The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-08-20
BEECHER-TlLTON.
Moulton's Statement.

MouIton's Statement.
NEW YORK, August l3.-The fol-
lowing is Moulton's statement
Gentlemen Of Commattee.-When
l was last before you I stated l
would, at your request, produce such
documents as l had and make such
statement of facts as had come to
my knowledge on the subject of your
inquiry. fully intended SO to do,
and have prepared my statement of
facts as sustained by documents, and
made exhibition of all the papers
that have come, in any way, to my
possession bearing on the controver-
sy between the parties. That state
ment must, of course, bear with more
or less force upon one or the other
of them. Upon mature reflection,
aided by the advice of my most val
ued friends, have reoonsidered that
determination, and am obliged to
say to you that l feel compelled
from sense of duty to the parties,
to my relation to their controversy,
and to myself, to neither make the
statement nor produce the docu-
ments. When l first became q party
to the unhappy controversy between
Mr.. Beecher and Mr.. Tilton, l had
no personal knowledge nor any doc
uments in my possession which could
affect either. Everything that I
know of facts or have received of
papers, has come to me in the most
sacred confidence, to be used for the
purpose of composing and settling
all difficulties between them and pre-
venting, SO far as possible, any
knowledge of their private affairs
being brought to public notice. For
this purpose all these matters have
been entrusted to me, and for none
other. If should now use them it
would be not for the purpose of peace
and reconciliation, but to voluntarily
take part in the controversy which
they have seen fit to renew between
themselves. How faithfully, earn.
estly and honestly have labored to
do my duty to the parties for peace
they both know. The question for
me to settle for myself and no other
is: Ought l to do anything to aid
either party in renewing the contro.
versy by the use of that which l have
received and have used only to pro-
mote harmony On my honor and
conscience l think I ought not, and
at the risk of whatever misconstruc.
ton aud vituperation may come ny
on me, l must add here, to the die.
tates of ray own Judgment and pre-
serve at least my own self-respect.
l call attention again to the fact that
yours is mere voluntary tribunal,
and whatever / do here is done by q
voluntary and not compelled wit.
ness. Whether before any tribunal
having the power to compel the pro-
duction of the testimony and state
ment Of facts I shall ever produce
these confidential statements, I re-.
serve to myself to Judge of the en-
ergency which I hope may never
come, against my wish, as l never
have been in sympathy with the re.
newal of this conflict. Part of these
documents have been given to the
public, in so far as confidence in re-
gard to them has ceased. 1t is but
just therefore and due the parties
that the whole of the ,e documents,
portions Of which only have been
given, shall be put into your hands
in response to these renewed re-
quests. / have therefore copies of
them which l produce here and
place in the hands of the Committee,
with the hope and request that after
they have been examined by them
that they may be returned to me. If
any controversy shall arise as to the
authoeticity of the copies or docu-
ments on that point shall hold my
self open to speak with this excep-
tion: Except in defence of my own
honor and the uprightness of my
course in all this unfortunate and un.
happy business of purity and candor,
in which | appeal to the conscious
ness Of both parties to sustain me. /
do not propose and hope I may new
er be called upon hereafter to speak,
either as to facts, or to produce any
papers that have received from
either of the parties involved herein.
(Signed,) FRANCIS d. MoULToN
CROSS ssExAMINATIoN.
In the cross examination, Mr..
Winslow said, "Mr. Moulton, the
committee desire to ask you some
questions. Notwithstanding the po-
sition you take here in your written
stat teme ent, you are we'll aware, as you.
show by three invitations which the
committee have sent to you, that we
are in good faith pursuing our inves-
tigation. You will remember that
we were appointed by the pastor of
Plymouth Church, with the sanction
and approval of the Examining Com
mittee OF that Church, to inquire in.
to the matters relating to the alleged
grievances Of Mr.. Tilton. We look
upon you as one of the principal
sources of evidence. The commit
tee are disappointed at the position
you take. We are not a court with
compulsory powers, we await your
pleasure. The Committee desire to
know whether you have so deliber-
ately formed this purpose as to make
it beyond recall as things now
stand ?"
Moulton replied, calling attention
to the language of the invitation re-
qaesthg him to bring all the letters,
etc., referred to by Tilton in his
statement before the Committee. He
had complied and produced copies
of the letters referred 10, the authen.
tioity of which he was ready to es-
tablish. These are authentic copies
and the witness would vouch for
them. He stood on communication
he had made and would make no
other.
Mr.. Winslow wanted to know if
he would not produce the originals,
and was answered that he would put
them in the hands of the committee
within few minutes.
On motion of Mr.. Cleveland, it
was voted that Mr.. Winslow be au-
thorized to go with Mr.. Moulton to
examine and verify the documents.
After some informal conversation in
regard to the publication of the pro-
ceedings OF the present session, Mr..
Moulton retired. The Committee
remained in consultation until 7