St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-07-31

feel. Even to he suspected of having
offered, under the privileges of pc
culiarly sacred relation, an indccorum
to wife and mother could not but
deeply wound any one who is sensitive
to the honor of womanhood. There
We're peculiar reasons for alarm in this
ease on other grounds, inasmuch as
was then subject to certain malignant
ruImors, and il fragrant outbreak in this
family would bring upon them added
injury, derived from these shameless
talschoods. Believing ut the time that
my presence and cOunscls had tended,
however uncorsrouSly, to produce il
social catastrophe, represented as i'm
mincnt. | gave expression to my feel
ingS i'll an interview with II mutual
friend, not in cold and cautious self
defending words. but eagerly taking
blame upon myself and pouring ont my
heart to my friend in the strongest Ian
guagc. ovcrhuricncd with the cXag-
atinnS of impaSSioncd sorrow. Had
been the evil man Mr.. Tiitou now rep
rcscntS. / should have been c;IIncr and
more prudent. 1t was my horror of
the evil imputed that filled me with
morbid intensity mt the very shadow of
it. Not only was my friend affected.
generously, but he assured me that
such expressions, if conveyed Ia Mr..
TiltOn. would soothc his wounded feel
ing. allay anger. and heal the whole
trouble. He took down sentences and
fragments of what had been say ing.
to Use them as Il mediator. \ full
statement of the circumstances under
which this memorandum was made. |
shall give to the investigating commit
tee. That these apologies were more
than ample to meet the facts of The
ease is evident in tlat they were ac-
ccplcd that our intercourse was re
>umcd to lricndliucs> that Mr.. Tilion
subsequently ratified il in writing. and
that he has continued for four Years.
and until within two weeks. t. live
with his wife. l. it conceivable. il the
original charge had been what Is now
alleged, that he would have cond0nrd
| the oilrn&c, not only with the mother
of his children. hut with him whom he
believed to have Wrongrd them The
| ahSuuiIty. as well aS the talSity, OF this
story is apparent. when il is considered
that Mr.. TiltOn now alleges that he
carried this guilty secret of his wiir'S
inlidclitl for sin months, locked up i'll
liS own breast, and then he diVulgcd it
to me only that there miglf1 he Il recon
citation with me. Mr.. Tilton has since.
IN every t",m of language. and to Il
multitude of witnesses. orally. III writ
rn statements. and in printed docu-
ments. declared his faith in his Wifc'>
purity.
After thc reconciliation of Mr.. Tiltom
with me. every consideration of pro
pricty and honor demanded that the
family trouble he kept in that scclusinu
which domestic affairs have Il right to
| claim aS Il sanctuary. and tO that Sc
clusion it was determined that it should
he confined. Every line and word of my
private and confidential letters which
have been published is in harmony with
the statements which now make. My
published correspondence on this sub
icct comp iSeS but two elements. name
| ly, the expression ot my grief and that
of my desire to shield the honor of
pure and virtuous woman.
| do not propose to analyZc and con-
test. at this time. the extraordinary pa
per of Mr. TiIton. But there are TWO
allegations | cannot permit To pass
without special notice. They refer t"
the only two incidents which Mr.. Tilton
prctcndS to have witnessed personally.
the one IN alleged scene in my house.
while looking over cngravingS. and the
other IL chamber scene in his own house
| His statements concerning these are
absolutely false. Nnthing of the kind
ever occurred, nor any Scmhlancc of
! any such things. They are now brought
tn my notice for the tiiSt time. To
every statement which connects me
diShonorahly with Mrs. Elizabeth Ii.
Tilt"n. or which in ANY scuSc world
impugm the honor aud purity of this be
loved Christian woman. | give the most
explicit. comprehensive and solemn de
nial. HENRY WARD BEECIIER.