, 1864-10-18
JUDGE CATDN.s OTTAWA
SPEECH.


OTTAWA, Oct. II. 1864.
Ed1torr Chicago Tribune:
in card published In the TRIBUNE OF the
i2tL inst,, Judge Caton has seen fit to deny
that be ever used the Language, OF expressed
the sentiments, attributed to him IN the ex-
tract from his late speech recently published
in the TRIBUNE. l do not propose to make
tho question question OF veraeitg, but am
sorry the Judge declines the honor of being
copsiGered 'spre eulnent1y honest a ancng
the politicians OF his party"-aa hon3r
Which the TRIBUNE, AID t.cse who heard bis
spet ch, have perbrps .1'.xn TO .encr.'us 1u
t6rustine upon him. But if 1t must be 80,
we will endeavOr to repress our cumpll-
meEte, that v may do hiu 10 wrong.
made the report Of his speech, which he
disclaims, and which ID an exact copy OF
notes taken on the spot, while one OF the
Judges political friends Was looking over
my rhoulder and reading (as thiak} all
WrGte without objection, aud must insist
that It is substantially correct, the Judges
recollection to the contrary EotWlthstand-
ing. Several other gentlemen took notes
which correspond With my own, Us reported,
ard = score Of Others have assured me that
they listened attentiyely to the speech, and
Understood the judge as I dill. a general
denIal is quite easg Tor the Judge to make,
while he might find It another matter, and
somewhat embarrassing, to support that de-
n1al by telling the public just seh1t hs did say.
VIII the Judge deny that he used the follow
Ing language precisely rs reported: "What
would become OF the Democratic party II
Wendell Phillips should succeed in dividing
the UnIon:" This sentence imme edistely pre-
cedes tie paragraph which the Judge dis
claims.
Now, what reasons did the Judge give, or
what reasons did he haYe in his mind at the
time, or can he now assign, except the one
att1ibnted to him, why the De De.nocratfc party
would be in a worse liz than the Republican
A.
= tlczen or more Of the leading men In Or
taWa TINT the Judge used the above language,
and gave as reason why, that If the Abolition.
| tsts succeeded tn abolitioniztng the country,
they would be able then to control the coun-
try. TIC implied charge Of the Judge that
is not true, but 1t cuts no figure, If slave
| r. Ia preserved, and the Democrats ttmain-
tain a friendly relation with their old
friends and allies, =" the Abolitionists could s.ot
control tie countsy-otherwis wise they could.
This is not only true, but the only reason
Judges assertion that the Democtats are
"nore interested in maintaining the Union
than Republicans, or that some peculiar
and terrible calamity would hefan the Dem.
ocratic party if Wendell Phillips should d.
vide the Union. As reported BY me, the
much interested In maintaining the Union as
the Republi an party" but, AN assured b7
eome Of the most reliable men In Ottawa,
| that the Judge used "tne word more" in
etead Of "as m,teh,' and au now 6attsfled
that be did, because it would be mo:e In
harmony with the context.
1t is possible that the Judge. instead ofthe
words tour interests consists IN maintaining
our relations with our old friends and allies
the shareholders, and In preserving slavery
might have used words Of similar iup5r
such Is, s'our Democratic party intsrsts cou
sist Ia maintaining our old relations With th
Soutb, and In preserving the Institutions o
the south" Thelatter is the va1a3on Of som
Who rely upon their recollection. But, tha
| the Judge in substance eaid what I attribnt.
to HIN, can be proven BY anv number OF hi
neie hbcrs and frie1 ds, and their Damea wi
be forthcoming II the Judge petsists in hi
denis]. without Informing The public what b
aid say. Yours, respectfully, REPORTER.