Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-08-24
Judge BIaeE's Letter.

BROCklk, august Z, 1883.
Col. A. K. Mcclure:
MY DEAR SIR have meant for q week
past to write you about Curtis's book, but l
have bsen 30 healthy and 20 law, and have
enjoy ed the dolce far niente SO much for the
whole summer, that nothing rouses me 20 ex-
ertion. II is q painful break in The monotory
of my luxurious idleness 10 take my lead
pencil in my Left hand and hold it while /
trace these dull lines. l thorght Of saying
something in praise OF Curtis's good faith
and versci'y, in which / have the most
implicit confidence. 1 have not read his
book, but / am sure 1t contains nothing
about me or anybody Else that he does
not bell We to be true, and if any OF his COZ
illusions be urs ,und they will be easily cor
| rected. He conided 10 me his general plan
Of Ireatin the subject, and showed me some
chapters in manuscript. 1t differed entirely
from the conception l had formed Of a coed
biography OF Buchanan. His object was TO
do Buchanan Ms perfect justice SIS he could,
and TO vindicate his memory as efitc.uaIly
as possible by a fair and honest presentation
| of the facts specially bearing on that point.
| But he told me that he would not antagonize
any human being unless it became abso.
luiely necessary. He did not ssy 20 that l
recoliecl, bu; / gathered that be Intended 10
be spsring Of his praise as we'll as his blame.
| At FIRST he did not think it would be necss-
ssry to speak Of the differences between The
President and the Cabinet on any changes oil
attitude which look place in consequence,
but simply show what was The final d.termi-
nation and prove it TO be right. l was en-.
| tirely satisfied with this method Of treating
the subject, 30 far as my own part OF it was
| concerned, and | TOLD him that Judge Cad
wslader had made up his mind not 10 mention
the name of AIRY Cabinet eff er. But / could
not help adding that Thought he would iud
it impracticable 10 ignore facts which had
already become public properly, and which,
III the opinion OF many, were important to
the formation Of that just estimate which he
was anxious 10 make of MIR. Buch an ans
CHI acter; he mus. vindicate him land be
could do i) on the real case, without either
suppressie teri or suggestio faLsi. This became
hi, own view, aud he has carried it out
doubtless with ability and discretion, but at
the same time with as little departure from
his original plan as possible. 1 dare say he
has not spoken either well or ill of me, but
he has left me- without cause OF complaint
on either score. l do not, of course, mean 10
| c~ritIcise a book that L have not read, but
when 1 do look al it you may expect me TO
say something about it, and about your re-
marks concerning it and the subject of it.
Yeu have intended to be just, perhaps gener-
ous; but you do Buchanan great wrong, ss /
shall undertake 10 show at the proper time, il
you permit me. But your paper of this
morning contains q notice of the assault
which jefferson Davis will make upon me
in your next issue. May l expect the use of
your column for a reply, il a reply seems
to be nee ssary? You msniieslly think that
you are sb1 nj 10 publish a thing which has
a good deal of Significance to me, and / do
not believe you will refuse me the chance of
being heard. But 1 have not the remotest
idea what Mr.. Davis will ssy or can say
about me, my acts or my record, which can
give occasion for controversy. Still he may
have nursed in his mind some error which
has at lsst grown to 3 s:zs which looks FORM
idab'e. l can only wait and see. 1 do mol
think that his arrow is poisoned, but it may
be sharp and cent home with a good deal OF
force. 1 am, very truly you're, ETC.,