me at my
house. was always glad to see him.
and whenever and wherever we met,
recognized and treated him as a friend
aud gentleman. may here add that
Thomas B. Lincoln is well and fayorably
known il his native city OF Philadelphia,
and ia the community in which live.
He is known to many of the citizens Of
Washington. and very we'll known to all
those Senators and Representatives who
took an active part in the great enterprise
l have mentioned. l never heard aught
alleged against his honesty, integrity or
loyalty until l heard Of his arrest in the
city of Cincinnati. in July or August last,
on suspicion-m suspicion-of being in
completely with the Southern rebellion
There were found in his possession a.
mong his papers two letters written by me;
and If he had had his business budget
with Inn, there would no doubt have been
found hundreds of letters from me. run
ming back during the last twenty three or
twenty-four years. Having read one let
ter which was found with Mr.. Lincoln, l
now read tho other:
WASHINGTON June 81, 1860.
DEAR SIR l take pleasure in introdu-
cling to you an old and valued friend, Mr.
Thomas B. Lincoln. He has PROPOSE
ton to make to you connected with kind
of machine lie understands you are using
in the public Improvements under your
control. l commend him to you as re :
liable gentleman in every sense of the word
and bespeak for him your kind consilera-
ton
Truly yours.
JESSE D. BRIGHT.
Captain FRANxLrN.
Mark you. this letter forms no part of
the accusation against me. 1t has been
certified to here by the officer who has Gus
| tody of it. for the purpose, suppose. Of
, showing that l had been in the habit OF
, corresponding with Mr.. Lincoln. am
glad it has been done. 1t enables me.
from the fact Of different papers. penned
at different periods. to show what my
opinion of him, long before even the
, thought of disunion was expressed.
The Senator from Maine, Mr.. Morrill,. ]
in his assault upon me. laid great stress
on the cordiality of feeling expressed in
my letter of the lst of March. both toward
the person 20 whom it was addres ssed and
toward the person in whose behalf it was
written; and volunteered the opinion that
it sounded like the language of courtier'
l have none other than mere passing
acquaintance with that Senator, and his
total ignorance Of my character is dis
closed by yenturing to make such an I'M
putstion upon it. II he knew me better.
he would have known that whatever be
my defects. this was not one of them.
With more sycophantio smiles. and fewer
looks and tones Of defiance since this
prosecution commenced. l can scarcely
doubt that / should have lessened the
number Of my prosecutors. aud abated
the venom Of their attacks; but with entire
confidence in my innocence and integrity,
all ask. or have asked Is justice.
! wish now to call the attention of the
} Senate to the similitude of language in
each Of the letters. When the first was
! written l was chairman of the Committee
on Public Buildings and Grounds. Cap
tain Franklin. to whom it was addressed,
was In charge of the Capitol extension. and