The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-09-27


it must be to discuss ones domestic life
IN the press, although | think, with
you, that under the circumstances, I
could count upon the generosity of the
public to Justify statement which
otherwise might seem Objectionable. l
can, in any event, safely con NIT the
facts to. You for personal communication
to those friends who have taken SO del
icate and so consideinte an interest in
my affairs. Tie leistre hours of to
dav, when our campaign is ended, and
We wait only for the election, give me
an opportunity for this prompt reply,
and for the following essential details.
THE CoUgTsHIP AND MARRIAGE.
At Georgetown, Kentucky, in the
spring of l845, when was but lS years
of age. | first met the lady who for more
than thirty-four wears has beer my
wife. Our acquaintance resulted at the
end of six months, in an engagement,
which, without a 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 my profession la Ken
tucky and establish myself else where,
was suddenly summoned to Pennsyl-
vania by the death of my father. II
being very doubtful if | could return to
Kentucky, l was threatened with an
indefinite separation from her who pos
sessed my entire devotion. Ny one
wish was to secure her to myself, by an
indissoluble tie, against every possible
contingency in life, and OH the 30th
day of June, 1850, just prior to my
departure from Kentucky, we were, in
the presence of chosen and trusted
friends, united by what I know was,
in my native state of Pennsylvania, a
perfectly legal form of marriage. On
reaching home | found that any family,
and especially my berea we'd mother,
strongly disconntenanced my bu>i-
ness plans as involving too long sepa-
ration from homo and kindred. She
complied with my wish, however, that
l should resume, at least for time,
my occupation in Kentucky, and re-
turned in the latter part of August.
THE SECOND MARRIAGE.
During the ensuing winter, induced
by misgislngs, which were increased
by legal consultation, / became alarmed
lest doubt might be thrown upon the
validity of our marriage, by reason OF
non-comp pliance with the law Of the
state where it had occurred; for | had
learned that the laws of Kentucky
made license, certified by the clerk OF
the county court, an Indispensable re-
quisite of a legal marringe After much
deliberation, and with an anxiovs de-
sire to guard, IN most efectual man
ner, asainst any embarrassment result
ing from our position-fcr which ]
alone was responsible-Ne decided that
tie simplest and at the same time tie
snrest way was to repair to Pennsyl-
vania, and have another marriage ser
vice performed. This was lone in lie
presence. of witnesses, In the city oi
Plttsburg, IN the month Of march, 1851
but was not otherwise made public, for
obvious reasons. 1t was solemnized
only to secure an indisputable validity,
the first marriage being by my wife an6
myself always held sacred.
THE FIRST MARRIAGE PURE.
At the mature age of "a | do not
defend the wisdom or prudence Of a
secret marriage suggested by the ardor
and inexperience Of youth, but It's honor
and its purity Were inviolate, as [ ba-
lieve, in the sight of God, anI cannot
be made to appear otl er~ise by the
wicked device of men. 1t has brought
to me companionship which has been
my chief happiness from boyhood's
years to this hour, and has crowned
me with whatever of success | have at
tanned in life. My oldest child, son,
was born in his grandmothe:'s he use,
OF the 18th day of June 1851, in the
city of Augusta, Maine, and died in
her arms three years la,et His ashes
repcse in the cemetery Of his native
city, beneath the stone which records
his name and the limits of his Innocent
life. That stone which had stood for
almost an entire generation has recently
been defaced by brutal and sacreligioHs
hands. As a candidate for the PIesi-
7 al rIo,>1l