New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-20

sAs, NOW coNFINED AT d" ST. ELIZABETH HE
DESCRIBES HIS CAREER, AND ASKS WHEREIN IL
HAS BEES RRRATrC,
TO the EdttOr Of the Tribune
SRi Lest your readers may not be aware
Of the place Indicated by the date OF this ter would
say that Elizabeth il institution OF the Gov
eminent OF the United situated about three miles
from the Capitol on beautiful eminence south OF the
Potomac IN the District Of Columbia. 10 provided by
the muncence Of the Nation for those OF her children
who may happen TO be certified TO being Of uusound
mind by two reputable physicians, and allowed adj
mission by the uthortes OF the District OF Columbia
or the Secretary OF the Interior 81 Elizabeth" Is an
attractive spot TO visitors the grounds being very hand
somey laid out and the establishment itself being con-
Quoted in very best for such an institution
II Is accessible h all hours OF the day by h0rsears from
the Capitol Dr. W W. Godding OF Massachusetts. IA the
superintendent and Dr. c. A. Whitmer OF Philadelphia.
assistant ph yscisn, with Others Board OF Visitors.
appointed by the Secretary Of the Interior nspes TIC
establishment every month OF this board surgeon
General Barnes, United States Army. Is chairman.
Such is st. Elizabeth" IL Is the home which mas
been assigned for the past two years and seven
months OF course tie allegation Of insanity IN due
form; hut any fact OF insanity, "a far n am
able judge n ia SAID that attack on ex-senator
Pomeroy, some SIX years ago. betrayed mental aberia-
ton, but my commitment 10 this place did not occur
until three years and four i've months after that
has been " erratic.' But how : What has been tho
whole tenor OF ny lie d" In the first place. was born.
Well, that might nave been somewhat " errl;c." at
least the predis9osin causes away back In tho
womb Of time However, cannot be considered re-
sponsible for that Having been born. what did dot
Why looked ont into the world and, seeing that IL
was rather dun sort OF a situation, Ike mnny another
I concluded that unless I could win nicIe IN the
Temple OF Fame my he would scarcely justify nv birth.
So I sought the Far West Since the building Of
the pyramids the West has been the road % fame
the path OF adventure and Of high acheyment-. Jnns
Cesar followed 70 Ultima Thule. aud Columbus stu
further. SO [ went west I went 70 Kansas. Could
This be considered "erratic 20 JUSTIFY the alea-
ton OF insauityi About the time went to Kansas Ths
London AtkenGtun contained the following description
oft: Kansas IS the middle spot OK North America
being equally distant from the Atlantic, the Pacific the
Gulf Stream aud duds0u's Bay. IL has open comnuni-
cation with the IN every direction, and lying across
highway between two vast oceans Is regarded nat
uraly as future Of industry commerce and po-
utical power" Columbus sought Immortality by cross
ing the ocean sought by crossing the Continent.
Having reached Kansas. what did / dot Wlat was
the tenor OF my life " there I became a can-
didate for Congress in behalf ofthe principles OF liberty,
and never swerved halr~breadih from tia. line OF
action until 1 reached the goal "D.d that IN Cesar
seem ambitious ~ Undoubtedly bar did 10 " IN
sane ~ Well, in Congress what did do Was " err
ratio In Congress II that was IN minority
OF one but why Because stood for the principle OF
liberty and would swerve hairsoreadth from mat
line of action. sad Millions for LIBERTY, but not
one cent Tor slayeryp Lincoln said Millions FOR the
warp said: " Yes, provided it Is for Liberty I" Bus
Lincoln had his way and the "sold south il now
having irs way He gave liberty to the slave reuc-
family; but did he give liberty 10 the Nation Perhaps
[ was erratic in Congress, but was " insane" ~
Then went to Europe, ssoned 70 represent The
United states Consul ut Marseilles made ny Con-
suate the best Europe. ee report OF General STAR
rim Special Agent for the examination % European
CousuIates printed by order OF Senate, motion
OF Mr. SUMNER 1901 travelled over the greater por
ton OF the Continent; saw Paris Florence, Rome
Naples Athens ana stan ~ - az W. &
sung ," also on the IDENTICAL spot where hehes
which said to have been the prison OF soeraes When
lie drank the hemi0ck. IL Rome, saw the iOrln ana
the Coliseum; also the image OF the she-Wou mat
suekle ed Romulns and Remus. and the statue OF the
Dying Gladiator. After having thus put l9ysen en-
d6 the Law of the land ~ returned 10 my Consular
post devoted self to business and study acquired
the genus Loei drank " Medoc and Clos Nougouet
MJ,g nd into f-biown French sun flower when Cen
era Grant assumed the executive power OF the United
states Government and removed ne from the place.
exemplary than did abroad. and as soon as my
culcal term end returned TO ny own coun-
trv and repaired 10 Captaand applied 20 ne Presi
deaC appointment or United states Cucut Judge
Tor the Eighth Circuit Ohen yacauO-a dst.lc' Sheh
included my state OF Kansas, where l lad been
elected ChieJustice by the people under tier hrst Free
Srate ConsttlOn The President ignored me, an1 gave
tne Jud geshp 0rother-iu-aw OF tie Gentleman
WHO mad superseded Consul at MaIs-ll auch
was "thetenor Of my life up 10 that time that Is,
until General Grant became President OK the United
states. Where there anything " erratie or" in
sane " in 10
II is evident. therefore that am detained in this
beautiful castelated building mot because am Insane
al ALL or even cratic" The superintendent, who Il
very excellent gentleman, but allows atogether 100
much 10 done others, intim stes that AN ke pit
here because have nowhere else 20 20 y mat II 20
saw that Is the particular place OF al other places
within OF Adm nstratiOn which, IN ITS JUS
tice and bounty, n 70 be-tO~ upon the. am
0uaIlted to under the Government except
mat OF clerk cOnstabel and yet am required 20
remain here, the puDc expense, rendering ho equiv
apur tor what receive. Ought such Al outrage this
10 be- tolerated by the American people II IL obvious
that am the victim OF scOundrcllsm unpaIaele IN
American politics. a. senator ia Congress, rs Judge
uDOn tue bench Minister abroad, or even ss pri-
yate Citizen would available 10 the American peO-
D FOR any service For this aud FOR 10 other,
am thus immuVed Tie taking OF sucn al advantage
will VET call down upon perpetrators the vengeance
of Almighty God At least, tnat Is my PRAYER. Re
snectfulIv vours. NJ. f. CONWAY.
50 Etisa0eth,' d. o.. June g, 1879.