The Brookhaven leader., 1884-09-25
BLA1NE,s MARRIAGES.
He Alleges q Secret Union in
Kentucky.
he ADMITS TIE DISPUTED MARRIAGE
IN PrTTsBUKG IN THE MONTH OF
MARCH. 1851.

~'y w Si''hS wv WIZ P"S'aS 'H'
following private Letter I'D dressed to
him nearly two weeks ago:
AUGUSTA, Sept. 6, 1884.
My Dear Mr.. Phelps-I have
your favor of the 9th advising me
that the continuous invention and
wide circulation of evil reports
render it advisable, in your judg
ment, not to wait the slow processes
of the law, but to speak directly to
the public in my own vindication.
In this opinion many others on
whose judgment ] re.y concur.
shrink instinctively from the sug-
sestion, although / feel sure 1 could
strengthen the confidence of all who
feel friendly to me by bringing to
view the simple thread of truth
which is concealed in this endless
tissue Of falsehood.
You can imagine how inexpressi-
bly, painful it must be to discuss
ones domestic life in the press, al
though | think, with you, that un-
der the circumstances l could count
upon the generosity Of the public to
justify statement which other
wise might seem Objectionable. l
can, in any event, safely, commit
the facts to you for personal com
munication to those friends who
have taken so delicate and so con-
siderate an interest in my affairs.
The leisure hours Of to-day, when
our campaign is ended and we wait
for the election, gives me an OPP
portnnity for this prompt reply and
for
THE FOLLOWING ESSENTIAL DETAILS
At Edgetown Ky, in the spring
of 1S4S, when ! was but eighteen
years of age, 1 first met the lady who
for more than thlrty-four years has
been my wife. Our acquaintance
resulted at the end of six months in
an engagement, which without the
prospect of speedy marriage we
naturally sought to keep to ourselves.
Two years later, in the spring Of
1850, when l was maturing plans
to leave my profession in Kentucky
and establish myself elsewhere, !
was su idenly summoned to Pennsyl-
vania by the death of my father. 1t
being very doubtful ii l could re
turn to Kentucky l was threatened
with an indefiaite separation from
her who possessed my entire dcvo-
tion. My own wish was to secure
her to myself by an indissoluble tie
against every possible contingency
in life, and on the Both day of June,
1850, just prior to my departure
from Kentucky we were,
IN THE PRESENCE OF CHOSEN AND
TRUSTED FRIENDS,
united, by what l knew was in my
native State of Pennsylvania, per-
fectly legal form of marriage. On
reaching home l found that INV fam
lily, AMI especially my btreavcd
mother, strongly discountenanced
my business plans, as involving too
long a separation from home and
kindred. compile with her wish
that | should resume, at least for a
time my occupation in Kentucky,
whittier returned IN the latter part
of August.
During the ensuing winter, in
duced by mlsgivings which were in
creased by legal consultation. / oe
came alarmed lest doubt might be
thrown on
THE VALIDITY OF OUR MARRIAGE
by reason of non compliance with
the law oft State where it occurred,
for ! had learned that the laws of
Kentucky made license certified by
the clerk of the County Court an in
dispensible requisite of legal mar
riage. After much deliberation and
with an anxious desire to guard in
the most effectual manner against
every possible
EMBARRASSMENT RESULTING FROM OUR
POSITION,
for which / alone was responsible,
we decided that the simplest and at
the same time the surest way was to
repair to Pennsylvania and have
another marriage service performed.
This was done in presence of wit
nesses in the City of Plttsburg in
the month of March, 1851, but was
not otherwise made public for OBJ
vions reasons. 1t was solemnized
only to secure an undisputable
validity, the first marriage being by
my wife and myself always held
sacred.
At the mature age of fifty-four ]
do not defend the wisdom or pru-
dence Of secret marriage suggested
by the ardor or inexperience of hot
youth, but honor and purity were in
violate, as l believe, in the sight of
God, and cannot be made to appear
otherwise by the wicked devices OF
man. 1t brought me companion
ship which has been my chief hap
piness from boyhood's years to this
hour, and has crowned me with
whatever Of success l have attained
in lite.
MY ELDEST CHILD, A SON,
was born in his grandmother's house,
n.l