National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-31
MARTIN F. CONWAY.
A Pathetic L>sser from Kansas First
Representative In Congress.

We received yesterday the following
letter from the Hon. NJ. F. Conway the first Repre-
sentative of this State in Congress, and now an in
mate of the st. Elizabeth Asylum for the Insane,
near Washington. The letter has few if any traces
OF mental alteration Perfectly sane men often
write letters much more crazy" than this seems
to be- especially on the subject of Office. We have
seen other Letters from Mr. Conway that show no
traces of insanity. Yet he is said to be hopeless
lunatic, and at times dangerous. 1t will be re-
membered that some years ago ne shot ex-senator
Pomeroy, infieting a slight wound. We pub
lish his letter, as it will no doubt interest
many of his old friends. Conway was, during
his residence in Kansas, a brilliant, nervous,
energetic man, a Radical among the Radicals, an
eloquent and impassioned orator, and close stu
dent He was, however, always somewhat erratic.
He and Marcus J. PARROT were generally pitted
against each other the latter being the first Free
State Delegate in Congress, and Conway his sue
cessor on the admission of the State 1t is singu
lar and meurnful fact that thesetw brilliant young
men, the leaders, during the early years of Kansas,
oftwo factions of the FreeState party, should both
at last become inmates of an insane asylum. Poor
Parrott died wretched imbecilc. He was found
wandering aimlessly about the streets of Cinein-
natl, unable to tell his residence. and died
shortly afterward, while Conway is inmate of
an asylum and still "harping OH an office. His
letter is as follows:
When Bertram's right aud Bertram's might
Shall meet on Elangowans height.
ST. ELIZABETH, NEAR WASHINGTON, May H. 1881.
DEAR SIR: see that you member of the
RepuDilcan National Executive Committee, which
circumstances revves the recollection of my past
vices 10 the Republican party. WAS the first of your
predecessors. and, might say, the most important
the hight OF" consequential damages if not heIrcfts.
venture 10 say that my single vote on that COM
mlttee made Abraham Lincoln President of the
United States. TOyez-UoIts, wRS the King Pm
hed the casting vote upon the place of meeting of the
National Convention anti gaveft to CHirGao Chicago
gave the nomination TO Lincoln. If you do not be-
lieve me- ask David Davis. In New York Phila-
delpha or Pittsburg Seward would have won the day
But at Chicago McGregor fir away from his
Lincoln was virtually nominated before Thurlow
Weed and his New York delegation arrived on the
ground.
However, this brings face TO face with the grim
present. have been confined lunatic these
four years and six months; yet am well in body and
mind. Should not something be done for my liberia
uon think that there would be difficulty in re-
usefulness. To this end have appealed to the pres
ent administration for n consular appointment-the
United States consulate at Cardiff. South Wales Eng
land VIII not my old associates in Kansas assist IN
inns effort? petition signed extensively pos
Sole by citizens of Kansas am would be favOra
oly considered by the President. l remain ever,
JOHN A. MARTIN, ESQ. NJ. r. CONWAY.
We copy this letter verbatim. 1t is written
without erasures, and there is little if any, change
in the general character or style of Mr.. Conway's
nervous, rapid chirogrnphy familiar 10 us twenty
years ago.-Atchison tKdn) Champion Hry q.