Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-30

Out and EXhibited-He IL EtnuIy
SaIted Down-Letter from Hon. Ds
w. voorhees, TO Brig .-Gen. Henry ID.
Darlington.
General Henry B. CGrrfngton, Indianapolis,
Indiana:
SIR:-Your favor of the 10th Is at hand, in
which am informed that certain letters
belonging to me have been stolen. You do
not directly state whether you committed
the theft yourself or whether you employ
ed some one else, but inasmuch as you have
possession of the stolen property, and avow
it as if you had done something to be proud
of, YOU will of course not object to being
considered as the principal in the act of
petty larceny and lock-picking. There are
some titles to distinction which you claim,
and which are not, believe, generally con-
ceded to you by the public. No one, how
ever, will dispute your right to this.
You take great pains in your commune
cation to convey false impression in re-
gard to the circumstances under which you
examined and purloined my private cores
pondence. In November, 1868, locked my
DESKS my drawers and my office in the usu-
al manner, and left for Washington city.
| did not return to Terre Haute until the
10th of June, 1864. ....
During my absence authorized the own
er of the property to rent it and take charge
of my books and papers. He rented 1T
sometime in the spring to a man by the
name of Muzzy, and with a mistaken conf
dence, suffered everything belonging to me
to remain under his control. Here, General,
was your easy opportunity. was nearly
thousand miles away, a political enemy
had possession of my desks and drawers,
and all you had to do was to ply the bur-
glars art, prepare false keys, pick my locks,
and YOU at once had access to my private,
confidential correspondence, embracing a
period of seven years. l have every reason
to believe that you read it all, letter by let
ter. You took your time, and like the fur
tive, thieving magpie, narrowly inspected
each line and word to 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 are dead. There was bundle
also from my wife in regard to our domes-
tic 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-pockets
doing as much as that. .. ....-
| confess to one very disagreeable sensa-
tion in regard to this affair. 1t is the
thought that the evidences of long years OF
friendship and affection shoulfbe subjected
to the scrutiny of such an eye as yours.
You wear the uniform of Brigadier
General, and / believe you are Colonel
in the regular army. Do you imagine that
such an act asrobbing private drawers, and
publishing private letters, will bring honor
to your rank in the estimation of gentle
men? Have you ever read here and there
a scrap of history? Do you know in what
light the Shiny informer, the eavesdrop-
per, the pitiful spy upon the affairs OF do,
mestic and private life, have always beer
regarded by honorable men? Did YOU
ever read the invectives of Curran before
the iuries of Ireland against just such con-
duct as yours? Ii you have not advise
you to do so, and you will there see your
self in a mirror as others see you at all
times. Titus Oates pretended to discover
plots, censpiracies and treasons, just as you
pretend that you are doing. He got rich a
it, as presume you are doing. He, sacri
feed the lives Of many of the best citizens
OF England. You may do the same thing
in this country by your sensational false
hoods and reckless disregard OF the public
peace. But the parallel may 60 further. A
healthy reaction took place, and Iitus
Oates, the plot-tinder of England, stood in
the stocks and was pelted by the multitude
His ears were cropped close to his head
he was whipped at the tail of cart dozen
times through the streets of London. These
acts of vengeance against him were only
expressive Of the feelings which virtuou:
mankind everywhere entertains towards
the wretch who turns universal witness
against his fellow-men-who,i in times o.
great public excitement and trouble, seeks
to aggravate the public distress by pretend
ing to find everybody guilty but himsel
and his own followers; who crawls into
bed rooms, who ransacks bureaus, who
picks locks, and pliers the private thoughts
of friends. You have studied this grea
English informer as your example,; woulC
YOU not do well to study his fate? Popu
lar delusions do not last always, and the
day is even now at hand when your pres
ence among gentlemen will be regarded a
the signal to cease conversation for fear yot
will betray it--when your presence in .
room will cause its occupant to secure every
loose letter or paper that may be in sigh
for fear you steal it; and when your pres
ence in a town will cause everybody tt
lock their offices or remain in them tt
guard against your approach. usH
am told that you have been often order
ed to the field to meet the armed enemies o.
| your country. have formerly expressed
my surprise that you did not go. You wer,
i educated, if / ari not mistaken, at Yves
Point, by the Government, and my expert
ence among army officers has been that as
class they were men of courage, high breed
ing and honor. They have generally es
teemed 1t their duty to be in the front il
time of war. But all general rules ar
proven by their exceptions, and you ar,
the exception in this instance. l shall ne
longer wonder that you remain in Indiana
nor shall l be surprised if upon another in
vason of our State, you are again put un
der arrest and relieved of your command
Your vocation is certainly not the sword
You should lay it aside as too honorable fol
you to wear, and In its place, as the EN-
blem of your calling, you should wear {
bunch of false keys, and o set of burglars
tools. Nor should you keep the uniform
of the soldier any longer--itss place should
be supplied by the usual disguises, false.
faces, wigs, and gum-elastic shoes, which
night prowlers and house breakers usually
wear. Ts1agA
dl But word or two, General, in regard tf
the letters themselves. You have raked
drag net over many years Of my most pri
vate correspondence. What did you ge
| Ill hoca nd oil 1ahnrs