The New York herald., 1876-02-24

Meeting between yourself Mr Tracy ana myself TO
which you al the solicitation OF Mr. Tracy Tor The
purpose OF The suppression OF Tllons statement which
lac had promised to make on the evening Of that day 10
the so-called investigating Committee, and shall al
ways remember the blush OF
sHAaK FOR MS DUPLIcITY
that spread over rracy's face when asked him why
he had not communicated to the TACT that he had
you before; nor can forget when you asked him
WHY he had not told you the interview Boston
that an investigating Committee was proposed or ap
pointed how he replied --''6 6eneral Butler, |
confess that, in not telling you, made
tie greatest professional blunder of my hie ,"
You Will remember that July 20 1874.
went Tlltons house alter consultation and agree
mcnt with Tracy, and counselled him, with all the
force we could command not 10 make statement 10
the investigating Committee charging his vile and
Beecher with adultery and how after laboring with
HIM for long time, we finally succeeded IN getting
HIM 10 consent that he would not publish the state
ment say anything about II II he could procure
adjournment OF the Investigating Committee, and how,
after got that promise from him. went to rracy's
house, by appointment, and communicated 10 him the
result OF our interview with Tilton.
You will remember that Tracy went with us to my
house, and, after further consultation he lett US to
procure II possible, the adjournment OF the commit
ee and that he returned saying that he had not seen
Mr. Sage, the chairman, but had left note for him,
and that he had also called on Mr.. Cleveland, mem
Der OF the committee whom he had also failed to meet
/ You will remember also, that Tracy said
! he would not attend the meeting in case
| his move for adjournment failed. lf Til
ton would agree not to read or publish his statement in
Tracy absented himself aud that TO This we got
/ the consent OF Tilton which you communicated 10
Tracy II agreed that Tton should go to the com
!
ment. ana return possible to my house.
You cannot have forgotten how anxiousy awaited
Titon's return and how at last, fearing something
wrong sent 20 the committee room to find. In our
dsmay, that Tracy, Notwithstanding his agreement,
was there, and Ton was reading his statement ask
you also 10 recall the interview between yourself,
Tracy and mo at the Fifth Avenue Hotel the even
ing Of August g. 1874 You will remember how earnest
Tracy that should not make the statement OF
facts and the presentation of documents for which
Beecher had, with pretence OF innocence, asked,
and that Tracy pointed out how short
l
ment OF Beecher's adultery and the proofs or
IL by simply conforming 70 the written request
OF the committee 10 present only the documents
quoted in part by Mr Tlton in his statement and that
1t upon Tracys suggestion and solicitation that the
consultation took place next day at my house. during
which you presented the views of Mr. Tracy, and in
consequence of which what is known as 'The Short
Statement prepared and by me read TO the COM
mittee instead Of the full statement OF facts and pre-
sentation OF documents which Beecher pretended TO
want which Tracy knew was prepared and for the ex-
clusion OF which he abored You will remember that
Tracy TO on the evening OF that day, August
lo 1874 and expressed mis- satisfaction and thanks to
you and solicited you to meet him at his house the
next day for consultation to what further neces
sary To be done You went to his house with your
secretary Mr. Clancy and there dictated conference
with Tracy, Beechers defence, which, in accordance
with his (fracys) request, you had written out and
sent to him. accompanied with letter. the wisdom of
which, view OF Tracy's action is not more apparent
TO you than IL will be 10 those who read II when tho
time for its publication II cannot have escaped
notice that part OF your letter and defence was
FOR PURPOSE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT
Der that believing, after having made my short state
ment had done what was best for all the interests in
voved and all that l could honoraby do ended, as
thought. my connection with the by surrenderng
all the documents INTO your hands intending that they
should be accessible Tor the purposes of the
troversy and IL in this as intended 1t TO be) my las
appearance the tragedy erred ii not in lack
oil charity toward Beechcr and faith In Tracy, but IN
not properly considering the obligations OF friendship
and truth to Theodore Ton. You will remember that
interview with Tracy tho guilt of Beecher was
the expressed and conceded fact upon which we pro-
and hat iahn ia i'm n
his rcpentance) the sorrowing mother rle innocent
children and society from the publication of his trans
gresson and It's dreadful consequences AS
/ look back and consider my motives and
actions, which were open to you in tho
emergencies OF this tragedy, find nothing TO justify
the cruel attack and false accusation OF Beecher and
yet knowing his agony, and that he was lighting for
more than his life, sometimes almost forgive him
But have never discovered a reason for deeming Mr.
