New-York tribune., 1872-03-26
MR. E. L. GoDKY AND THE TINES.


To The EGfrOF OF INC ITlouHC
SIR: | suppose 1t is extremely doubtful
whether the conductors Of The N York Times have left
it IN the power OF that paper ure any bodys reputa
ton Nevertheless shall ask your permission TO say
few words in your columns in reply to he very charac
terstic personal attack me in their issue OF to-day
II will save trouble you will allow me to quote the
passage entire:
"The editor Of The Nation paper SAYS man isa
'skulkng assassin who assas the character OF anOtnr
man ia public journal, and then dechnes 70 piV'I %
charges. Then the editor OF ne Natt4n ~ NUS t5 rS D
'skulkng assassin for he has been guy OF Ie roJy
act he describes. and he has performed 10 IN
base way, according to his own showng ne say % taS
t il dsgraceful to write under assumed name Iheh
he Is dsgraced for he has attacked private rePu'os
under alias and seen other people suer i9r he oo
which he struck masked reIoiIner More1'eI, d n
says that. when man has been attaeked' anu %
an investigation is ,lered, Il Is the du,y 81 @ wa
editor to produce the writer OF the ATTACK VEL
viii about that We know OF certain attacks Wft'en
upon Barnard, Cardozo. and David dudley Fea, m DIM 40
which these accused OF taking brides o Oeing
the cOnfederates OF thieves, OF DlacKilauhG oI ss1
vstel Win the counsel as to those decsons-lnd many
other grave osenses The writer Of them sheltered him
self behind assumed name. He did not dare 10 pup
sh them in any quarter where they could be traced 70
him. An investigation is going on. IN ordeT 70 ,e't & oe
truth or the very charges he mas brought las nc sono
forward to substantiate themP
This was followed sunday by an attack on me under
the name OF James Monroe" My answer to this piece
of raving will. think surprise you and every other
respectable editor in the country thowever low your
opinion of The Times may be already. was an editorial
mond lifetime, and with him relations were always
very cordial In remembrance Of this fact suppose
Mr.. Jones, the publisher, applied TO me in October
1869, after Mr. Raymonds DEATH when the paper was IN
n somewhat embarrassing position, asking me 10 con-
tribute once more l am sorry to say nave not pre-
served his note consented somewhat reluctantly, ana
he then asked to state my terms. did SO in letter.
OF which inclose you a copy. You will see that the
earlier part has bearing the point in dispute but
the last paragraph has, and runs as follows:
~ should also trust TO your and Mr.. Shepherds the
then editOr) Keeping the matter to yourselves
This Deed not say, is Of the cOmmonest requests
made editors by contributors to the newspaper press
Ny reasons for not wishing be known as contribu-
tor The Times every editor will understand Ihey
were in part commercial. II my name had any
| value, wished to reserve it for the enter
| prise with which 1 more immediately con-
| nected and 1 wished beside this to guard
against all general responsibility for the course OF The
| Tines The editor unknown to me, and the paper
| was engaged in a running fight with the whole press
Of the city free love-" and a,great many other
| unsayory matters, with which had desire to be
mixed up. well aware that II my connection with
it were publicly known should be constantly charged
by professional or personal enemies with having said
this or that or the other thing in its columns, which
had never said, and by no approved Of Mr.
Jones replied nthe following note, OF which send you
the original
THE TIMES OFFICE NEw-YoRK, Oct Il, 1860.
+ Dear Mr. GoDKIN
nave yours OF SATURDAY. and most cheertuly accept
the terms you propose 1t may be that MI shepherd
will propose subjects on %I yng VIII 70 T On them g or po
feel safe TO leave this entirely with yourself You VIII
remind me Of the payment at your & @ aGr
for you 10 keep the run OF tAe account very uuy
| yours, uEo' JoNL''
This was all that passed between Invent writing
articles on various subjects for year. occasionally
receiving suggestions addressed by note at my
house BY Mr. Shepherd may add that ceased to con-
tribute for my convenience, and in perfectly friendly
relations with the paper In about three months after be-
gnnil asked for my account and when 1t came IL was
found my surprise, made out in the name OF James
Monroe" accompanied by check to the order
OF E. L. Godkin" in proper FORM That is, Mr. Jones.
for his own convenience keeping his books, had used
fictitious name. OF his own invention, TO avoid the ne
cessity OF using mine. 1 nothing Objectionable in
this and made objection to it, but never used
the for any purpose whatever What do you think
Of men, who these facts and under these circurl-
stances deliberately make charge against their own
contributor OF attacking private regulations under an
aas With regard my failure TO appear before the Ju
dietary Committee elsewhere at any other time
substantae any charges have ever made either in
David Dudley Field. all need is that have never
heard directly indirectly. that article OF mine
Saon NO intmSton Of the kind has ever reached me
from any quarter. have never been asked and have
never failed refused TO stand forth and substantate
any charge / have made against anyb body, and
have never refused or caused procured or per-
| mitted to be refused the revelation OF my name
| to anybody demanding 1t as right. More than
this, / stand, and have stood ready at any time
within the last tive years 10 prove before any tribunal
ANYTHING have written either against these judges or
against Field. Had l, when writing for Ihe Times,
been asked TO make good my charges against Barnard
| and CardoZo should have promptly summoned Mr.
| Thos G. shearman and Mr.. ID. ID. Field. From Mr.
shearman was, during the years 1sG7s, in receipt
almost daily OF shocking stories OF judicial corruption,
and Mr. Field than confirmed theh and told
me stories OF his OF the nature. Mr. shear
man famous article In The North american Re
rieo on the Judiciary OF this city at my request and
procured ITS insertion in that periodical; and asked
him 20 accompany Mr.. Charles Nordhoh and myself be-
fore Gov FentOn, in the same year, TO demonstrate
against the signing OF the bill giving Barnard monopoly
OF Chamber business OF the Supreme Court He did
accompany demonstrated vigorously, and with cir
cumstance. The Governor informed that Mr.. Field
had come him shortly before the same errand. Had
ever called upon the other hand TO make good
ANYTHING have written OF Mr.. Fields connection
with the Erie Railroad, should have summoned dozen
LAWYERS who had personal knowledge OF the facts.
| need not name them; you know them as well as l.
But all knew could learn, and nifty times as much,
has been brought before the Judiciary Committee with
out my AID interference. Gen. Barlow, Nj stckney,
and everybody else OF my acquaintance VINO has had
ANYTHING To do with these proceedings, knows perfectly
them been Withheld and that nobody has been
franker outspOken in encouraging and support
ing them both In public and private, than your obeent
servant, EDWIN lA"hEsCE uODhIN'
Nelo- York, March 25, 1871?