Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-25


Sfander Reruted. fDtt sf
We yesterday copied from the Cincinnati
Gazette the letters read by General GARFIExD
in the House OF Representatives. upon which he
based rs charge against JoHs G. DAVIS and
DELANA r. EcKLEs. of this State. of treason
abie correspondence with the rebel General,
JoHx c. BREDKIxRIDGE. The special Washing
ton dispatches to the Cincinnati Commercial.
dated the 18Th, under the head of Comprehend
letters OF introduction to a rebel General" COM
men.s as follows:
Mr.. Garfield caused the letters, to which he
referred i'm his speech in reply TO Mr.. long, to
be read IN the House to-day. One was from John
G.. Davis. while in Congress, the other from
Judge Eckles, also Of Southern Indiana. each
introducing the bearer to General Breckinridge
as one who was Disguised With his experience in
the Union army or with ,he party in power, and
wishing 10 enter into the Southern services; all
favors rendered To whom would be gratefully re
ciprOcated by the writer.
These letters were procured by young man
whom Garfield sent South spy with them as
credentials. The letters read to the House were
copied carefully, and traced on tissue paper.
The Terre Baute Express. edited by some fell
low destitute alike of brains. decency and integ-
rity. in commenting upon the matter, under the
flaming caption Of 1.-The traitors in Indiana"
says:
John G. Davis and Judge Eckles then are the
recruiting officers Of jeff Davis. in the Seventh
District of Indiana What a chapter; what
truthful comment on the Democracy OF Indiana.
The villains deserve cOndign punishment; they
will receive the execration OF all loyal men.
What double dyed villain the fellow must be
who would thus seek to iniure the reputation of
honorable men and good citizens-assassin-like
before an opportunity was given them to show
the falsity OF the charges brought against them.
or expose the plot By which their good names
were TO he blasted.
Aud the Indianapolis Journal. in similar spirit.
exhibits its chronic hatred Of Democracy by
vouching for the genuineness OF the letters and
making il the occasion for repeating, upon such
himsy evidence. its ISLANDERS upon the Dem Jcratc
party generally.
Fortunately for Messrs. DAVIS and EcKLEs.
aud without their knowledge, the proof happened
to be at hand in this city, which circumstantiaIlY
shows that the letters charged by Gen GARFIELD
to have been written by Messrs. DAVIS and
EcKLEs, are bogus, frauds. forgeries,
and that they were written in this
city by other parties for purposes which
will appear OLIVER RANKIN. the person in
State. In the three months service he EN-
ployed as bugler by Col. MANSON Afterwards,
in the three years service, he appointed
QuarreTmaster of the 10Th Indian, regiment, and
when Col. MANSON was promoted, be becam me
Brigade Quartermaster under him. He is rep
resented to have been fue officer; brave, dash
ing and reckless. Subsequently,, under General
RosKcRANs, he was employed as spy. In that
character he had crossed thrice into the rebel
lines and obtained valuable Information. The
last time he came from rebeldom it was in the
character of a rebel mail carrier. He tall,
with an enduring frame, and mentally of the
keenest penetration. When here last july. he
had the appearance of Southern fire eater.
with long hair planters hat, and grey suit. he
looked the character well. At that time the
letters which purport to come from JONI g. DA-
Wis and ID. r. EcxLEs. introducing RANKIN to
JoHS @. BREcKISRIDGE, we're prepared. They
were written at the clerks desk in the Office Of
DELAxA X. EcKLEs had no more knowledge Of
the mAtter-had no more to do with writing or
suggesting them, than ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
They were not in the city at that time. RANKIN
was then about to start on what he regarded r
perilous trip He so expressed himself TO his
friends here. He told them that he did not cx
pect to get through alive, and remarked that
some day they would read an extract from some
rebel paper announcing that another ankee spy
had been hung. He knew that Messrs DAVIS
and EcKLEs had been well acquainted with
BREcKISRIDGE, and the letters were written with
the hope they would aid him Ia case he should
be arrested or his character suspected. And il
was his intention. if he had returned in safety to
have destroyed them He so stated to a friend
here.
In confederation OF what we state. we produce
the statement OF air. j. Nc. ID. HAYS, who has
been office clerk in Li'tle's Hotel Tor two wears
past, and who is well known as young gentle
man Of strict integrity aud veracty. Mr.. HAYS
had long been an intimate lIiend OF RASKIS's.
As will be seen he present when the letters
were writ,ea; he read them alter they were writ
ten, and he knows them to he bogus. He pro-
them such. and that Messrs- DAVIS and
EcKLEs had no knowledge or completely in the
matter whatever Other parties were present at
the time aud are cognizanr of these facts. The
following is the
STATEMENT
The undersigned was wsll acquainted with
Oliver s. Rankin. The last time saw him was
tbs Little's Hotel i'm this city. in July, 1863.
i have read the letters read by Gen. Garfield in
the United States House OF Representatives.
dated July, 1863. purPortng to have been writ
ten by Hon John @. DAVIS and Hon. ID. X.
Eckes, Tor Eckels,) introducing said Rankin to
John y. Breckenridge. General in the rebel
army. To my knOsledge those letters were
written at the desk in the Office Of Littles Hotel.
1 saw them written. and read them after they
we're so written. Neither John q. Davis or ID.
X Eckels had any participation in. or knowledge
Of. the matter whatever. The said Rankin was
acting in the capacity OF a spy. He had, AS
such. crossed the rebel lines three times, The
last time his friends heard from Rankin was
three days before the battle of Chickamauga.
and then be At Braggs headquarters. aud
they now suppose him To be dead. The object
the said Rankin had view ia writing the letters
referred TO. was to aid him in case he should be
arrested by the rebels. he thought such letters
would recommend him TO the rebel authorities in
such event, aud help conceal his true char
acter.
make this statement as a matter Of justice 70
Messrs. Davis and Eckels, whom know. but
with whom 1 have political sympathy. IL
Was the purpose OF Rankin 10 have destroy ed the
lei.~rs named above il he had returned from his
mision in safety.
M Rankin was a staunch Union man, and an