The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-04-04
The fxirh.bncrn,an Letter.

The recent revival OF the liamptOn-Sher-
nun difficulty has caused considerable cx-
citemcnt in newspaper and legislative cir
! Giles.
The letter written by Mr.. L. II. Kirk, an
employe in the Treasury Department under
John Sherman, and at bis suggestion, to in
! lure the character of Senator Hampton, was
not written to the Charleston Ne'cS and
( Courier, as has been enormously and gene
rally stated, but to the Cincinnati Com
mCrciGl.
Secretary Foiger. upon learning through
Senator Hampton that Kirk was still in the
employ OF the Department, decided to dis
charge him, moved to that decision through
| the reciprocal courtesy existent at all times
between the Cabinet and the Senate. ire
spective of political affiliations. When,
| however, Kirk proved, by exhibiting the
| letter from misunderstanding at the time
Of writing fisherman. that he was re-
quested 10 publish whatever he could col
lect 10 damage or reflect upon the charac-
ter OF Senator Hampton, at the request OF
the latter Kirk is retained in his position,
neither Foiger nor Hampton holding him
responsible under the circumstances.
Senator Sherman has the original letter
to Kirk at present in his own possession.
IL was written on the intimation to Sher-
man from Kirk that he had damaging infor-
nation against Hampton, aud expresses Il
desire that he should publish it and all other
| further information OF similar character
that he could obtain.
Kirk. The writer, holds minor position
in the Treasury. He has been an active
Republican since his residence in this city.
For short time he was the Washington
correspondent OF the Indianapolis Journal,
when he made a successful attack upon
Judge Holman, then candidate for Con-
gress against Hon. Tom Browne. Kirk
charged Holman with duplicity on one
| legged Union soldier OF the name Of Nc
| Council. Judge Holman denied the charge,
when Kirk persuaded D0orkeeper FitZ-
! hugh to make an affidavit corroborating the
original charge in the journal. The result
was that The soldier element rallied TO
Brownies support, and Holman was de-
/ feated. This was in the election OF 1878.
! Kirk has been an active contributor for
the Republican press. He has prepared
several campaign documents which were
adopted aud promulgated by the Republic
/ can managers. In 1878 Unpublished para
graph in the New York Times charging
| that Colonel Kcitt, Of South Carolina, a
/ lilll DINJutI VI tht ldtN i<thtNH'N Sis hN.e't
had beeu sent TO the penitentiary for biga-
my.n Colonel Keitt, Of Newberry, s. c.,
brought libel suit against that paper, ask
ing damages 10 the extent Of $4,000.
When Che case came 10 trial in January,
1879, Kirl, appeared in court in New York
before Judge Blatchford, and proved con-
clus'vcly 10 The jury that Ellison Keitt had
put on cap not made for him; that in
reality his paragraph referred to Colonel
Tom Keitt. Quadroon. Ellison Keith had
the costs of court TO pay, but during the
trial OF the case he evinccd so many excel.
lent traits OF character as to elevate himself
in the good Eraces OF George Jones.
Kirk is politician OF an inqnisitiyc turn
of mind, but thoroughly unscrupulous IN
his dealings with political opponents. H'
was Just the mal TO aid Sherman in his
quarrel with Wade Hampton. - Washing
ton Capital.