Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-03-29
Card from Ex- NIayor Rerret.


The TatelliGeHeer of this morning contains
the following communication from ex- Mayor
Berret
To The Editors Of the National InieHigencer.
Gentlemen Il have not hitherto thought
proper TO Obtrude upon the public any ex-
PLANTATION Of the circumstances connected with
my arrest and Incarceration in a Government
fortress NJ the ineIpent stage of the recent civil
war. The facts of themselves, as known To
every one familiar with the condition of things
existing at the time in Washington, deemed
amply sufficient at least 20 shield me from i'm
putatlons derOgatOry to my honor, so far as 1t
could be affected by any action OF mine re-
speeding the then political status of the coun-
try Nor should now refer to the subject, if
purpose were not apparent by means OF
taunts and foundations in Congress and
elsewhere, to perpetuate acknowledged wrongs
by seeking to maze those very wrongs the ba-
sis of further persecution.
Upon tie breaking out of the war, it so hap
pened that occupied the position of chief
magistrate Ofthis city. 1t was publicly known
thar, although / was wholly opposed to those
of the South who desired to discover the
Union, and thereby, among other still more
mOmentous national disasters, utterly to ruin
the people of this city, whose interests were
somewhat committed to my charge, at The same
time did not concur in the dogNas and meas
ures OF the Republican party. And hence, in
the universal distrust then prevalent, 1 was
subjected 10 persecution entirely inexcusa-
BILE and resulting from the intense excitement
OF The public mind and morbid appetite for OBJ
jects of pOpular vengeance NY loyalty was
never subject to rational doubt, and to this day
there has never been the semblance OF a charge,
much less any proof or attempt Of proof, pre-
feTfed against me, rejecting in any manner
upon my devotion to the Union, the Constitu-
ton, or the laws of the country.
These facts are of public notoriety. But il is
not equally well known that they were fully
acknowledged by Mr.. Lincoln and his Cabinet,
ana the injury done me in my arrest and i'm
prsonment atoned for by them to the utmost
extent IN their power. 1t is the main object Of
TINS letter 10 place this phase OF the matter
before my friends. and to rightly inform those
QT n To ha ierfNn-
rant OF the real facts in the case. After my
return from Fort Lafayette Mr.. Lincoln, ina
conference had with him at his own instance,
IN the presence of the then and present Secre-
tary OF State, magnanimously acknowledged in
the most feeling terms the utter groundlessness
OF the vague suspicious upon which the mill
tary authorities had acted in nv arrest-ex-
pressed his deep regret that the bitter feelings
and panic which prevailed at the time had
caused such an instance of individual oppres-
sion, and generously proffered any appropriate
PREPARATION for the injury that has been done
me. L declined to make any suggestion, but
was shortly afterwards, as is well known to
the present Secretary of State, offered a colo
nelcy IN the army, with the privilege Of posi-
uon on the staff of the General-In- Chief; and
nominated to the Senate for a lucrative office
which also refused soon as was informed
OF the appointment for the reasons assigned in
letter 10 Mr.. Lincoln, of which the following
is copy:
WASHINGTON, April II, 1862
DEAR SIR: beg leave to express TO you my
me in sending to the Senate, without the slight
est knowledge or expectation Of il On nv part.
my nomination as Commissioner under the
law recently enacted for the abolition of
slavery in this District.
This public recognition constitutes for me
Nindlcatlon, the value of which can only be
appreciated by those who have known what il
Is 10 endure a most grieyous and un-aerited
wrong. Since my release from sFort La
Iayette. n mas been one Of my chief eonsola-
tainiy that you considered my Imprisonment
TO have been wholly undeserYed.I NV nomi-
nation TO the Senate attests this fact to the
whole country. 1t is enough; again ! thank
you
1t only remains to say that cannot accept
the office which you tender me. / do not ap-
prove the law under which the Office is
created, and its judicial duties could not be
performed by me TO my entire satisfaction in
conformity with those provisions. Therefore,
tits plainly my duty most respectfully to de-
cline the appoin tment, and 1 do it at this early
moment in order that, before the Senate take
actlon IN the matter you may substitute some
other name for that of
Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES q. BERRRT.
His Excellency A. LINCOLN, President
declined TO withdraw this letter thou Oh re-
quested by the Presidentto do so, although the
circumstances attending the reception OF the
nomination IN the Senate were of the most gra-
tifying character. might here add, that there
never was a time, from the day Of my release
from confinement TO that Of the death OF Presi-
Gent Lincoln, II official position had been nv
ambition, that il might not have be en- gratifed
TO the full extent, at least Of my own appreci-
alton Of my merits.
Under these circumstances, respectfully
SuSmlt whether il be consistent with the IN les
OF honorable political warfare for mesabers OF
Congress in their places in the National I.egis-
lature, or for those controlling the public
press, sun 10 harp upon a fragrant wrong in
nlcted upon me, and through me, 10 some ex-
tent, upon the people of Washing ton as imply
ing want OF patriotism on my part, and thus
10 intensity and perpetuate the effects of an
Outrage which honorable gentlemen, it might
well be supposed, would prnfe, to see atoned
for, or, If not, at least forgotts n
Very respectfully and truly yours,
JAMES G.. BERRRT