New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-27
TIE CARPENTER CARD.

TIE CARPENTER CARD.
After that letter, when Tilton and Moulton
were concossng this suit, when they were comforting
ith Mrs Moutsu about testfying in this suit, tho Car
pointer card Is prepared. 1t was pressed upon MI
Beecher again and again. Gentemen, this paper has
fatal force whom you to consider tho surroundings
which point the motives of those who orig it.
Remember the situation The Tripartte Agreement
has published; the Bacon Letter" has been pub
llshed; the "Baoon Letter" emDodies gar
bed copy of the apology :" 1t before the world it
adultery, 1t doesn't mean adultery; and the
question is to be determined which it means. Upon the
instant when that otteT appeared Henry Ward Beecher
challenged the issue, called for an investigation. Mou
ton demonstrated against his call for Committee be-
cause it breach Of faith What, @ breach OF
faithi Yes for Henry Ward Beecher had pledged him
self TO the policy of silence. You there where the
policy of silence originated That pledge exacted
by TtOn and Moulton for their purposes and the
moment that Mr. BeeGher came ont and demanded an in
vestigaton he was charged with breach Of faith and
honor And yet these men who thus construe pledges
the very men WHO had concOcted that Bacon
Letter" Was that in accordance with the policy Of
silence Who had published the Apology" the first
words OF which were, In trust with Francis
D. Moulton," and which published without
the consent of the cestui qti truHf 1t was a
policy Of silence TO be observed by Beecher
and DO trsmpled by them. He said the time had come
Mouton, believing that it was Tton who had overruled
him. that Moulton could control him, he proceeds to
call his Investigating Committed Now comes the next
device. MoutOn that he and Theodore Tilton
held conference together that in pursuance of that
conference he, in Ttons presence dictated-Of course
you know what that means 1t means that Theodore
Tton dictated-to Frank Moulton this card Observe,
gentlemen Henry Ward Deecher guilty or limo
cent. Whether guilty innocent he knew 1t.
They tender to him this card; he refuses
to sign It. They tender it TO Gen.
Tracy; he advises him to refuse TO sign 1t. II is
again again presented to them and urged by Monlton
Mr. Beeoher answered. al can't sign It," But Tilton
has pledged himself that If you either sign that card
read it at Plymouth Church. that it may end this in
vestgation 1t shall end this whole matter forever"
cannot trust Theodore TtOn." "Oh but you trust
me- II Theodore Tlton doesn't keep faith with you viii
grind him to powder will stand by yOu from that time
forever 1 will burn that Apology, and every
paper 1 hold to which TiltOn could resort
for the purpose of mpeaching your honor"
What was 1t they asked him 10 sgnf This
paper dictated DeInOnico's saloon in Sew-York at
conference these two blacknaicrs dictated IN
the presence Of that Frank Carpenter who was to have
been brought forward prove CONFESSIONS that Frank
Carpenter Of whom Judge Morris said, III his opening
speech, at page So Of the first volume:
But gentlemen, we do not rest our case upon the tes
ony rhaI we vii pt mon The stand 5lr Car
penter, whose veTacity, appreDend WI hol DC qies
made his confession But, gentlemen, We shall not stop
there.
And he proceeds to state what else they will prove :
that Frank Carpenter the amanuenss OF Theodore
Triton and Francis D. MOultOn at that conference at Del
rnonicos and this the card which they had cooked up
for the purpose of enappng Mr. Beecher once more into
the admission Of an underlined oense, so that they might
afterwards come in and define 1t for HIM as adultery II
Beecher was guilty II he had lived year and half in
adultery with one of his own communicates II he had
bouoa and hQr "
had confessed 1t to Theodore Tilton face TO face ;
IL he had confessed it to Frank Mouton month
after month and year after year II he had confessed II
10 Mrs Monitor again and again; II Mrs Triton had
charged it upon him and confessed that he and she had
been or,ty and had made that confession in writing II
he had authorized Frank Mouton TO communicate the
fact that he was an aduterer two respectable members
of his own firm IT, more than that ne mad authorized
him in conference to communicate that laet 10 BEN
iain f. Tracy and to Benjamin r. Butler. or TO samuel
ID Morris; II everybody knew it; nay, more, II he mad
oknowedeed and intended to acknowledge 1t in that
Analogy" when he Frank Moulton ready to come
ont on his side TO bring his wife to his rescue and turn
these papers to ashes why is it that he refuses to sign
this sim e cardi read it to you He was merely
tn stand I'D In his lectureroom and utter these
words:
| This cbnrob and community are unquestionaby and
Justly interested through the recent publication by rheo-
lore Tlton in to DR. Leonard Bacon OF New
ven II Is true that have committed ofense against
Theodore Titon and giving that oense the force Of
no stnction make an apology and reparaOn such
as hoh he and declared full and necessary am con-
TitOn been gOAded 10 MS defense ny
isrepresenta misunderstanding OF my position
this 0uestion, which has been honorary settled ~ De-
tween Theodore TitOn and myself nave comniited no
crime and II this Society believes that due 10 that
should reopen thus alleady TOO panfu suD]ect OF re-
sign will resign. know, as God gives me power 70
ndge OF myself that am better fitted to-day through
trials and Christening 10 do good tlan nave ever oceh
The utterance OF these simple words dictated by Theo-
dore and by which Frank Mouton had pledged himself
IN abide would have ended this investigation and would
have prevented this action Mr. Beechcr then believed
for he still trusted and believed IN the ueacherous Mon
ton Eut he had lost faith not IN him. but IN theodore
Tfton and he meant to meet this issue. There we're
three who knew he was innocen-Elizabeth H. T1!ton,
who might or might not made 10 be OF his ac-
cusers himself and that God whom he served and his
faith in truth In innocence and IN right led TINS coward
"a nv friend Judge Morris calls him. 10 stand hrm anu
rect and saw Neverl never! that card IL falseh0od
II IL entirely true that committed an ohense against
Theodore TltOn an offcnse against him III siandering
him, IN max ing against him false charges which believed
II he true and repeated to his employer IL Is true tna
vas the unconscious means Of alternating the affection OF
his wife But this implies more, and read In the light Of
tho Racon Letter while 1t OF exonerates me from
the charge OF adultery made by the WOodhuis, 1t VIII
lead All mankind to believe that did make improper
nroyosals 10 that did, and VIII not say
IL" l. that the Ian guagc of guilt or OF nnocencef
MRS. MOCLTON'S POSITION.
20 kfaanl "A