Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-09-25
Chilly 9ress aud 9xkptxiau
MS FAMILY AFFAIRS.

Mr.. Blaine, in Defense of his wife and
His Honor, Tells the story OF their Mar
rlsgo.
New York, Sept. 19-Hon. VIM Walter
Phelps takes the responsibility of giving
to the public the following private letter
addressed to him nearly two weeks ago:
Augusta, Sep. 6, lSS4-My dear MIR.
Phelps: l have your favor of the 4th
advising me that the continuous inven
tion and wide circulation OF evil reports
render it advisable, in your Judgment,
not to wait the slow process OF the law,
but to speak directly to the public in my
own vindication. In this opinion many
others. on whose judgment rely concur.
shrink instinotively from the suRges.
tion, although feel sure I 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 ltissue of falsehood. You
can imagine how expressibIy painful
it must be to discuss ones domestic
life in the press. Although 1 think
with you that under the circum
stances I could count upon
the generosity of the public to Justify a
statement which otherwise might seem
Objectionable, 1 can, in any event, safely
commit the facts to you for personal
communication to those friends, who
have taken 80 delicate and so consider
ate an interest in my affairs. The leis-
ure hours of to-day, when our campaign
is ended and We wait only for the cleo
tion, gives me the opportunity for this
prompt reply and for the following
essential details: At Georgeton, KY, in
the spring of l84S. when l was but
eighteen years of age, I first met the
lady who for more than thirty.four years
has been my wife. Our acquaintance re.
suited at the end of six months in an
engagement, which, without the pros.
pect OF speedy marriage, We naturally
sought to keep to ourselves. Two years
later, in the spring of 1850, when I was
maturing plans to leave my profession
in Kentucky, and establish myself else.
where, ! was suddenly summoned to
Pennsylvania BY the death of my father.
1t being very doubtful if I could return
to Kentucky, was threatened with an
indefinite separation from her who DOS.
sessed my entire devotion. Ny one
wish was to secure her to myself by On
lndissoluable tie against every possible
contingency in life, and, on the 3Oth
day of June, 1850, just prior to my de.
parture from New York, we were, in the
presence of chosen and trusted friends,
united by what knew was, in nv ma.
tive state of. Pennsylvania, perfectly
legal form of marriage. On reaching
home l found that my family, and
especially my bereaved mother, strongly
discountenanced nay business plans as
involving too long separation from
home and kindred. complied with
her request that I should resume, at
least for time, my occupation in
New York, whittier 1 returned in the
latter part of August. During the en-
suing winter, induced by misgivings
which were increased by legal consulta-
tlons, l became alarmed lest doubt
might be thrown upon the fidelity of
our marriage by reason of non-compli-
ance with the law OF the state
where it had occurred, for I had
heard that the laws of Kentucky made
license certified by the clerk of the coun.
ty court an indispensable requisite of a
legal marriage. After much deliberation,
and with an anxious desire to guard in
the most etfectual manner against any
embarrassment resulting from our posi-
ton, for which alone was responsible,
We decided that the simplest, aud at the
same time the surest way, was to repair
to Pennsylvania and have another mar.
riage service performed. This was done
IN the presence of witnesses in the CITY
OF Pittsburg, in the month of March, 1881,
but was not otherwise made public for
obvious reasons. It was solemnized only
to secure an indisputable validity, the
first marriage being by my wife and my.
self always held sacred. At the mature
age of 81 do not defend the wisdom or
prudence of secret marriage, suggested
by the ardor and the inexperience of
youth, but its honor and its purity were
inviolate. as believe, in the sight of
God, and cannot be made to appear
otheswise by the wicked devices of men.
1t brought to me companionship which
has been my chief happiness from bov.
hoods years to this hour, and has crown.
ed me with whatever of success I have
attained in life. My eldest child, son,
was born in his grandmother's house on
the 18th day of June, 1851, in the city of
Augusta, Me-, and died IN her arms three
years later. His ashes repose in the
cemetery of his native city, beneath a
stone which recorded his name, and the
limits of his innocent life. That stone,
which had stood for almost an entire gen.
GRAFTON. has recently been defaced by
brutal and sacrilegious hands. As can.
didate for the presidency, knew that
should encounter many forms of cal
umny and personal defamation; but 1
confess that l did not expect to be called
upon to defend the name of beloved
and honored wife, who is mother and a
grandmother, nor did expect that the
grave of my little child would be cruelty
desecrated. Against such gross forms
Of wrong the law gives no adequate re-
dress. and l know that in the end my
most effective appeal against the nm
speakable outrages which resist must
be to the noble manhood and noble
of America.
Your friend, very sincerely,
JAMES G. BLAINE.