The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-09-01


suit of this mission was the two let
ters, copies of which l now hold in
my hand" Previous to this he led
the members to believe they we're
the identical letters, and which he
stood pledged to produce. Gen.
Garfield then added:
"When these letters were brought to
me, Immediately called some Indiana
officers who knew the authors and were
| acquainted with the handwriting. 1t
was necessary that the scout should take
with him into the enemy's lines the ori-
ginal letters, which, being recognized
by Breckinridge, would serve as passes.
therefore took exact copies of them,
placing them under tissue paper and
tracing them as accurately as possible,
SO as to preserve the characteristics Of
the handwriting" etc.
The letters were then read, signed
ID. r. Eckels" and ''John G. Davis" d"
who were described by Garfield as
prominent Democrats, Davis as be-
ing the predecessor of Voorhees, in
Congress Eckels as having been a
Judge in Utah under 8uchauan's adj
ministl alton, and both residents of
the district represented by Hon, D.
w. Voorhees,.
On the 4th of May Mr.. Voorhees,
took the floor and replied to Garfield.
He exhibited letter from the gen
tleman Garfield had accused of that
treason which consists of giving aid
and comfort to the enemy-John G.
Davis-who was then sick and con-
fined to his bed. In this letter Davis
said of Garfeld's attack: "Was
there ever in the history Of crime
such bold and devilish attempt to
malign and destroy the character Of
man? Has hellish malevolenoe ever
before been so apparent? Demand
of Garfield the original letters. Make
him disclose who has them and who
furnished the copies. Let him show
AiS additional documentary evidence Of
the authenticity Of these letters which
he has so vauntingly telegraphed
over the country that he has in his
possession. In another letter Mr..
Davis pronounced the whole thing a
wicked, malicious and despicable
forgery.
Judge Ecl1les also pronoudced the
Garfield letter a base forgery. l |
have no personal acquaintance with
Breckenridge. and have never writ
ten to him on that or any other sub
ject.
Not satisfied with these denials,
Mr.. Voorhees, also had proof that the
letters were forged in Indianapolis
by the spy Garfield employed to OBJ
tain them. Mr.. Garfield, in reply,
pettifogged-denied that he ever
pretended to have the originals. In
debate it leaked out that the tissue
paper copies had no resemblance to
the handwriting of the gentleman he
had accused of crime. Mr. Voorhees,,
after arraigning Garfield, who. after
the full proof of the forgery lnslsted
that he was not yet convinced the
letters we're forget, concluded his
speech thus:
"And now, sir, in view of the course
of the gentleman from Ohio, am con-
to say what 1 regret, for did
not wish to utter anything personally !
that hereafter whoever under !
takes to hold up this exploded calumny,
this detestable forgery, as genuine,
the gentleman from Ohio, (Mr.
Garfield,) or any one else, he will bear
the brand of atorger and c0sunaniatOr him
self. That is all have to say"
Mr.. Garfield then subsidized. To |
this day he has never apoligized for
the forged letters he exhibited to
blast the character of Eck!es and |
Davis, because they were Demo
Gratis has never explained his vaunt |
that when he produced the letters |
he would give other evidence to
prove them genuine.
Such atrocious calumnies as these
got up by Mr.. Garfield, and circulat-
ed on the floor of Congress, when
he well knew that the Constitution
forbade his being called to an &C
count for his forged libels, makes it
come with an ill-grace from his
friends to complain Of high charges
against their candidate in the pub
lie press when each and every one
of them is proven true by commit
tees of Congress composed of ma
jority of his own friends, and their
finding sustained by evidence of
witnesses, all Of them members of
his own political party.