Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-08-27
MoULToN's STATEMENT.

"O'hiNN . ihiiui'H'i
The committee furnish the following
report of the statement made by Mr..
Moulton on the night of the 10th:
GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMUNICATION ] was
last before YOU ! stated that ] would, at your re-
quest, produce such documents as / had, and
make such statement of facts as had come to my
knowledge on the subject of your inquiry. L
fully intended so to do, aud have prepared my
statement of facts sustained by the documents
and made an exhibition of all the papers that
have come In any way into my possession bear
ing on the controversy between the parties.
That statement must, of course, bear with
more or less force upon one or the other of
them. On mature reflection, aided by the
advice of my most valued friends, j have
heonsidered that determination, and am obliged
To say to You that feel compelled, from n sense
OF duty to the parties TO my relation to their con
trOYefsy, and to myself neither to make the
statement nor 10 produce the documents. When
] first became party to the unhappy contro-
yersy between Mcssrs. Beecher and Tilton | had
no personal knowledge nor any documents In my
possession which could affect either Every
thing that ! know of fact, or have received Of
papers, has come to me In the most sacred con-
hdcnce, TO BE- used for the purpose Of compos-
ing and settling all difficulties between them,
and preventing 20 lar as possible any
s bros pub I For ispT
all their matters have been intrusted to me aid
for none other If | should now use them II
would be not for the purpose of peace and recon-
citation. but to voluntarily take part in contro
yersy which they have seen tit To renew between
themselves. How faithfully, earnestly and hon
esty have labored to do my duty TO the parties
for peace they both know The question for
TO settle for myself and no other IL, now, ought
TO do anything to aid either party in renewed con-
troyerEy by the use Of that which l received and
! have used only to promote harmony On my
| honor and conscience l think | ought not, aud,
| at the risk OF whatever OF msconstruction and
| Vituperation may come upon me, must adhere
| 10 the dictates Of my own Judgment and preserve
| at least my own selfrespect. 1 call attention
| again TO the fact that yours Is mere voluntary
| tribunal, and that whatever do here is done by
| voluntary and not compelled witness Whether
| before any tribunal having power to COM
pei the production OF Testimony and state
! ment of fact 1 shall ever produce these
papers, or give any OF these confidential
statements, reserve to myself 10 Judge of the
emergency which hope may never come against
my wish, a. j never have been In sympathy
with renewal of this conflict. A part of these
documents have been given to the public. In so
far confidence In regard to them has ceased. IL
Is hut just therefore, and due to the parties, that
the whole of those documents, portions of which
only have been given, shall be put into your
hands. In response to the thrlcc-renewed re-
quest of the committee ! have, therefore,
copies of them, which ] produce here and
place in the hands of the committee, with
the hope and request that, after they
be returned TO me. II any controversy
shall arise 10 the authenticity Of the copies or
of the documents on that point, shall hold my
self open to speak in defense of my oYn honor
aud the uprightness Of my course In all
this unfortunate and unhappy business, OF the
purity and CandOr Oh winch appear 10 the con-
sciences Of both parties to sustain me. do not
propose, and hope may never be called upon
hereafter, to speak either rs to the facts or to pro
duce any paper that | have received from either
of the parties involved herein.
(signcd,j FRANCIS ID. MoULToN
After reading this statement Moulton
was subjected to brief cross-examina-
ton, in the course of which he reiterated
his readiness to establish the authenticity
of the letters, copies of which he had
submitted to the committee, and also ex-
pressed his readiness to submit the orig
inals to the examination Of member
or members of the committee. He fur
Their refused to give any more evidence
or submit any other documents than such
as were referred to by Mr.. Tilton in his
statement before the committee.
Mr.. Winslow, a member of the COM
mittee, was, on motion, authorized by the
committee to go with Mr.. Moulton and
examine the originals and verify the
documents submitted.