The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-09-20
my DEAR PHELPS"
A Variation From the Letters to
"My Dear Fisher"
CONFUSING AND ooNFouNplNe,
Biaine's Enort at vindicatiop BY Speaking
directly to the Public is ~ virtual
Acknow sdgement Of the
sentiners Charges


NEw YoRK, Sept. lo.--Hon. WilliaTA
Walter Phelps takes the responsibility
of giving to the public the following
private letter, addressed 10 him nearly
two weeks ago:
TIM LRTTRR.
AUGUSTA, Ms, Sept. 0, lSS4..-MY DFAR
PHELPS; l have your favor of the 4th,
advising rae that the continuous inven-
Vention and wide circulation Of evil re-
ports render 1t advisable In your jusg-
Inent not to await the slow processes of
the law but TO speak directly TO the pub
lie In my own yindication,
In this opinion many others,
In whose Judgment rely
concur. / shrink instinetively from the
suggestion, although feel sure | could
strengthen the confidence of those who
are friendly TO me by Bringing to view
the simple thread of truth which is con-
| coaled in this endless tissue of false
hood. You can imagine how inexpres-
sibly painful it must be to discuss ones
domestic life In the press, although
think with you, that under the cir
cumstances l could count upon the
generosity Of the people TO justify a
statement which might seem objection
able. can In any event safely commit
the facts TO you for PERSONAL eommuni-
cation to those friends who have taken
80 delicate and so considerate an interest
In my affairs. The leisure hours of to-
day when our campaign 10 ended and we
wait only for the election returns, gives
me an opportunity for this prompt reply
and for the following
ESSENTIAL DHTAIS-
At Georgetown, Kentucky, IN the
spring OF lS4S, when was but IL years
OF age, first met the lady who for more
: than thirty-four years has been my wife
, Our acquaintance resulted, at the end oi
, six months, in an engagement which
J without the prospect OF speedy mar
riagge, we naturally sought TO keep tC
, ourselves. Two years later, In tn,
spring OF 1850, when l was maturing
!, plans to leave my profession in Ken
lucky and established myself, etc.,
was suddenly summoned to Pennsyl
: ! wanna by the death OF my father. II be
!. ing very doubtful II could return I
!, Kentucky, / was threatened with an In
!, definite separation from her who po'
- :, sessed my entire devotion. My ON
" wish was to secure her 10 myself by a
=, indissoluble tie against every possibl
2 of June, 1850, Just prior To III
" departure from kentucky we were
T. the presence of chosen and truste
Il friends, united by what knew was
" my native State of Pennsylvania, a pc
70 fectly legal form OF marriage. On reacl
ing home found that my family, al
W especially my beroayed mother, strong
discountenanced, my business plans
involving too long separate
from homo and kindred.
=. complied with her wish tn
49, | should resume at lea
or for time my occupation IN Kentucl
whittier returned in tho latter part
he August. During the ensuing wint
Ity induced by misgivings which increas
~ by legal consultations,
''i nECAME ALARMED
ew lest doubt might bo thrown ON the v
at idity of our marriage by reason OF NJ
-oo compliance with the law of the Sti
,hj whore IL occurred, for / had learn
M. that the laws of Kentuc
nj made license certified by the Gle
,be of tho County Court, an indisponsil
ny requisite of legal marriage. Alter mu
deliberation and with an anxious des
All to guard In the most eiiectual mann
ar against any possible embarrassment
nd sulting from our position for which
ias alone was responsible, we decided Il
the simplest, and at the same time
s,s surest way was 10 repair to Pcnnsyl
a. mia and have another marriage serv
II performed. This was done In tho pr
,l,o cnce of witnesses In the city of Phi
WV burg, In the month of March, 1851,
Nv was not otherwise made public
-, OBVIOUS REASONS.
,ss II was solemnizcd only To secure
rn' undisputable validity, the first ma
age being by my wife and myself
.,on ways held sacred. Al the mature ag
'i"h ~ I do moi flafan1 tha UfaHnun nr 4
''' dence of secret marriage suggested
loo the ardor and inexperlence Of youth,
inc honor and its purity were inviolate,
e believe In the sight Of God, and can
oia be made TO appear otherwise by
,ato wicked devices Uf men. 1t brought
WV me compnnionship, which has
mor my chief happiness from boyho
years to this hour, and has crowned
with whatever of success have att
cd In life.
AS THE SENTINEL ALLEuES.
Par. My eldest child, a AOn, WAS born IL
grandmother's house, on the 18th da
June, 1851, in the city of Augusta, MI
-mr' and died In her arms three years later
,ugh ashes repose In the Genet ry of
ston native city teneath a stone which
-, corded his name and the limits ut
''ou innocent life. That stone, which
gent stood for almost an entire genera
er,pt has been recently deiaced by b,
bride and sacriligious hands. As a candi
the for the Presidency ] knew
ieral ! should encounter many form,
wish calumuy and personal defamation,
confess that | did not expect {
n to- called 10 defend the name Of q bel
! the and honorcd wife, who IN mother
osod grandmother, nor did expect tina
lcted grave of my little child would bo crl
rvis- desprrated. Against such gross 4
port, of wrong the law gives no adequat
row, dress, aud | know that in the ON,
q for effective appeal against the unspeal
lndi- outrnves which | resist must bo {
noble manhood and noble woman
OF America.
Very sincerely your frien,
tSipnodl JAMES q, Bi .