New-York tribune., 1877-06-16
THE GREAT SCOVEL MOVEMENT


There has been so much trouble in identi-
fying the man who first nominated Hayes, the
city which gave birth to Homer, the author of
the assault upon William Patterson, and the
discoverer of anesthetics, that we remark
with peculiar pleasure the pains taken thus
early by the Hon. James Matlack Scovel to
clear up any possible mystery about the
origin of the Great Scovel Movement, before
it becomes one of the tough problems of his
tory. In a moment Of rashncss we stated that
Mr.. Scovel started it himself With charac-
teristc modcsty he disclaims the honor, and
leads forward the real author of that grand
political enterprise, "a clever young lawyer
"named Sparks" whose preemption claims to
fame and cOnsulship we take this opportunity
to place on record. Mr. ScOvel sends us
letter from Sparks, remarking that 1t Is the
unasssted and voluntary production OF that
clever young man, "hs own UerJdtm ct
"Hteratim ct punctuatim;" but the Ms. shows a
number of erasures and interlineations appar-
emily in the hand of Mr.. Scovel. 1t is not
right to tamper with document of such i'm
portance. and we shall accordingly disregard
the alterations and give it in its original form:
To the Editor or The Tribune.
SIR: noticed an article your columns which stated
in substanc that James Matack Scovel had in has own
paper nominated himself for Governor Allow me II you
please INFORM you first that Mr. Scovel has no paper
and second he did not write the article, in your
rcf red to but that myself did II out OF respect
FOR 40 talented There cannot be found in New
Jersey man with wider circle OF friends than the Hon.
j. NJ. Scoyel II some politicians do hurl arrows Of
caumny him they fall at the feet of his virtue, and
there remain unit! again given force by some other vile
intruder The younger Democracy of this State respect
him. and declare that he shall be rewarded for what he
did during the last civil STRIFE. The cOOred man should
love him. yea even much tue immortal Lincoln,
Who called him " hIl bosom friend" He helped to un-
shackel them and afterward helped TO maintain them
in their freedom. No can speak bad OF him. except
it be on false basis holds his country sacred to the
memory OF the blood of his ancestors has stood by
il and Will stand by in time Of need. Yours truly,
s. W. SPARKS No. AIS Market-st
Camden, ". j.. June II, 1877.
These prcliminaries settled, we presume that
the Great Movement will now go on gathering
impetus and shaking the State of NewJersey
as if by a succession of frs, class earthquakes.
Mr.. Scovel is making all the necessary prepara-
tions. Attention has already been called to
the circumstance that he has built an addition
to his name in anticipation of the change
which is soon to take place in his clrcum-
stances 1t has been heightened as ships are
lengthened-cut in two and pieced in the mid
dle-the Matlack being added not for empty
style but partly to accommodate greater load
OF dignitcs. partly to discourage reprehensi-
bic practice of calling him "JimD which we
have been panied to notice in people for a
long time past "James NJ" somehow seemed
naturally to deliquesce and run into JIM" but
chunk of high-toned elegance like Matlack
sticks out solid.