New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-12-23

partial versions of the affair have from time
to time appeared. The following clear and
full statement of the whole case is from a
gentleman most deeply interested, Charles
K, Lands, ESD, of Vineland, the gentleman
whom the Commodore threatened to put to
death at all hazards: ..l
That have ta'en away this old mans daughter
1t is most true; true have married her; .
The very head and front of my offending
Hath this extent no more. -Othello
EDITOR PHILADELPHIA INQuIRER-As nu.
merous reports have been published in the
papers giving an incorrect statement of the
case of Commodore Meade, and as my own
name has been made more prominent than
the truth of the circumstances fairly ad-
nit, in short, that i had Commodore
Meade arrested upon criminal charge, and
that when he could not be held upon that
charge, had him incarcerated in lunatic
asylum upon the certificate of two Tombs
physicians" beg the liberty OF setting
myself right before the public. have
heard of men in olden times ATTACKING
castles and taking their wives by force. /
have heard Of their taking them out of
third story windows, and / have also heard
of their quietly walking away and get
ting married; but never heard before,
either in history or fiction, of man irst
combining his intended father-inlaw in q
lunatlc asylum and then Immediately mar
rying his daughter, ard l am not ambitious
to be the one to start such precedent
| first met my wife at the Commodore's
own house, in Washington last January l
was then told that it was worth as much as
mans life to pay any attention to his
daughter. OF the number of suitors who
had been actually driven away by force of
arms, upon further inquiry, / ascertained
this to be fact When l had decided to
propose to my wife sent formal notice TO
him, and request for his consent. His
answer to this was peremptory order to
desist from all attentions to his daughter
reiterated by another letter threatening
serious consequences in case I continued
those attentions, and placing the grounds
of his objection as follows: First, my age;
second, my religion; third, being an entire
stranger. Being at the time thirty-four
years old, was at loss to know whether
he meant that | was too young or too old.
did not care about adopting any new reli-
gion, and being fully his equal in birth and
education, and having lived for eleven years
upon my own estate in New Jersey, f'with
my banner on the outward wall, | could
not possibly sympathize with the last objec-
ton.
In respect to the last letter consulted
his son, Lieutenant Commander 3. W.
Meade, Father Franciah, of Brooklyn, for
merry his priest, Admiral Hiram Paulding,
the father-in-law of two of his sons, Charles
A. Meigs, of New York, his brother-in.law,
and ether members of his family, and they
all advised me to pay no attention to 1t,
''that the Commodore was suffering under
alteration of mind, and had been in this
state for some time.n This fully believed,
as knew that the Commodore had suffered
great injustice from the Government, in
being uDiustly kept out of claim, amount
ing, | believe, to millions of dollars, even
after the legality and justice of the claim
had been fully established, and, also, that
from some personal jealoAsies he had suffer
ed injustice in his court martial for the
loss or the San Jacinto, and had not been
awarded the rank and promotion which he
deserved, which, to an officer, is worse
than death. The letter itself was lnco-
herent.
After this was informed that the Com
modore was watching around the Staten
Island ferries, that he might shoot me at the
first opportunity. | continued my atten-
tions the same, and would have blushed at
the thought of anything like personal dan
ger influencing my conduct. For some time
previously my marriage was appointed TO
Take place on the fourteenth of October, at
the residence Of my wife's uncle, Charles A.
Meigs, ESQ.,, of Staten Island. A few days
before | received warning that the mind
of the Commodore was disturbed, and that
he would shoot me for certain in case he
saw me. decided, however, that on the
fourteenth OF October / would cross the
ferry In open daylight in an open carriage,
and stand any amount of shooting that was
necessary felt that men had often risked
their lives for objects less worthy than
mine. - -
On the fourteenth | crossed the ferry
safely in company with my father, my sis.
ter and my chief secretary, Mr.. John l..
Burk, and arrived at the residence of Mr..
Meigs. Lieutenant Commander r. W.
Meade Immediately informed me that he
had performed melancholy task the pre-
ceding ay-that of placing the Commodore
in the Bloomingdale Asylum: that for
months past he had been threatening diff
ferent people; that he had threatened the
lives OF Mr.. b. T. Corlies, Mr.. Meigs, Secre-
tary Welles Of the navy and his son; that
upon his person several revolvers had been
found, and four more revolvers in his va
lise, and that he had a gang Of ''roughsr
engaged to commit violence upon myself in
crossing the river. ahaL
Instead Of this being done in order to
promote ms marriage, it was done only
from motives of humanity, and it was ex-
pected that upon such terrible occurrence
in the family would postpone the marriage
or break 1t off. The family was also of this
disposition. j requested, however, that the
marriage should take place. Ny atfianced
was not responsible for this hesrtrending
misfortune, aud besides, II she has lost her
beauty, or met with any other misfortune,
or If all the family had suddenly become
lunatics, would have been all the more
anxious 70 have the right and the power to
protect her. married her, thank God, and
with His help mean to stay married, and
shield her all her life from every evil that
may threaten.
Ny marriage has received the appreciation
OF every member of my Wife's family, ex.
cepting the Commodore.
Relative TO the Commodore's confinement,
had no hand In it; nor had my wife: nor
did know Of Il before the morning Of my
marriage; but have seen letters from Sec
Rotary Welles, Of the Navy, and from Gem
eral George @. Meade and others. apnrov.
ing of the confinement Of the Comnaodore
| upon the ground of insanity, and expressin q
surprise that It had not been done long
| before.
The Commodore was placed in confne.
menA by his son, Lieutenant Commander q.
| W. Meade, who is now in the Pacific ocean,
in command Of the United States steamer
Saginaw and consequently was not present
at the trial In New York, but was simply
represented BY counsel. z 1slel
If the Commodore has recovered BIZ
health, there Is no one more joyed at II thar
myself or who can wish him better health
CHARLES K. Lands.
fsELkED. N. j., December 10, 1868.
Complimentary.