The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-09


information, cannot give it to you.
had nothing to do with that marriage"
On another occasion Tilton said: II
modified my views on the social questions
and have published my principal denun.
Citations of social crimes since Mr.. Beech.
er's invasion of my home came to my
knowledge in 1870"
Extracts from the Eloquent Plea of
Mr.. Beach for the Admission of Till
ton as q Witness.
''Listening, sir, to my learned adver-
sary's brilliant and impressive exordium,
! was led to regret that was not gifted
with those qualities which would enable
me, in some faint and far off degree, to
emulate his sonorous style. cannot,
and [ shall not attempt it !; but am con-
soled somewhat by the reflection that
this is an argument upon question of
law, addressed to the court that speak
to mind learned and experienced, and
not likely to be moved from its self pos
session by defamation OF counsel. That
defamation, sir, would, to my mind, have
been far more impressive had it been ut
tered in the cause Of one whe, had not for
gotten the precepts taught by his pro.
fessional representative On behalf of one
who has invaded the sanctity and privacy
Of domestic life, and who, as the evidence
now stands, has seduced wife from her
allegiance, and himself, induced her, be-
fore his packed committee, to reveal the
secrets of domestic intercourse; intro.
duced her, upon that occasion, to villify
and abuse the husband, who now seeks
occasion to vindicatc himself from all as
pensions, and to tell to your honor and to
the community the true story of the sad
and lamentable difficulty which has
broken up happy and honored home,
and scattered its inmates upon the cold
charities of the world.
INJUSTICE OF THE PROPOSITION OF TIE DE-
'I do not, sir, accept the issue of my
learned friend. Reduced to its simple
proposition. in direct application to the
case, the proposition Of counsel is that
Henry Ward Beecher, upon the stand, is
witness in this action, and Theodore
Tilton is not. Whatever Henry Ward
Beecher may choose to say; however he
may stigmatize Theodore Tilton; if per-
chance he should swear that, from the
lips of Theodore Tilton, he has been lib
Grated from his charges; nay,
if he should swear that he has
paid Theodore Tilton for the wrong, and
received discharge for the outrage upon
his rights, the practice and impartiality
of the law excuses Theodore Tilton from
answering these imputations. 1t pre-
sents, sir, just that conclusion; and if
your honor holds to the proposition, it
effects just that practical result, that
Henry Ward Bcecher is free and at liber.
ty to testify the accused scducer may be
admitted as witness, to free himself
from the accusation, but the wronged and
outraged husband, with his lips sealed by
any testimony in behalf Of his action.
Before your honor shall reach a conclu-
sion Of that character, so unjust in all it's
theory, so mischievous in all its conse-
qucnces, you must be driven to it by clear
anl satisfactory authority. It is contra.
ry to our notions of justice, and it seems
to be contrary to the theory of our laws
of evidence, and works practical wrong
which would outrage the common sense
Of the community.
Counsel then entered into arguments
explaining the intent of recent legisla-
ton, and continued: ''In concluding
this, sir, and in answer to the illustra-
tions of my learned friend. permit me to
follow with an illustration. Imagine,
sir, happy, honored, cultured home !;
a wife, frail, feeble, and delicate woman,
eminently devotional and pious in all her
impulses, and, as has been shown hereto
fore, devoted to the husband of her early
choice, and the father Of her children.
She had pastor--learned, eminent, and
gifted beyond his fellows; one who stood
at the very head ofhis honored and sacred
profession one whose words were listen
ed to with Difference and respect. But
he had these powers of mind over her
he had that persuasive power of eloquence,
that insidious and silver tongue which
would
LURE AN ANGEL. FROM HIS PARADISE.
He was her accepted, and chosen teacher
and guide. She looked up to him with
veneration, second only to that with
which she regarded her God. Nay, if an
incarnate Christ had come down, with
the glory of Calvary upon His brow and
the love Of sacrifice in His eyes, she
would not bow to Him with more obedi.