Daily globe., 1882-06-16
GARFIELD's CONFIDENTIAL LETTER
The Man Who Gave It to the People
Comics to the Front

The Man Who Gave 1t to tbs People
Comics to the Front
j. NJ, Schuckers, formerly private secretary
to Gov. Chase, has written a letter giving
quite collection of letters written to Chase
by Garfield, relative to Rosecrans. He also
acknowledges having given the famous "con-
fidential'' letter of Garfield's to Chase to the
public, and gives these reasons for doing so:
A controversy had arisen between Mr.
Dana and Gen. Garfield about this letter. As
understand it, this controversy had its ori-
gin in this way: Some weeks before the bat
tie of Chickamauga, Mr.. sDana-tben assist
ant secretary of war-had been sent by Mr..
Stanton to the headquarters of Gen. RosecraHs
to make report of the condition of affairs in
the department of the Cumberland Mr..
Dana made report as directed he was present
at the battle of Chickamauga, and was in the
department for some weeks afterward. While
thus engaged the removal of Gen. Rosecrans
took place. On his return to Washington
Mr.. Stanton took occasion to assure him that
it was not anything IN his reports from the
army of the Cumberland that had led to the
displacement of Gen. Rosecrans. Mr..
Stanton said that it twas con-
Mr.. Chase which had f8ally determined Mr..
Lincoln's action in the matter" Mr.. Dana
had occasion to publish what Mr.. Stanton had
said to him. This coming to the knowledge
of Gen. Garfield, he addressed to Gen. Rose
Grams his famous ''letter of denial" in which
he distinctly contradicted Mr.. Dana's
statement, denouncing Mr.. Dana as liar,
ard challenged the production of the letter.
Mr.. Blaine S eulogy upon Gen. Garfield, made
in the house of representatives on the 22d of
February last, revived the discussion about
Gen. Garfield's alleged disloyalty to Gen. Rose
Grams, and then for the first time | became
aware Of the controversy referred to. My at
tention was called to the fact of Gen. Garfield's
denial, his cenunciation of Mr. Dana, and his
bold challenge for the publication of the
litter. felt that Mr. Dana had a right to
the proof of Mr.. Stanton's statement to him
and of his statement to ihe public, and,
accordingly, took the 'conldential' let
ter to him. He printed it in the Sun, with
the effect OF an instant outrageous attack, by
the special and self-appointed defenders of
Gen. Garfeld's ''memory,' upon everybody,
man and woman, not even excepting the dead
chief justice, who had had anything to do, at
strangely and illogicaily enough, however,
emitting from their censures the author, who
had challenged its production AS matter
of fact, nobody in the world other than my
self had anything to do with bringing the
letter into Mr.. Dana'S hands. 1t was my own
act, done upon what conceived to be mo-
tive of justice, free from any influence ex-
erted upon me by anybody, man or woman,
Democrat, Republican or Greenbacker. may
add that the letter was in my possession under
conditions that made it perfectly proper for
me to use it as did.
In answer to the repeated question why the
confidential letter was not produced during
Gen. Garfield's lifetime, it is enough 10 say
that his assassination was surprise, and that
up to the time of that terrible event no occa-
sion appeared within my knowledge which
seemed to call for the publication of the
letter.
do not know upon what principle Gen.
Gartield's friends propose to fix his "place in
history" but the experience of the past few
weeks seems 10 indicate that they intend to
establish it upon system of deliberate mutt
lation and suppression of the truth. The value
and morality of this plan of making
history are not very apparent, and
the prospect of its success is certainly
not very great Gen. Garfield ought
to be judged as other public men are judged,
and no sufficient reason has yet appeared for
exempting him from the operation of the uni.
versal rule. The common saying, De mortius
nil MIST bonum, has no force, either in reason
or common sense, where important matters
and public characters arc concerned, and his
tory would be impossible if the maxim were
better reading, though it is one not likely to
be popular with the moralists who con.
demned the publication of the Garfield
letter -"Speak nothing but truth of the
living" The old saying has, however, no
application in this case. By the publica-
tion of this letter its dead author was
permitted to speak for himself. The claim
set up that the letter was confidential one,
and therefore to be hidden from sight forever,
is not, in my opinion, allowable for single
second. If it is allowable, the moral code
must be reconstructed on the principle that
the wrongfulness of an act consists, not in
the wrong done, but in the exposure of the
act. If exposed. the secret wrongdoer need
not despair. The pious and reforming class
es of America will stand to his defense. The
true culprit will, in their estimation, be the
wretch who drags the secret to the light.
Your friend faithfully,
j. W. sCHUCKERs.
To JOHN II. OBERLY, Bloomington, Ill.
Selling Diseased Meat.