Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-03-19
ItstEN EOISk: BROW
Robert =. Hale, Eais ACcuscr I'm the
ks,use. Makes the Anaende Hon
o-able asa Il letter TO a
Mutual Friend.

The following is the text Of the lot
| ter of Robert >. Hale, excuina. s;ig
| Hon. JOHN Young Brown of Kentucky,
from the use of parliamentary lau-
guage in abiding to Ben Butler. A
synopsis Of 1t was published in our
| Geographic. columns a few days ago ::
Sl2 TWELFTH STREET,
Washington, D. c., March 3, 10.
My Dear Colonel Crittenden
[ beg again 10 express my regret
| that my severe and long continued
illness has prevented my taking any
part in rectifyiDg by the action of the
| House the injustice which [ am fully
convinced was done your friend, Mr.
john Young Brown, by the resolution
| of censure moved by myself.
In my conversation with you on tie
| last day l was i'll my seat, some weeks
| ago, expressed my conviction that so
| far as that resolution imputed to Mr..
Brown any intention of prevarication
or double dealing in his response to
the Speaker / WAS satisfied on Il Re
| view of the record itself, and in view
of my own distinct recollection of the
language uttered by Mr.. Brown, that
L, i'll common with the majority of the
House, had been misled and had done
injustice to Mr.. Brown.
The record itself l know to be in
correct in making his language pre-
ced1n0 his aliusion to the case of
Burke direct charge upon person
not then named, when in fact it was a
hypothetical case.-I was watching with
Intense care every word that Mr..
Brown uttered, and knew that it was
put h. potheticaliy and not as direct
charge His response to the interrog-
story of the speaker, followed by his
subsc quent application of his remarks
to Mr.. Butler, impressed me at the
time as prevarication and an unfair
response, which enabled him to finish
his sentence, which would otherwise
have been stopped by the speaker
But careful examination of the
record since, qualifying it by my own
distinct recollection, satisfies me that
L did a great injnry to Mr.. Brown in
lmputing this intent to him, and tina:
there was nothing in his response to
She speaker iucULsiattnb with entire
good faith or with the integrity of an
upright and honorable man.
!, greet that [ could not have stated
this conviction of mi, npcn the floor
of the House, and have thus aided in
wlplDg out the undeseryed lmputatlon
upon AIR. Blown in this regard infict-
ed by my resolution. But my contln-
ued illness has kept me from my seat
now for nearly icar weeks, and will
prevent my taking II again during the
session. / am glad to have the oppor-
tu4ity Of expressing myself TINS
freely and nureservedly To You, espe-
cialIy III view OF the opinion | have
ALWAYS enteJt lined Of Mir. Brown as a
gentleman OF the utmost Integrity and
;,"nor, thongh doubtless sometimes
excifabie and impulsive, as l think he
was on the OCCASION IN question.
L shall never hesitate to express
freely the cor vlctlon l have above ex-
pressed to you: aid if any thing con-
tanned IN this letter will, in your judg
ment, be of service to Mr.. Brown. /
beg you to consider this letter entirely
as your service for any U.S. whatever
which You or other friends of MIR
Brown may think proper to make of IT
With sentiments of the highest re-
gard for yourself, / am very truly
Your obedient servant,
ROBERT s. HALF.
Hon. T. T. Crittenden, House
Ranroconfafiroa