New-York tribune., 1868-04-27

show that have never appeared In the senate except
parss sse spss ap1 have been N Senate cr most
Of the time performed iey duty But waive an mere
as to my conduct. - - 1.....y
1 write YOU not to justify, bat to waive aildefense
has borne me down. and which was calculated to bring
dscredit upon my State and myself IL Is my mature & 10
be frank and especially do owe ~ 70 you who aa'9
showered fayors aud honors upon me- to De so now; Il
VIII not attempt justification or excusc hs,ns prbe
have so often publicly saia 'aas "'c" "V''"s f~s'N
trusts should be sober men. 80, .,oo 18th
During twenty years OF polticsi ,tev ah
lave often yielded 70 temptation ana as Yen
nave suffered the pangs OF unutterape renv @ r,,s
say that in certain my sin has been my Pm,sn
ment. TO lose your respect might seem punishment. ,
enough but you can scarce imagine now PrVan s, %
feels when he has dread the loss OF all ta' @ ren
ders his nature noble and when IL would seem tnat
Heaven had Withdrawn its favor from hiih Oh aeSo" "
It has been said With what seems to unnecessary
cruelty II is perfectly useless to exact new w ph
low me reply that hare reformed, aud that VIZ Va
compel your confidence not by pledges but by oi
ton perfectly The happiness Of my family the respect
and confidence Of my friends the success Of my parr
ment the honor VI my State, tho good opinion oi man
kind my life, and last and most important me un
ali these % have been been seriously considered
To those whose affection for has hitherto survived
ces from yourseiSes or ohger attempt to Shield me
deserved eensure Iaccept Il as jnst punishment ana
occasion to congratulate themselves upon the yerca
ton Of their prophecies of evil concerning me- and us
the wish which fathered their thoughts As TO my
mics. and those who desire my ruin aud consequent re.g
nation order 20 tho elevation of some one else to the
place which hold at your hands, and hope they arc
few they have my pity for the gnobencSs OF tner p"r
But. to you, feow-ctzens do apologize without re
defense do not ask the divine ruling in ono OF
the Oldest recorded trials VIZ Let him that Is WITHOUT
the stone" make 40 comparison between
myself and other men in the country who drink more
than have done. ana with less dlst,roanct oI
their nervous organization than Ihave do not wlsh IN
saying this to seem invdOus or in the attitude Oi max
.'To err is human; to forgive divine" [ crave only
such an exercise of the divine attribute as the enght
ened gment OF my fellOwcnens can permit them 10
youcGsafe TO me- can truthfuy aver that no man bas
keener appreciation OF duty, iiyoer PRIDE IN ths
honor OF Ilnols deeper sense OF gratitude toward
thos6 Who have honored him, thaaI w. 4 was ln my
humble way true to the country dnr he late rebeifous
struggle, and throughout long public life against Dtler
prosecutions, and in fearful mnorities notwlthstanumg
all my faults have constantly, ,unyayingly and always
Of human freedom U am rot and newer have becn the
adv ocate OF drinking for though alcohol may be useh
as medicine and in other respects, yet 1t Kills
more than IL cures and much productive of mis-
cry than Of benefit TO mankind Ana were " III ny
power would at fen swoop blot 1t from the face OF
the EARTH and obliterae the knowledge OF making II from
the breasts Of mankind. -, -,
am aware that 1 have many friends who will dlsap-
prove, perhaps deEOunce. the seeming Illumination oi
writing this letter, they did my Congressional temper
speech year ago. While regret their cOhdehha
tion, must insist it l. always manly 10 cOles- one
errors welded Ia political LIE as To desire 10
remain i'm office longer than my friends desire hut have
never abandoned any posi- of duty assigned me. ahd
shall not leave my present before the expiration OF
my term while single STAN rests upon my h0nor az a
Senator such an act would bo cOwardy disgIHcfu 10
you and myself q reprOach to my children WHO depend
upon me defense Of their good nane-an act when
can only be compared To suicide. Beside feel that
have not yet accomplished all that owe 10 my STATE
and am determined to cancel part Of the debt
Notwithstanding your iustfiabe distrust, looking TO
God my family. my State, and my high duty, shdl not
despair but look forward 10 an unclOudod iuture
Thus much have written with clear consciousness Oh
the chances Of miscOncepto, doubt ana unklnd cilt-
cism which am liable care not IL Il always man,
y aud noble to reform error and Is generally good
policy to speak ingenucusly have tried to do both
Your Obliged servant, RICHARD 1Aiks.