The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-09-27
IR. RLAnNE's MARRIAGE.
The Candidates Virtual Admission Of
the Alleged Libelous Charges.
A SECRET cEREMoNY IN KENTUCKY.
THE MARRIAGE REPEATED IN PENN
sYLvANIA IN ORDER TO AS
SURE IT'S VALIDITY.
NEW YORK. SentemAer 10.


your favor of the 4th advising me that
"the continuous invention and wide
circulation of evil reports render it
advisable (in your judgmen) 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. l shrink instinctively
from the suggestion, although feel
sure l can strengthen the confidence
of all who felt friendly to me by
bringing to view the simple thread of
truth which is concealed in this end
less tissue Of falsehood. You can i'm
agine how inexpressibly painful it
must be to discuss ones domestic life
in the press, although / think, with
you, that under the circumstances /
could count upon the generosity of
the public to justify g statement which
otherwise might seem Objectionable.
| can, in any event, safely commit the
facts to you for personal communica-
ton to those friends who have taken
so delicate and so considerate an inter
est in my affairs. The leisure hours
OF to-day, when our campaign is end
ed, and we wait only for the election,
gives me the opportunity for this
prompt reply and for the following es
sential details.
At Georgetown, KY, in the spring
of 1948, when was but IS years OF
age, first met the lady who for more
than thirty-four years has been my
wife. Our acquaintance resulted, at
tho end of six months, in an engage
ment, which, without the prospect OF
speedy marriage, we naturally sought
to keep to ourselves. Two years later,
in the spring Of 1850. when was ma
turing plans to leave my profession i'll
Kentucky and establish myself else
where, / was suddenly summoned to
Pennsylvania by the death Of my faith
er. 1t being very doubtful if could
return to Kentucky, | was threatened
with an indefinite separation from her
who. possessed my entire devotion.
My one wish was to secure her to my
self by All 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 knew
was, in my native State of Pennsyl-
4 vatia, II perfectly legal form of mar
riage.
On reaching home I found that my
family, and especially my bereaved
mother, strongly discountenanced my
! business plans as involving too long a
separation from home and kindred.
| complied with her wish that i should
resume, at least for time, my occupa-
ton in Kentucky, whittier / returned
in the latter part of August. During
| the ensuing winter, induced by mis-
| givings under new responsibilities
| misgivings which we're increased by
4 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 1t had occurred, for | had
learned that the laws of Kentucky
made license certified by the Clerk
of the County Court an indispensable
requisite of legal marriage. After
much deliberation and with an anx-
ious desire to guard in the most effect
ual manner against any possible en-
bamassment resulting from our posi-
tion-for which | alone was RESPONSE
ble--we decided that the simplest and
9 at the same time the surest way wa.
to repair to Pennsylvania and have
, another marriage service performed
This was done, in the presence Of wit
nesses, in the city OF Pittsburg, in thu
r month Of Mach, 1851, but was mo-
otherwise made public, for obvious
$ reasons. 1t was solemnized only tt
: secure an indisputable validity -tht
l first marriage being by my wife anC
t myself always held sacred,
: At the mature age Of fifty-four I dt
t not defend the wisdom or prudence o
: secret marriage, suggested by th'
+ ardor and the inexperienoe of youth
j but its honor and its purity were in
4 violate, as believe, in the sight 0
It God, and cannot be made to appea
l otherwise by the wicked devices o
o men. 1t brought to me companion
d ship which has been my chief happi
g ness from boyhood's years to this hou
i and has crowned me with whateve
/ of success l have attained in life. NJ,
o eldest child--a son-was born in hi
It grandmothers house on the 18th da,
y Of June, 1851, in the city of Augusts
o Maine, and died in her arms thre
:. years later His ashes repose in tn
Il cemetary OF his native city, beneath
l. stone which recorded his name an,
tho limits of b;s ;nDocer4 l;fo q,lo