, 1878-09-26
AN OPEN LETTER,

Editor of Dispatch,
SlR;-I feel deeply sensible OF my
obligation to YOU for the candid ana
conclusive manner in which you have
met the charges against me, when
have from time to time been banded
about, not only through the public
prints. but through private circles
The obligation is greater from the
fact that the service was unsolicited
and not in recognition OF any claim
upon you of either a poltical or per-
sonal character, and could only have
been actuated by sense of justice
and fair dealing between men. You
are aware that | have not heretofore
entered into any public controversy
with my assaiIants, trusting my vim
dication "a the knowledge of my
character Possessed by the people,
among whom have resided for near
ly twenty years, without suffering an
imputation of wrong until within
short period. But it seems now due
TO those who have volunteered in my
defense, that | should speak for my
self, lest my further silence while the
matter is being publicly discussed,
should be construed into confession
of guilt or evasion of the charges
against me,
Twenty five years ago, when | was
fifteen years and seven months OF age,
entirely unacqnainted with the Eng
lish language and stranger in for
eign land, | joined the army and
shortly afterward deserted the SER
vice without any excuse that was
technically legal. As matter OF law
the enlistment was void AB INITIo
being that of minor under eighteen
years of age, not having the consent
of either parent or guardian. You
seem to have intuitively comprehend
ed the motive and incentive to that
act, for which | have suffered years
of mental agony with the full con-
viction that had wronged no human
being by it, or done what others
would not have done under the same
circumstances. A boy, unacquant-
ed with the institutions and customs
of the country and with no knowl-
edge Of its language, | enlisted, be.
lieving that in free government,
where all men are equal, the military
vocation presented the best field for
achievement by one ambitious for
distiction, to be won only by mer-
itorious service. But the deIusion
was speedily dispelled, when was
ordered to menial service in a hospit-
al, with no prospect of active service
in the field, as the country was then
at peace. | determined at all haz-
ards to escape from the degrading
slavery, deeming faildre resulting
in the severest punishment prefera-
BILE. succeeded, and alone, penni.
less and unfriended, | sought this
then remote bound of civilization,
where By my own efforts, acquired
an education fitting me for position
as lawyer, and how ! have since
succeeded in my profession, is well
known in the community. In the
meantime had large family grow
ing up, and the great secret of my
life was becoming every year great
er burden to me from fear that a
disclosure might bring odium upon
them. Not until | had attained
political position of prominence, was
any attempt made to :mpeach my
honor, on acconnt of any public or
private transaction in my business,
profession, or social intercourse.
When was Secretary of this Terri
tory my political or social relations
Mapped to be such as to incur the
jealousy and emnity Of combna,
tion hostile to the Territorial Admin
istration, and a conspiracy was
forwed by our common enemy, of
which ] was to be the victim and
Samuel G. Wingard, then U. S. At
torney, was the instrument. The
specific charges were made and the
proofs of my desertion hunted up.
In addition was charged with non
citizenship and with making a cor.
rupt bargain with the Public Printer
in respect to the printing of the laws,
journal, etc, of Washington Terri.
tory, with permitting the use of in
ferior paper in the work Of said
printing and furnishing less quan
tlty than that required by law.
These charges were forwarded from
Washington to Wingard with in
structions to make thorough and
impartial investigation and report.
Instead Of so doing he disregarded
his instructions by affording me no
uutioa of onu oLo.a-... -.N.. Il