Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-02-10

uttered II, do not believe single mem.
Der OF the bar believed the story, nor do
/ think Judge johnston believed II To
make bis picture complete in his own es-
timation, his fruitful fancy conceived this
: feature necessary. and. however false, he
did not scruple 90 add Il.
II is vain and idle suoterfuge for
Judge Johnston TO say he derived these
facts from the recorded history Of the
times or from conversations with Mr..
Stanton. 1t is simply impossible. His
tory is not record of lies, ard II 10 u
gross SANDER Of the dead 10 charge Mr..
Stanton with uttering such ialsehoods
Indian bonds to the amount of $50, 900
(which sum Judge Johnston did not hest
tate TO carry up to $1,000. OO0). we're alb
stracted from the Interior Department
while / presided over 1t. At my instance
and by my request committee of Con-
gress thoroughly Investigated the whole
transaction. The report of this commit
tee forms part of the history Of the
times. 1t is found in the Reports of
Com mittees of the House OF Representa-
tives, second session, thirty-sixlh Con-
gress, Report No. 70. refer you also
to a statement made by me through the
columns OF the New York Herald, more
than year ago, which / shall request
the editor 10 print with this card, in
reference 10 this abstraction of Indian
bonds. Thus you will be advised Of all
other facts in the case, and you can
Judge how wanton and unjustitable
Judge Johnston has been to me. have
been slsudered on this aceosnt long
enough, and / ask of you that defense
only which justice and truth give me,
and that contempt for Judge Johnston
which..tb slanderer and falsfied surely
deserve at your hands.
Since the war / have sought privacy
aud retirement In every way have re-.
Trained from thrusting my name before
the public. | have not even defended
myself when falsely assailed. / have
waited with the hope that truth, with her
slew but certain march, would oyertake
falsehood, with her passions and prejn-
dices, and overwhelm her. ! now speak
because my feelings are outraged by this
false representation Of the personal rela-
lions of Mr.. Stanton and myself Our
intercourse, both before and during our
service in Mr.. Buchanan's Cabinet, was
free, cordial, intimate aud confidential.
Sometimes we differed on questions
brought up for our action. We both were
frank in the expression of our opinions,
and never was there the slightest personal
feeling ON the part OF either on account
of this difference, or the slightest inn
peaehment of the motives Of either. Ga
the night before my departure from
Washington, Mr.. Stanton came to take
his leave of me. Our conversation
turned upon the gloomy prospect loom
ing M in the immediate future, and we
both saddened at the view. Just as he
left my room, xhsre my family were
With come fsisnds, he ballad me out
and said. Mr.. Thompson, God
only knows what may happen to US and
our country But, my dear sir, | want
You 10 carry this assurance with you;
am your friend, and will continue so;
and if it so happens / can in any way
serve you in the future, shall not for
give yon if Yop fail TO let me know how
can do H." This was the last time We
ever met, and there was no correspond
ence between US sfterward. His subse-
quent course was. in my estimation, the
result of his ardent, impulsive nature.
When he saw that the Constitution of
1851 was buried, and war upon the
States begun, have no doubt he felt it
bis imperative duty to form new political
associations and pursue new direction;
and this he did. as all must admit, with
great zeal aud ability. Whether in this
be acted with wisdom and charity, is now
a question fer posierity. Now that life's
laBors are OYER, ana BIS earthly RECORD ia
made up, I would inscribe in great sim
certify upon his tomb, "Requiescat IN
pqes" Aoos Thompson
OXFORD, MISS, February l, 1870.