Tracy's other than unprolessonaL | shall
always consider that poor Beecher committed greater
crime accepting deliberately, with the necessity OF
perjury which It enailed, Tracy and Shearman's de-
fence OF him than when, IN moment oil ungovern-
able passon he lelI-with Elizabeth Titon You came
TO be my counsel after Mr. Beecher's attack upon
Until that time you had acted as friend cooperating
with those who meant as well as with those who pre-
tended mean the best for plaintiff, defendant their
families and society You will remember that, before
what's known my second statement" was published,
gave ull opportunity to Beecher for retraction OF
his false OF backma which he did not with
draw till Mr. Fullerton wrung from him, when tho
witness stand the Illuminating confession in substance,
that he knew tnat not true when he made it, but
that his lawyers ooussllsi him 10 rake tho charge
feel confident that one of these days, and that not
far distant will be Understood everywhere that the
criminal Beecher, and not you nor must be held re-
sponsblc the facts and revolving accusations which
/ have published against him. | am not wrong as 10
the facts stated this letter, and If they show any
thing they show that you and labored earnestly and
unselshly to do what believed the interests of
dividuals and society demanded, and that Tracy the
counsel of Beecher, and counsel of the Investigating
Committee also, while protesting, in his connection
with the committee, to be seeking for the truth,
sionay abong for its suppression, and that HIS
treachery to me IN his cruel heartcss and unustiabe
Remuneration during the trial in the City Court OF
Brooklyn only tho natural supplement OF
his Interpretation OF what truth and honor
TsGursd as his is eoSnsG to ns layesqg S
TIlton, to whom he pledged his professional in
tegrity in 1872, and to you II Is time, In my opln-
ion at least that that portion of the truth in the Til
Beecher referred 10 in this letter, be known,
and ask from you, personal favor, that you give
me a reply az soon you can, which know you WILL
and thus add another TO the many obligations which
shall try discharge by Kindness and friendship wher
ever and whenever can. Faithfully your friend.
FRANCIS ID. MOULTON.
GENERAL BurLKR's REPLY
WASHINGTON, u. c., February %, 1870
FRANCIS d. MoULroN, No. 40 Remsen street,
| acknowledge the receipt OF your telegram asking
for reply your letter OF January 10, ult Pressing
professional engage ments and absence from my docu
ments especially the kilograms OF Mr. Tracy asking for
conferences refresh my mind as TO dates have pre-
In answer to your telegraphic message that you
deemed II convenient TO you TO have u reply once
state that the facts dates and circumstances set
forth your letter and acts done by IN connection
Win Tracy tOuis W ickaiu W bhe aCCubA-
tions against Mr. Bcecher by Mr Tilion, in what
l then believed was joint endeavor on
our part as against Mr.. Tilton to suppress a
revolving scandal which, irrespective OF the guilt
nocence the parties implicated must work griev-
ous wrong many innocent persons and TO society,
are true, although many details omitted IN your
letter which we're ! answering Il at length | should
give. as aiding the explanation Of my connection with
the case
was certainly first applied 10 by Mr.. Tracy be-
half OF Mr. Beccher and your history OF what done
In conjunction vita him entirely accords with my
memory and can be verified IN part by documents in
my possession. BENJAMIN i. BUTLER
MITTEE
Henry c. Bowen, accompanied by two sons and DR..