The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-07-29

suffering which hope no other man
may ever feel. Even to be suspected
of having offered, under the privileges
of peculiarly sacred relation, an in
dccorum to a wife and mother could
not but deeply wound one who is sem
sitive to the honor Of womanhood.
There were peculiar reasons for alarm
in this case on other grounds, in as
much as | was then subject to certain
maligant rumors, and fagrant out
break in this family would bring upon
them an added injury derived from
these shameless falsehoods. Believ-
ing at the time that my presence and
counsels had tended, however uncon-
sciously, to produce social catas-
trophe, represented as imminent, l
| gave expression to my feelings in all
interview with a mutual friend, not in
cold and cautious self defending words
but eagerly taking the blame upon my
self, and pouring out my heart to my
friend in the strongest language, over
burdened with the exaggerations of
impassioned sorrow. Had l been the
evil man MIR. Tilton now represents, |
| should have. been calmer and more
prudent 1t was my horror of this
evil imputed that filled me with a NOR
bid intensity at the very shadow Of it,.
! Not only was my friend affected gem
erously. but he assured me that such
lexpressions, if conveyed to Mr.. Titon,
would soothe the wounded feelings,
allay his anger, and heal the whole
trouble. He took down sentences and
fragments of what | had been saying.
to use them as a mediator. A full
statement of the circumstances under
which this memorandum was made l
shall give to the committee. That
these apologies were more than ample
to meet the facts in the case, is evil
dent, in that they were accepted that
our intercourse resumed its frlendli-
ness; that Mr.. Tilton subsequently
ratified it in writing, and that he has
continued for years and within two
weeks to live with his wife. Is it con.
ceivable, if the original charge had
been what it is now alleged, that he
would have condoned the offense no,
only with the mother of his children
but with him whom he believed tt
have wronged them? The absurdity
as we'll as the falsity. of this story i!
apparent when it is considered tina
Mr.. Tilton now alleges that he carried
the guilty secret of his wife's for 81,
months locked up in his own breast
and that then he divulged it to me
only that there might be reconcilia
ton with me- Mr. Tilton has since
in every form of language, and to
multitude of witnesses, orally, in writ
ten statements and printed documents
declared his faith in his wife's purity
! After the reconciliation of Mr.. Tiltol
with me, considerations of prophet
and honor demanded that the famil
trouble should be kept in that seclu
sion which domestic affairs have
right to claim as a sanctuary, and t
that seclusion it was determined tina
it should be confined. Every line an
word of my private and confdentis
letters which have been published,
in harmony with the statement whic
| now make. My published CORES
pondence on this subject comprise
but two elements, viz: the expression
of my grief and that of my desire
shield the honor of pure and innt
cent woman. do not propose to an:
lyze and contest, at this time, the el
traordinary paper of Mr.. Tilton b,
: there are two allegations which l cal
MT permit to pass without special n,
7 tice. They refer to the only two inc
dents which Mr.. Tilton pretends
: have witnessed personally; the one a
: alleged scene in my house. while lool
, ing over engravings, and the other
} chamber scene in his own hous
5 His statements concerning these a.
absolutely false. Nothing of the kin
ever occurred nor any semblance
any such thing They are now broug
to my notice for the first time. I
i every statement which connects n
= dishonesty with Mrs. Tilton or whit
in any wise would impugn the hon
s and purity of this beloved Christi;
a woman | give the most explicit, COZ
5 prehensive and solemn denial.
: HENRY WARD BEECHER.
e Brooklyn, July q, 1874.
& |