Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-08-26
Letter from Hon. ID W. voorhees, TO
Brig. Gen. Henry ~. Darlington
General Henri b CsrrinetOn. Indianapolis. IN

diana
Sm-Your favor Of the 18th IS at hand 10
which am informed nat certain letters belong
ing 70 me have been stolen You do not directly
state whether you committed the theft yourself
or whether you employed some one elso. but in
asmuch "A YOU have possession OF the stolen pro
per;v. sasl avow il a. II you bad done something
10 be proud Of. YOU vii Of course not obiec; TO
heinz considered as the principal in this set Of
petty larceny ana lock picking. There are some
title to distinction which you claim, and which
are not. I believe. generally conceded to you By
the public No one, however, will dispute your
right to thIz.
You take great pains in your communication
TO convey a false impression IN regard 10 the CIR
cumstances under which you examined and pur
Joined nv private correspondence In Novem-
Der, 1863, locked my desks. my drawers and
my Office in the usual manner. and left Tor ash
ington City did not return 20 Terre Haute
until the 10th Of June, 1864
During nv absence authorized the owner OF
the property TO rent IL and take charge OF my
books and papers lie rented it sometime IN the
spring 70 a man by the name OF Muzzy, and
With a mistaken confidence, suffered everythin z
belonging 10 me 70 remain under bis control.
Here General. was your easy opportunity. i
was nearly a thousand miles away, political
enemy had possession Of my desks and drawers,
and all you had to do to ply the burglar
art, prepare false keys, pick my locks, and you at
once had access to nv private, confidential cor
respondence embracing period Of seven years.
have every reason TO believe that you read 1t
all, letter by letter You took your time, and
like the furtive, thoving maybe, narrowly IN.
spected each line and word, 10 find, If possible,
some expression of opinion which your servile
political creed holds TO be disloyal. There were
many letters there from cherished friends who
I bundle Ian fro NV VIII
I in regard to our domestic affairs. If you have
stolen these, also, please return them, as they
can be of no value except to the owner. | have
( heard of generous house breakers and pick peck
/ cts doing as much as that.
/ | confess to one Yery disagreeable sensation in
regard to this affair Il is the thought that the
/ evidences of long years of friendship and affec-
/ ton should be subjected TO the scrutiny of such
/ an eve a. yours.
! You wear the uniform of Brigadier General,
/ and believe you are a Colonel in the regular
army. Do you imagine that such an act as rob
bing private drawers, and publishing private let
ters will bring honor TO your rank IN the estl-
nation of gentlemenl Have you ever read here
and rhere scrap of history Do you know in
what light the slimy iniorrner, the ca. esdrop-
per- the pitiful spy upon the affairs Os domestic
and private life. have always been regarded by
honorable men7 Did YOU ever read the inv &c
tives of Curran before the juries OF Ireland
against Just such conduct as yours? If you have
not | advice YOU TO DO so, aud you will there
see Yourself in q mirror as others you at all
times Titus Oates pretended 10 discover plots,
conspiTacies and treasOns just as you pretend that
YOU are doing He got rich at it, as ! presume
YOU are doing He sacrificed the lives of
MANY Of the best citizens of England.
You may DO the same in this country by your
sensational falsehoods and reckless disregard OF
the public peace But the PARALLEL may 90 fur
! Their A healthy reaction took place, and Titus
Oates the plot finder of England, stood in the
stocks and was peted by the multitude His
ears were cropped close TO his head; he was
whipped at he tail of cart a dozen times
through the streets of London. These acts OF
vengeance against him were only expressive of
the feelings which virtuous mankind everywhere
entertans towards the wretch who turns uuiveT
sal witness against his fellow men-who, in times
of great public excitement and trouble, seeks TO
aggravate the public distress by pretending to
find everybody guilty but himself and his own
followers; who crawls into bed rooms, 8ho ran
sacks bureaus. who picks locks. and pliers the
private thoughts of friends. You have studied
this great English informer your example;
I would you not do well 10 study bis fatef Popu
lar decisions DO not last always. and the day is
even now at hand when your presence among
gentlemen will be regarded "a the signal to cease
conversation foT fear you will betray it-when
your presence in a room will cause It's occupant
to secure every loose letter paper that may be
( in sight for fear you steal il; and when your
presence in town will cause everybody to lock
their offices or remain in them to guard against
your approach
| am told that YOU have been often ordered to
the field to meet the armed enemies of your
country have formerly expressed my surprise
that YOU did not 20. You were educated, if l
am not mistaken, at West Point. by the Govern
ment and my experience among army officers
has been that a class they were men of courage,
high breeding and honor They have generally
esteemed il their duty to be in the front in time
of But all general rules are proven by
their exceptions and YOU are the exception in
/ this instance | shall no longer wonder that you
remain in Indiana, nor shall | be surprised if
upon another invasion Of our State, yOu are
again put under arrest and relieved Of your com
mand Your vocation is certainly not the sword.
You should lay il aside as too honorable for you
TO wear, and in Its place as the emblem OF your
calling, you should wear n bunch of false keys,
and a set OF burglars tools Nor should you
keep the uniform of the soldier any onger--its
place should be supplied by the usual DISCUSSES.
false-faces. wigs and gum elastic shoes. which
night providers and house breakers usually wear.
! But a word or two. General, in regard to the
I letters themselves. Iou have raked a drag net
/ over manv years OF my most private correspon-
4 dence What did YOU get after all your base
ness and all your abors The result will hardly
pay you for the universal detestation which will
/ always cling to your conduct Let us see. One
/ of nv friends writes me that he fears our liber
/ ties will be DESTROYED in the hands of those who
are now in power. lie predicts that Mr. Lincoln,
aided by such willing instruments you. will
attempt TO erect despotsm on the ruins of the
/ Republic He fears and his predictions thus ex-
pressed in June sol have been fully verified. He
SAYS peaceable separation would have been bet
/ ter than this. IL IS not for you to complain of
such a sentiment ! have heard you publicly
1 express your great admiration for Mr.. Chase.
/ II held the doctrine expressed by Mr.. Ris
tine and at later date than Mr.. Ristnes let
ter. | refer you to the speech of Gen Blair on
that point But the Indianapolis Journal said
the same thing, only III stronger terms So did
the Cincinnati Commercial, the y Y. Tribune,
and many other leading Republican organs.
What importance then can YOU attach To such an
expression of opinony
But YOU found an old letter from my good ola
uncle in Virginia Poor scandal mOnger as you
are. cauuos even permit you much enjoyment
in that. | was in Harrsonburg in June, 1860
Mr. Lincoln was not elected. There was no
talk Of secession in Virginia. On the contrary.
the feeling in behalf Of tie Union was over
whelmin- But there was a deep irritation ye,
IN the popular mind in Fegari 20 the John Brown
raid which hsd but recently occurred was ser
enaded at my uncle'S house aud N a5e short
speech Abiding TO the murderOus invasion Of