The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-11-13
Last NIGHTS Dispatches.
THE MOREY LETTER CASE,
Statement from the Democratic Com
mittee, which Exonerates that
Body from any Guilty
Knowledge.

committee of the Democratic Nationa
Com mittee had private meeting to night
which was not over until nearly midnight
| The members present were: w. f. Bar
mum; Frederick o. Prince. Massachusetts,
Abram s. Hewitt. VIM. Armstrong, Ohio
| VIM. l.. Scott. Pennsylvania; Hiram At
| kins, Chairman Of the Democratic State
Committee of Vermont, acted as proxy
| for Bradley B, Smalley, of Vermont;
Charles j. Canda, treasurer OF the Ma
tionai Committee, as proxy for Alyah w
SulIoway: VIM. G. Whitney. corporation
counsel OF this city. as proxy for Outer
bridge iorsey. of Maryland. Barnum
presided. The Committee issued the
following address:
In response to Inquiries the National
Democratic Committee make the following
statement in reference to the socailed
Morey letter:
lst. Neither the committee nor any
sub committee thereof has ever taken aav
action in reference to that letter.
I'd. That it was first called to the attcn
ton of the Chairman of the committee on
the night before its publication in the
Truth on the 10th of October,
Sd. That the Chairman thereupon re-
quested Smalley, member Of the commit
tee, to examine the letter but permission
to do SO was refused at the Office of the
Truth.
4th. That no member Of the committee
ever saw the letter. or any copy or portion
thereof. until after its publication; or was
in any way concerned therein, or gave any
advice in reference thereto.
5th. That Hart, publisher of Truth
brought the original letter to the head
quarters. No. -l28 Fifth avenue. on the
Afternoon of the goth OF October. where it
was seen for the first time by any mem
Der Of the committee, and it was then
examined by several members of the COM
mittee and other persons not members.
All those who were familiar with the
handwriting of General Garfield came to
the conclusion that the letter was genuine.
Oh. The committee decided to pur4
chase reasonable number Of electrotype
plates of the fac simile which lad already
been prepared by Truth.
7th. That no denial having come from
General Garfield of the authenticity of the
letter notwithstanding the telegraphic
demand Of the New Iolk Herald, and a
very sharp leader in that paper. the COM
mttee decided 10 give out the elec;rotype
plates which was accordingly done The
proprlety Of this action was not doubted
by the committee as the letter seemed to
be in harmony with General GarfeId's
views upon the subject, as conveyed by
letter and gathered from public records of
undoubted Genuineness,
Sth. That the first complete denial was
not published until four days after the
original publication in Truth, and to this
denial, unsupported by any other evidence,
the committee, in view of General Gar
fields connection With other scandals,
attached no weight.
9Th That therefore when evidence sas
offered to show that Morey was a real
person and not myth. the committee
called for its production, as they were
bound to do in order to arrive at the
truth,
10th. That If the letter has been forged
or any fraud committed in reference
thereto, Or any false evidence given. it
has been done without the knowledge, |
consent or privity of the committee, or
any member thereof.
Finally, the committee approves OF all
honest measures 10 punish any and all
persons who have committed any violation
of law, and have no interest in this matter
hut to arrive at the very truth Of affairs
That there should be any doubt as to the
authenticity Of the letter is largely due to
fde failure Of the prosecution to put Gen.
GA field on the stand.
By order Of committee.
(Signed) VIM. Fl. BARNUM. Chm.
FREDERICK o. PRINCE, Secretary.
The following resolutions cffered By
Scott, and seconded by Armstrong, were
passed:
WHEREAS, Allegations # fraud in
various States. and especially 10 the State
OF New York. have been brought TO the
notice OF the committee:
Reso'Ue1, Taat this committee has 10
jurisdiction over the local violation OF
election laws, but it recommends the
several Democratic committees in the
States where those frauds have been COM
nitted, TO investigate them with a vio@ to
the exposure Of violations Of law aud their
prompt and just punishment. La relation
to the duties of courts or OF Congress in
The premises. this committee is not and
cannot be charged with any responsibility. |
A resolution was also passed rendering |
the thanks Of the committee to W, II, |
Beruum. Chairman. to the advisory c3m |
mittee and the officers Of the committee
or the efficient aud faithful manner 10
which they performed their respective |
duties