The mountain Democrat., 1864-08-20
IFEsa ~ 3. ,. PFOAl
Statement - BiSh0P KaVaAaugh.


Statement - Bishop Kavanaugh.
To THE PUBLICR-It is well known to
the public that was recently arrested BY
the military authorities on this coast, and
was required to answer to certain charges
preferred against me, by persons even now
unknown to me.
II we're but . private individual, hold
ing no official position in the Church with
which am connected, l should perhaps
deem it best to remain content with the
vindication Of my conduct, as established
by the investigation before Generals Ma
son aud Mcdowell; but claiming, as do,
to be q minister Of Christ, and clothed as
l am with the high functions Of Bishop
IN The CApseb, whose duty it is, by pre-
cept and example, 10 inculcate the lessons
taught by my Divine NaDtST, owe it to
the cause Of religion and truth, and to my
high and sacred calling, to explain to the
public frankly, and 10 oil humility, the
circumstances connected with my arrest
The very fact Of my arrest implies sus.
picion Of improper conduct on my part,
and it is due to the Church of which | am
= minister that should explain the cir
cumstanceS, that no reproach may rest
upon the cause Of the religion which |
profess to teach and practice. In making
this publication, have no motive but to
vindicate my self from suspicion, and my
high Office from reproach and l do it,
with no feelings Of queruIOus complaint
against the military authorities, by all Of
whom l was treated with the utmost
courtesy and kindness.
With this preliminary explanation, l
now proceed to state, that while l was in
attendance at camp meeting, some thirty
miles from Stockton, at the ranch Of Mr..
Black, on the road to Copperopolis from
the city of Stockton, on the 10th day Of
July, and shortly before had an appoint.
ment to preach, was approached by Cap
tain jackson, Provost Marshal Of the
Southern District of California, who took
me aside, with one of my brethren in the
ministry, (tbe Rev. Mr.. Burchard,) and
said he was ordered to arrest me, and to
take possession Of my person and proper
ty and take me to San Francisco. I told
him / would 60 with him. On being in
formed that l had an appointment to
preach ct the hour of IL o'clock, he said
| could do so, and he would stay and hear
me. After the il o'clock services we
dincd at Mr.. Black S, after which the Cap.
tain asked me to meet him on the boat
for San Francisco at o'clock on the next
day, at Stockton, which I assured him !
would do, and did so accordingly.
From the time Of my arrest, the Cap.
tain, for the sake Of quietude and peace
enjOined secrecy upon my and my friends
as to the arrest, until should reach
Stockton. To this request yielded my
full consent, as neither wished to be the
cause or the occasion of any trouble to the
authorities or people of California, and
carefully observed the injunction. &C.
companied the Provost Marshal to the
city. On parting on the boat,in the morn.
ing, he requested me to meet him at his
Office at twelve o'clock. | complied with
this request, when be told me he was re-
quired to examine my baggage, my let
ters, ETC., which be did in the presence o.
the Rev. Mr.. Brown Of this city, and my.
SELF He did this office with all the deli
cacy he could, to be faithful to his obi
cations. He then accompanied me tC
Gen. Mason's headquarters, the Assistant
Provost Marshal for this Coast. nov
learned from Gen. Mason for the first time
the charges that were made against me
He said it had been stated of me in his Of
fee
First-That l was q citizen Of the State
of Georgia.
Secondly had crossed the mil
itary lines with pass from the Confeder
ate authorities and
Thirdly-That was on this coast with
out any visible business.
These charges were verbally stated.
was not furnished with any writer
charges or specifications, nor with The
names Of my accuscr or accusers. die
not ask who preferred these charges. In
deed, | had no desire to know the names
Of those who could set on foot such base
less accusations. gave to Gen. Mason q
statement Of the facts in the case,to which
he replied, that be thought if would com.
NIT the statements to writing and present
them to him, that they would be satisfac.
tory to Gen. Mcdowell. l did so, and
presented him the following statement oi
facts
SAN Francisco, Cal. July goth, 1864.
Brigadier General John S. Mason, AS.
sistant Provost Marshal General-Dear
Sir: l arrived in California few weeks
ago, Or business exclusively connected
with the Church of which l am a mem.
Der, and am here on no political mission
of any character whatsoever. am q ma
tive Of Kentucky, in which State | have
resided all my life, with the exception oI
about two years passed in the city of Gin
cinnati. The printed minutes Of our
Church viii show my whereabouts from
the year 1928 to 1854, when was elec.
ted to the Episcopacy. From that time
to this, my residence has been at Versail.
les Kentucky. Since the commencement
of the war, l have Sever crossed the mill.
tary lines, nor entered any State in rebel.
lion, except on visit to Nashville, Tenn.
then in possession of the Federal troops
and under their control, together with the
whole line of road from my residence Ia
that city. never have been politician,
nor In any manner participated actively
in political affairs, and have never preach.
ed politics either before or since the war.
On the contrary, l have invariably dis.
couraged it in the m niStry Of the Church
over which l had in some sense the su.
pervision. For the truth Of this statement
l appeal to all who have ever heard me,
or know my conduct on this coast, or else
where.
| The narficnlar occasion Of INV nresnnf