Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-09-23
Mr.. Tilion's statement.

argues them with a good deal Of rhetorical
ability. There are few writer's in the coun-
try who can equal him in the dextcrous and
elegant use Of language Diycsied Of its
rhetorical auiioe. It's apparent candor and
It's keen and subtle constructions, il adds
little TO the case Two or three new doc
uments are the only material things which
the public did not have bciore-one, letter
from Miss Anthony; another, O letter TO
himself from Mrs Tilton. The letter from
Miss Anthony would have no special legal
or moral weight, as it states nothing Of her
own knowledge Mrs Titon's letter throws
good deal Of light upon the matter undwc
think a careful analysis Of 70 would ubstau-
tate Mr.. Bcecher's statement and disproye
her husbands iugeniou. constructions.
Mr.. rilton, and Nloulton. also, seem to for
get that O simple question of fact IS to be
sustained by proofs and not by reaaouiuss
What the public desire is not additional
avermeuts and arguments, but documents
and facts. They get, however, the maximum
Of the former and the minimum OF the lat
ter. We do not wish to discuss the subject,
for all the discussion in the world viii not
settle 1t. nor determine the facts ia the case.
We only wish to point out one or two things
that render the constructions and arguments
of Tilton very improbable
The first is, that the original confession Of
Mrs. Tilton. on which the whole case against
Beecher rests. was DESTROYED b, Triton and
Noulton. Il is the staple ON which the
whole chain Of their arguments hanga, and
however perfect and finished the chain may
be-. il lacks GOOD. original holding ground.
They bav. carefully presevod an subse-
oueut. subsidiary documents. which are ca
pablo of two constructions. but the essential
document they have themselves DESTROYED.
Its destruction was th sir work. and not thr
Of Mr.. Beechcr or Mrs. Tilton. They have
preserved the retraction Of the original con-
fession. but the retractiou does not state the
substance Of the original document. and is
therefore suseeptible of such construction AS
interested parties may be disposed to give IL.
The destruction of thi, essential paper by
the plaiptifls themselves would seem to mill
tate severely AGAINST their subsequent con-
tructiop Of Che offence.
Second: During the four wear. since tbe
confession. Mr.. Tilton and Mr.. NIoultou seem
To have been even mora anxious than Mr.
Beecher toeonoeal the ALLEGED offense AGAINST
the honor Of Mr.. Tilton's family. when
Mrs. Woodruff limited at the ALLEGATIONS O.,
wrong which were floating in the connu
nitv. in her paper Ne. Tilton saws that 81 IA,
was shocked stunned Inv the intalliosnca
and felt that the ouilty secret was I'm DANCE,
of coming TO the surface" lie Instant,
"soupbt NIoulton to devise with him moan.
TO s,inpress the uublic disrrace of the od,,l
terer who had r1,ined his home ITo scnt
for the adnlterar and consnirod with hin, 4,
cover the foul disbonor He ~mo1o Mrs
Woodhull's acouaintance;o 4wrote an elab
orate namnhlet ON woman suifroo, ,,bicl
cost him n weeks labor. i" Sc prepared n bio
eraphieal sketch Of herr ali TO keen bach
The scandal from publication @ prasidcd al
her Stairway Han meeting- so that hv nm
wearied and loborions kindness he mich,
save th.. man, ,,b, hal s or,,,ll,, md fot,ll,
injured his bono, and home from no Ind
evnosuro of his cri,nes Now I,is4o,,. .-i,.e.
us many an instance If mon sool,iuo IN o,.o,.
throw Tho characters Of their dist;n,nishe,
fellows NV consniracv fraud n,isiuto,,,,,eta
tion triclerv SANDER and solseboo1. b,t q,
far a. we arc awaTo tbis il The e,., in.,,nc,
in history whore man has o,ns,;rsd ,,it
tho sod,cor of Iis ,,.ifo to b,,sl, Ia ,,i,,,o
lv an elolor,te s,.y,s,,, ,f .lon,.;o,, H.;
lance ,nd lahoriops so,,.;co rhe INV n
the br,no, h,.,, ,ro ,,o.t e,di,,,. o,, %,
admit Int this il one IF IL mvstc,ious nm,
saces that has never l,,roro hoo, o,,en.d am
exnosed II Is ana,in, t,o ,ybr, al n,
rarties IN i,t.ro.t ,,ora ~, l,o,,t M, l..o,,;,,
The quiltv saoret tb.y yore 90, NAT AHA ,
do ~. perbon. This nrofes.ad shalto,.ir
that Triton ,ros ,,;,.in,, hooob,.r ,,,s o,,,,. Il
cover to those base desions Of consniro,
,,bicb ,,ero mot va, ,;,,e and ,,liol, ,,oo1.
ti,ne "a rine, befora tbo,, could i,o s,c,...
fully developed. Nv MIR. Triton, statene,
he has consumed via, tle poro,no,r If h
own wife 10 hide the betrayer Of his hon
and TO give him eu,repcv in the mimi viii,
his presence pollutsd. lie more tbon co
snired. lie comnro,nised his oy,, renntoti,
eternallv with he Woodbun in arder
rescue the man whom every instinct of ma
hood. a. well "a every sentiment Of insti,
should have lid him evnosa Tho u,ongl
full man win ask himself Didnot Mr. rilt
know in his own heart that his wife was /,
guilty? and was not his course dictatad
the desire 70 crush Beecbe, Il ,os.illa ,,i,
out duplicating the honor Of his famiIv2
Third: Mr.. Tilton . statement shows :. Nh
he would GLADLY have continued IN sbi,
both partie. TO the ALLEGED disbonor lo
him, if Mr.. Beeeher and Mrs. Triton j,
not compelled him 10 make the exnonr,
When MIR. Beecher called for nm investi,
ton. he determined TO crush him This IA
will have its lust weight in all unpreiudie
minds. 1t was not Mr.. Tilton' lint \
Beeeher who eourted the Investigation.
was not the offended. but tho alleged offend
who appealed to the Judgment of his fello
men upon the charges made AGAINST him
Fourth: Mr.. Tilton shows. in tha conbd,