Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-09-20
Mr.. BLAINE EXPLAINS,
And Clears Up the Mystery Of HE
Marriage.
TWO WEDDING CEREMONIES ALLEGED.
One Takes Place Iune 30, 1850, in Ken.
tueky, and the Other in March.
1851. at Pittsburgh...Ihe
Former Kept Secret.
HIS REASONS FULLY SET FORTH.

New YoRK, September ls.-Hon. vii.
liam Walter Phelps takes the responsibility
of giving to the public the following private
letter addressed to him nearly two weeks
ago:
AuousrA, September 6. 1884.
Ny DEAR Mn. PHELPS ! have your e.
vor Of the fourth, advising me that the
continuous invention and wide circulation
Of evil reports render 1t advisable (iu your
judgment) not to wait the allow process Of
the law but to speak directly 10 the public
in my own vindication."
In this opinion many nyothen on whose ejudg-
ment rely, concur. ! shrink instinctively
from the suggestion. although feel sure I
could strengthen the confidence Of al 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 mex.
pressioly painful j, mus, be 10 discuss ones
domestic life in the presA Although l
think with you that under the circumstances
! could count upon the generosity ofthe pub
lie to justify the statement which otherwise
night seem Objectionable, can, in any
event, safely commit the facts to you for
personal communication to those friends
who have taken SO delicate and so consid.
crate an interest in my affairs. The leis-
ure hours Of to-day, when our campaign is
ended and we wait only for the election,
gives me the opportunity for this prompt
reply and for
The Following Essential Drtaiisi
At Georgetown, N.Y., in the spring Of 1913.
when was about Is years Of age first
met the lady who for more than thirty.tour
years has been my wife. Our sequaint-
ance 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 was maturing plans to leave nv 20.
si,ion in Kentucky aud establish myself
l was suddenly summoned to
PENNSYLVANIA by the death Of my father. II
being very doubtful il could return TO Ken
tucky | was threatened with
An Indefinite Separation
from her who possessed my entire devotion.
NV one wish was to secure her TO myself by
an indissolable tie against every pos.
sible contingency in life, and on
the 30th day Of June, 1850,
just prior to my departure from Kentucky
we were in the presence OF chosen and
trusted friends, uni.ed by what knew was
in my native State Of Pennsylvania . per.
fec,ly legal form Of marriage. On reaching
home found ,ha, my family, and especially
my bereayed mother, strongly discounte-
nanced my business plans rs Involving
too long separation from home
and kindred complied with her
wish that / shouli resume at least
Tor time my occupation in Kentucky.
whittier / returned in the latter part of Aug.
ust. During the ensuing winter, induced
by misgiyings which'wcre increased by legal
consultations, became alarmed lest =
doubt might be thrown upon
The validity of Our Marriage,
by reason Of noncompliance With the Law
OF the State where il bad occurred. for !
had learned that the laws Of Kentucky
made q license certified BY the Clerk
Of the County Court an indispensable
requisite Of legal marriage. After much
deliberation and with an anxious desire 10
guard in the most effectusl manner against
any possible embarrassment resulting from
our position, Cor which alone wss respoa.
sible. VIC decided that the simplest and at
the same time the sures way was 10 repair
to Pennsylvania and have another marriage
service performed. This WA done In the
presence Of Witnesses in the city Of PisS-
burg in the mcpth Of March, 1851, but vas
not Otherwise made public for obvious rea-
sons II WAS solemnized only TO secure ~
indisputabIe validity, the frat marriage be-
ing by my wife and myself
Always Held sacred.
Al the mature age offftyfour ] do not do
fend the wisdom or prudence OF . secret
marriage suggested BY the ardoe and the
inesperince oi youth, bat its honor and iispar.
.ty was inyiolate as believe in tho sight Of
God and cannot he made to APPEAR otherwise
BY the wicked devices Of men Il brought 10
me q companionship which has been my
chief happiness from boyhoods yeas 70 this
hour, and, has crowned me With what.
ever of success I have attained
in LIE. Ny Oldest child, son, vas born in
lis prandmother's house on the 18th day Of
June, 1851, in the city Of Augusta, Maine.
and died in her arms. three yesn latsf.
His ashes repoSe in the cemetery Of his 40.
tire city, beneath o stone which recorded
bis name and the limits OF his innocent
life. That stone which bad stood for almost
an entire generation, has been rsossuy
Defaeed by Brutal snd saerisgisss
Hands.
Az candidate for the Presidency knsw
that / should encounter many forms q
calnmny snd personal defamation bat !
confess that did no; expect 70 be called
upon 10 defend the name Of beloved and
honored wife, Who Is mothef and .
grandmother, nor did | expect that he
grave Of my little child ~ouh Be esss'iy
desecrated. Agains, sacb gross foscs Of
wrong the Law gives no adeqsste redress,
and know that in the end ny, most edec-
tive appeal aeaina the ubspeakable out
rages which ] resist, must be 20 the noble
manhood, and the noble vomsahoo4 of
America. Very sincerely,
a..