New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-08-31
POLITICAL.
THE KU-KLUx IN NORTH c.porru.


JUDGE TOURGEES GARBLRD LETTER.. cApo
FROM SENATOR ABBOrr
To the Edftor OF The Trfbun,
SIR: l noticed in The TRrsuyy anna
time ago "tter from Judge Tourxes OF the seyssth
JUDICIAL District OF North Carolina correcting certain A.
legged errors contained In letter Addressed by him 40
dated at Greensboro, ~ C., May a. 1870 and which az,
peared in THE TRIBUNE OF Aug g. 1870 Ihaye M, rna
Tourgee's letter to TnH TRIBUNE, making thess co..
rectons. at hand. BIT have the original letter q, IN.
Judge to me, and send herewith a certified eoov 4.
order that you may for yourself compare with hs Lea
ter as printed in your paper
AZ an editorial article appeared in THE TaIBuss Of r.,
cent date asking Gov Holden and myself - expIa,n
'who garbled Judge Tourzee', letter" I would stats
briefly all know about the said letter previous IN Ia
publication II was received by me in due course NJ
mail, and. though marked ION the ousil Of thu an
yeope, think personal" It's subject matter related
entirely TO public affairs, and contained facts and .nx
gestOns which calculated, and doubt Intended
10 influence my in public affairs. Therefore.
although the letter q private one. iii not con-
slider that its matter to be locked up profound
secret In my breast and therefore showed II q
several Senators, among them my colleague, NJ. Pool
Subsequently, in my thi. city, the presence NJ
Gov Holden and several OF the North Carolina deegs-
tion read the letter Gov Holden asked fOr copy for
information, and r Cobb Of the House also asked for
copy that he might the facts Ia b., canvass as
cred 10 Gov Holden and Mr. cobb copios Of the letter
These copies made under the direction OF my pr
vate clerk, Mr. Isaac Harbert, most Trustworthy and
honest man, who employed James Fitzpatrick. clerk
in the Office Of the Secretary Of the Senate, whose
patton copyst and who is noted for corrocne and
neither Of whom could have hal any possible motive 70
devate from the copy.
When saw from the editorial in your paper that yoa
were really and honestly in doubt the ~ thu
discrepancy between Judge Tourgees letter a. printed
in THE and his manuscript deemed the above
explanation due I make this explanation much IN
Justice to Judge TouTgee 10 Gov Holden and myself
believe Judge TOurgee TO DO incapable Of dishonor
dishonesty and know that he Is lawyer Of extrasr-
binary capacity and requirements and that his private
and public conduct inspired by unusual depth ~
sincerity and conviction do not believe him oapIhs
Of msstatng facts according to the evidence before him.
and shall regret his candOr and honesty shall cause him
personal Inconvenience.
Having shown that whatever " garbing" Judge Tour
gees letter may have sustained must have been mads
after 1t passed from my hands, will add that had no
agency whatever in presenting 10 the public oher man
Us above mentioned. JOSEPH u AbDor''
United States Senate CHAMBER. Washington. D. O.. AuS
20, 1870
"A careful examination of the certified copy Of
Judge Tourgee's letter, sent US by Senator ADposs
shows that the Judge is mistaken in thinking thas
he wrote arsons instead of Ii, as printed In iHs
TRIBUNE and that he is right in supposing that hs
wrote 400 or 500 houses broken open. instead %
1000 or 5000. AS Senator Abbott claims thai
he gave Gov Holden a correct copy OF the letter.
perhaps the Governor will now tell us who garbled
il before he gave it to our cOrrespondent-ED.
TRIBUNE.l