Litchfield enquirer., 1876-06-08
LIrcHF1FLD, JUNE 5th, 1876.

SIR:-My attention has been called to an article in your last issue entitled Con sistency," having personal reference to myself. I have remained quiet under the gross interpretations and perversions of the Hartford Courant of what said in the debate alluded to. awaiting the proper time and occasion for a correction: with out having been so disturbed by it as to unfit me for my legislative and profession. al duties, nor can I say that my slhmbers have been disturbed, or my appetite inn paired, and am not aware that have been or can be crushed between the upper and neither milistones by what any penny-a -a- liner may see fit to print concerning me. If I an wrong in this, and the fact is so that I am ruined "all intirely" by the on. set of the Courant, continued by you up on the same key, except that you add insult to perversion (and from your stand point should not have adopted the state ments of the Courant as absolute truth). then indeed should regard myself as of little consequence, and my views upon any matters before the legislature unwor- thy of your criticism and notice.
 Inasmuch as your paper circulates large ly in this county, I ask of you the publi- eaton of this letter in. prominent place in your next issue, that your readers may judge me fairly and not on an er-parte statement or Oorti-son falsifcation.
 The facts out of which so much capital has been attempted are simply these: MT. Harrison, of Guilford, moved an adjourn ment from Friday over to Wednesday, the 31st of May, as Tuesday. the 30th, would be Decoration Day, and had been made a legal holiday. arose from my seat and said. "that hoped the motion would not prevail, and gave as my reasons that Dec oration Day was not generally observed in more than twenty towns in the State, and that in my judgment such an adjourn ment would make broken week of bus mess, and that there would be a quorum to transact the business of the House should the number remain at home from the towns in which the day was generally observed" This was all said in the first instance. AS I resumed my seat, MT. Har- rison again obtained the floor and gave the House Harrisonian homily of the ''bloody shirt'' pattern, in which he took occasion, by insinuations, to question my patriotism and loyalty, and in reply to him I said substantially, ''tEat did not admit any superior patriotism ill the gen. tlsman from Guilford over myself: that during the war recruited and swore into the service, in my belief. more soldiers than any other magistrate in the State, and that the records of the State would prove it; that it was doubted by some of the best men of both parties whether the custom of these decorations was sound policy; that it had been said by some of the best statesmen in the country that their tendency was to keep alive the em- bers of our late fraternal strife, and open afresh the wounds and animosities of the bloody fields of battles; that ln my judg- ment it would conduce more to the peace and harmony of our entire people, and the perpetuation of our union, if we would forget and bury in oblivion the regretful past, and look forward to more glorious future, and live for that, rather than by constantly bringing up before our minds the sad and painful memories of the dead and wounded;" and in this connection did say that lost brother on the 9th of August, 1862, who was brother of my wife. and by way of interrogation aad illustration asked, "Would it be any consolation to me, or pleasure, to have brought up wildly before my mind, the severe bereavement l suffered in his death, and the smarting pain attendant upon the manner of that death?" You personally know that alluded to Lieut.. Dutton, brave young officer, and very promising young lawyer, who was at the time of his enlistment associated with me in business-the first soldier that was made to bite the dust from this town, and whose grave was never discovered where his dear friends could strew flowers ol even shed their tears.
 have given you above, as near as can from memory, the substance of my remarks. and know that in the material parts they are absolutely correct.
 Iappeal I to your usual candor, if there is anything to give even coloring of jus. tification to the article in the Courant, ol to your remarks upon myself, and I ask you with entire confidence. your candid judgment of an editor or a reporter who could or would from partisan or othe, motives, so pervert the truth as exhibited in the Courant. Do you see any wit O, humor left in the article of the Courant ; Do you wonder that do not feel humil lated at the baseness of the article :
 Truth though crushed to earth shall rise again. If the Courant, and your owr sheet. can afford under such. circumstan ces, by pervefsion of truth, to make mirtl and ridicule at my expense, you are vel
 come to wear all the laurels you may vii
 in that regard.
 The Courant says. "Here is a man who
 as a magistrate, swore in hundreds, ano got his pay for it," and you copy it with
 out qualification, thus indorsing it's truth
 when you know, or ought to know, that never received one penny for all my travel, through this county. holding meeting, and recruiting men in different towns, and
 paying in all cases my own expenses, an6
 oftentimes the expenses of others, and i
 you do not know the facts to be so, her,
 state, that in au the recruiting done 5,
 me, neUer received c fartlting for ans
 serVices. or to,0ard any erpenses, aud : challenge the proof to the contrary. could have presented large bill and hay,
 received my pay. I prssume. as other