Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-10-01
An Open Letter.

ing letter sent to Hon. William
Walter Phelps is now made public:
AUGUSTA, Sept, 6, 1S64.-.hy Dear
Mr.. Phelps: L have your favor of
the 4th advising me that 1.-The con-
tinuance invention and wide circula-
ton of evil reports render it advisa-
BILE in your judgment not to wait the
slow process of the law but to speak
directly to the public in my own vim
dication." In this opinion many
others on whose judgment / rely con-
cur. l shrink instinctively from the
suggestion, although L feel sure l
could strengthen the confidence OF
all who feel friendly to me by bring
ing to view the simple thread OF
truth which is concealed in this end
less tissue Of falsehood, You can
imagine how expressibly painful it
must be to discuss ones domestic
life in the press, although think
with you that under the circumstan-
css could count on the generosity
of the public to justify statement
which otherwise might seem objec
tionable. l 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
leisure hours of today. when our
campaign is ended and we wait only
for election, gives me opportunity
for this prompt reply and for the fol
lowing essential details:
At Georgetown, Kentacky, in the
spring of 1913, when l was but Is
years of age, 1 first met the lady who,
for moro than thirty four years, has
been nv wife. Our acquaintance
resulted at the end Of six months in
an engagement, which, without the
prospect of speedy marriage, we
naturally sought to keep it to our
selves. Two years later, In the
spring of 1850, when 1 was matur-
ing plans to leave my profession IN
Kentucky and establish myself else
where, l was suddenly summoned to
Pennsylvania by the death OF my
father. 1t being very doubtful If L
could return to Kentucky l was
threatened with an indefinate separa-
ration from her who possessed my
entire devotion.
NV one wish was to secure her to
myself by an indissoluble tie against
every possible 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 united
by what / knew was in my native
state of Pennsylvania a perfectly le-
gal form of marriage. On reaching
home l found that my family and es-
pecially my bereaved mother, strong
ly discountenanced my business plans
as involving to long separation from
: home and kindred. complied with
her request that should resume at
least for a time my occupation IL
Kentucky, whittier 1 returned in the
latter part OF august
During the ensuing winter, induo-
ed by misgivings under new possl
bilities, misgivings which were IN
creased by legal consultation, l be
came alarmed least a doubt might be
thrown upon the validity of our mar
, riage by reason of non compliance
r with the law of the State where II
had occurred, for had learned thai
the laws of Kentucky made llcence
certified by the clerk of the county
1 an indispensable requisite of lega
{ marriage. After much deiberatlor
r and with an anxious desire to guarc
in the most effectual manner agains
any possible resulting
from our position, for which l alon'
3 was responsible, we decided that th'
D simplest and at the same time th'
!. surest way was to repair to Pennsyl
vania and have another marriage ser
vice performed. This was done IL
the city of Pittsburgh, In the month
: of March, 1851, but was not other
: wise made public for obvious reasons
4 1t was solomnized only to secure al
= indisputable validity the first mar
! riage being by my wife and mysel
;. always held sacred.
y At the mature age of ffty-four
y do not defend the wisdom or pru
dence of secret marriage suggeste'
!, by the ardor and inexperience q
: youth, but its honor and its purit
I were inviolate as I believe in tn
sight of God and cannot be made t
= appear otherwise by the wicked de
vices of men. 1t brought to Inc
= companionship which has been m.
f chief happiness from boyhoods year
!. to this hour, and has crowned wit
whatever OF success l have attaine
in life. My eldest child son, wa
} born in his grandmother's house o.
: the 18th day of June, 1851, in tn
> city of Augusta, Maine, and died i
her arms three years later. His ash
es repose in the cemetery of his Ia
tive city beneath stone which re
corded his name and the limit of hi
> innocent life. That stone which ha
: stood for almost an entire generatio
:. has been defaced by brutal and sal
. religious hands.
As a candidate for the presidenc
L knew that 1 should encounter man
forms of calumny and personal d.
famation, but / confess that dl
6 not expect to be called upon to d.
:. fend the name of a beloved and hol
ored wife, who is mother and
grandmother, nor did l expect ths
= the grave of my little child woul
= be cruelty desecrated. Against sue
= gross forms of wrong the law give
: : no redress, and L know that
= the end my most effective appe
: against the unspeakable outrae
: which resist must he to the mob
, manhood and noble womanhood I
America.
Your friend, very sincerely,
(Signed) JAMES u. BLAINE.
DENVER, Col, Sept. 23.-Yesterd;