The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1879-03-13
GENERAL GORDON'S REPLY TO
THE CHARGES OF DR.. FELToN's
WIFE-A GALLANT DEFENSE
FROM A MAN WHO SIGNS
HIS OWN NAME TO
ALL HIS LETTERS.

Editors Chronicle and Constitutionalist, Au-
pusta, Ga letter over the signature OF Mrs.
w. II Felton,, published in your paper on the
23d ult.. came TO my notice in the last days Of
the expiring session, when my whole time,
night aud day, was necessarily given TO public
business ] wish il distinctly understood that,
in nv reply to the statements contained in that
extraordinary communication nothing that |
shall say il applicable to Mrs. FELTON,, with
whom have and shall have no controversy.
There is no longer any room for doubt that
DIR. William ii FELTON, is the author and circu-
lat0r of the calumnies which, iuslnuated by him
on the stump. have been 30 often repeated IN
his organs in the Seventh Congressional Dis
trict, aud which were so signally rebhked by
my almost unanimous re election TO the United
States Senate.
DR.. FELTON, is the first Georgian, and | be-
lieye the only American in any sphere OF life,
who has shielded himself from responsibility for
his falsehoods by taking shelter behind a wo-
man, and that woman his own wife and the
mother of his children.
Indeed. do not know that such all instance
was ,V-r before known in any civilized commu-
nitv. The common law, which on this subject
/, the essence Of English sentiment and eiviliza-
ton, contemplated the man as the outer picket,
standing at the doorway, guarding his wife
from rude contact with the world, while she IN
the delicate privacy Of home presided over lts
ballowed precincts s9fteung, sweet+nlng, aud
sanetifyino it's holy endearments. This too Is
the spirit of the Christian church in all the
earth Religion then the civilization and the
common law and manhood and womanhnod
alike revolt at this wanton PROCLAMATION of the
hottest relations OF life 1t almost makes us
lose sight of the sckepiBg spectacle OF this min-
ister Of the gospel bearing false witness against
his n-ighbor
[ entered the canvass of the Seventh Con
occasional District not from choice, but at the
call of the political organization of which | am
a member | made no assault upon Dr. Eel
tons character during the entire canvass
did not mention his name until his ISLANDERS
upon my character made it proper for me to re-
pei them This assault, therefore. is absolutely
without excuse, wanton and reckless
A few words will suffice to dispose of his Ell
fort TO shamelully misrepresent my administra
ton of the Atlanta department OF the Southern
Life Insurance Company and my connection
with a great and patriotic movement 10y the
leading educators of the South to rid the schools
of the country OF partisan text books. The In
surance Company failed from no fault OF mine
When the two dreadful epidemics OF the Miss
issippi valley aud the general financial panic in
the country broke the parent company at Mem
phis, the books of the Atlanta department. over
which | presided, showed that every death loss
il had incurred had been paid. and the trans
mission To the parent company at Memi hls OF
ne ar one and a quarter millions of dollars.
As to the book enterprise, | was induced to
connect my self with i, in obedience to the wishes
and advice of the best men at the South, among
them General Lee himself No surprise ought
10 be felt since our failure in war, at the dlspc-
itiJn of DIR FELTON, To Islander every cause aud
g very man who had the confidence OF friend
ship of that honored man.
Although the most needful school book enter
prise has made no money. it has survived the
panic. and is still furnishing books of the high
e t order, by our abest teachers, 10 southern
aud Northern schools, despite the efforts OF
wealthy livais and the enemies Of The South to
break 1t down.
do not know TO what DIR. FELTON, makes re-
fert nee when he charges me with having gross
lv wronged some Southern bishop 1t Is un-
uualitiedlv false that | ever borrowed, used or
obtained in any way one dollar, or ever was
under pecunlary obligation to the extent of one
f4rthing to any bishop Northern or Southern,
except 10 beloved and holy man now dead,
whose son served upon my staff, and who sent
me near the close of the wal without any solic-
itaton from me, about $500, well as l can
The debt was discharged. after the war, by
stocks. the best had, and in amount sufficient
as believed to more than cancel II. l say
nothing in this connection of the appearance OF
a representative ia Georgia aud member OF
the American Congress in the high and states
manhka role OF hiring his minions TO uncover
every private and business transaction OF my
lite in the fruitless effort to find something TO
BLUR and stain my reputation invite HIS III
sprction and revelations and if he has diseov-
cred that these stacks sold tor less than the
debt, let him and every one Interested know
that stand ready TO make good every cent. OF
los. If anv occurred on that debt, not only with
money but with the gratitude due tor an unso-
licited and unex pected kindness done me IN the
distressing hours of the late revolution.
His refrtence to my connection with the lease
OF eonvicts and T. tile laws of Georgia Is best
answered hy the records of The State and the
correspondence ON its files These show that
the Law was passed by the chosen legislature OF
our own pesple that il WIS passed wlliioui my
knowledge or agency that the bids are invited
from all citizens in accordance with the law by
The governor: that whatever interest was Sc
cured hy bid for my plantation was rendered Gy
me to the State soon after the contracts WAS
signed and before any OF these prisoners came
INTO possession at Colonel LOckett, the president
of the company that this interest has always
been subject 10 any disposition the authorities
OF .he State might see tit to make of it My
reason for wishing to be released from my OBJ
legations in connection with this lease we've
gwen more than two yeas age. aud are a suth-
cput answer to this strange effort o! DIR. FELTON,
to do me this additional wrong.
But not satisfied with these shameful prrver-
sions of nv private business affairs FELTON, de
scepd, 10 the lowest of ali meann=ss ia seeking
TO create the impression that he or any other
man believes me capable Of corrupt practices
a. a Senator of the United States l do not
wish TO do Doctor FELTON, wrong nor to use
lauguags unbecolning myself as q man or as