The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-08-17
HON. Ii. +. n MARTIN.
A Frank and Manly Letter from Him
on two subjects.
pnuvrxrowN aupust |

PRUNTYTowN, August IL, 1910.
Editors Of the Register:
From what have seen in some papers
and otherwise learned, total misunder-
standing exists in the minds OF some per-
sons in respect to my action, or non ac-
ton, IN the General Conference OF tbe
NJ. f. Church, at Baltimore. l am
charged with delinquency OF duty IN
failing TO reply to foolish, inhammatory
and partisan speech which mas made by
Judge Lawrence. of Ohio, in the General
Conference. There is no just cause for
such complaint against me. Here are
the facts: A resolution was offered some-
what denunciatory of the House OF Rep
resentatives Tor the passage of a bill trans
ferring the management of Indian affairs
from the Interior to the War Depart
ment of the Government, and In
voking the Senate to arrest the
passage of that bill in their
body. Upon that resolution some
speeches were made on both sides.
Among others, Judge Lawrence made a
speech that every sensible man In or out
OF that body would condemn. l know 1t
received very general condemnation
among conference delegates. Moreover,
the church paper which reported the
proceedings of the Conference did not
publish the most exceptionsble and o1en-
sive portions of his speech. This alone
was a strong and manifest rebuke for
political speech in the Conference.
Though a matter OF questionable propri-
ETY. whether any one should dignity such
a demagogic harangue with reply, lest
he, too, should become obnoxious to the
charge of making y political speech IN
an ecclesiastical body, l made up my
mind to reply to him; and q number oil
Others seemed to have come to the same
conclusion, and in the effort to get the
floor we all failed, except one, of course.
Judge Cooley was the fortunate man,
who, after some remarks depre-
c.tory of the introduction of the
resolutions into the general Conference,
moved to refer the pending resolution to
a special committee OF five, which was
promptly done, and the whole subject
taken from the Conference. There the
matter ended, the fre-brand was re.
moved, and no opportunity for reply by
myself or any one else was left. L felt
the greater anxiety to rebuke the outrage
(for / regarded 1t rs most indecent and
nachristian outragG), because Judge
lLe wrence was among the most unfair
and unscrupulous of those who made
speeches against Col. Ben. Wilson and
myself in our contest in the Add Congress.
did not reply, because l could not get
the floor. Ii this be cowardice or want
of independence, or infdelity to the
Democratic party, confess l am too
obtuse 20 discern it. AS well might every
Democrat in Congress be censured who
failed to reply to MIR. Blaine. But this
would be wholly unjust to many good
and true men. Some days after in COM
mit,ee Judge Cooley presently l did de.
nounce Judge Lawrenco's speech IN
strong terms, while discussing another
question. What | have said are facts.
1t is also said that my friends and my
self are attempting to array one section
OF this district against the other. My an
swer to this Is, | have not said word,
done an act, or entertained thought
that could lead anyone TO such conclu-
sion. | have no such desire, nor am l
aware that any friends entertain any such
feeling. Our action in the past is the best
guaranty ot our Catholicity in this be-
half. In State Conventions we have
most cheerfully supported our Eastern
friends. In the district we have stood
brayely by the nominees, as the poll
books and ballots will attest.
Justice to my friends and myself re-
quires the foregoing statement to correct
what seems to be misrepresentation. l
can hardly think any gentleman would
Intentionally misrepresent me.
Very respectfully, b. +. MARTIN.