St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-20
BLAINE CONFESSES.
He Claims to Have Been Secretly Mar
ried in Kentucky.
And Publicly Married Year Later at Pitts
burg to Make it More Binding

New YORK, Sept. 19.-Hon. William Walter
Phelps takes the responsibility of giving to the
public the following private letter addressed to
him nearly two weeks ago:
AUGUSTA, Sept. 6, 1884
My dear Mr.. Phelps: 1 have your favor OF the
4th advising me that "the continuous invention
and wide circulation of evil reports render il ad-
visable lin your judgmenO not to wait the slow
process of the law, bTt 10 speak directly TO the
public in my own vindicHtion." In this opinion
many Others, on whose judgment l rely, concur
l shrink insIinctively from the suggestion, al
though feel sure | could strengthen the conf
dence of all 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 inexpressably painful
1t 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 statement which might
otherwise seem Objectionable. 1 can, in any
event, safely commit the facts TO you for per-
sonal communication to those friends who have
taken delicate and so considcrate an interest
| in my affairs. The leisure 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 de-
/ tails. at Georgetown. ky in the spring of 1S4e,
/ when was but eighteen years of age, first met
the lady who for more than thirty four years has
| been my wife. Our acquaintance resulted at
| the end Of six months in an en-
gasement, which without prospect of speedy
marriage, we naturally sought to keep to our
| selves. Two years later in the spring OF 1850,
when was maturing plans to leave my profes-
| sion in Kentucky and establish myself elsewhere,
! ] was suddenly summoned to Pennsylvania by
the death of my father. 1t being very doubtful
| If could return to Kentucky, was threatened
with an indefinite separation from her who pos
! sessed my entire devotion. My one wish was TO
secure her to myself by an indissoluble tie
against every possible contingency in life, and
| on the 3Oth day OF June, 1850, just prior to my
| departure from Kentucky, we were, in the pres
! ence of chosen and trusted friends, united by
! what knew was in my state of Pennsylvania
perfect and fully legal form of marriage.
| On reaching home 1 found that my
family, and especially my bereaved mother,
| strongly discoUntenanced my business plans as
Involving too long separation from home and
Kindred complied with her wish that should
resume, at least for time, my occupation in
Kentucky, whittier l returned in the latter part
| OF August. During the ensuing winter l. in
duced by misgivings which were increased by
! legal consultations, became alarmed lest doubt
| might be shown upon the validity of our mar
riage by reson OF noncompliance with the law of
the state where 1t had occurred, for had learned
that the laws of Kentucky made license corti-
fcate by the clerk Of the court an indispensable
requisite OF legal marriage. After much
deliberation and with an anxions desire to guard
in most effectual manner against any
sition, for which was alone responsible, we de-
cided that the simplest and At the same time the
surest way was 10 repair to Pennsylvania and
have another marriage service performed. This
was done in the presence of witnesses in the city
of Pittsburg, in the month Of March, 1851, but
was not otherwise made public for obvious
reasons. 1t was solemnized only to procure an
indisputable validity. The first marriage being
by my wife and myself always held sacred. At
the mature age OF hfty-four l do not defend the
wisdom or prudence OF secret marriage, sug-
gested by the ardor and nexperience Of youth, but
its honor and its purity were inviolate, as /
believe, in the sight Of God, and
cannot be made to appear otherwise by the
wicked devices Of men. 1t brought to me a COM
panioaship which has been my chief happiness
from boyhoods years TO this hour, and has
crowned me WITH whatever success l have at
tanned in my life. Ny eldest child, a son, was
born in his grandmother's house on the 18th day
OF june, 1851, in the city Of Augusta, Name,
and died in her arms three years later. His
ashes repose in the cemetery OF his native city
beneath a stone which recorded his name and
the limits of his innocent life. That stone
which had stood from almost entire genera
tion, has been recently defaced BY
brutal and sacrilegious hands. As
candidate for the presidency knew that should
encounter many forms of calumny and persona
defamation, but confess did not expect to be
called upon TO defend the name of a beloved anC
honored wife, who is mother and a grand
mother, nor did expect the grave of my little
child would be cruelty desecrated. Against suct
gross forms Of wrong the law give no adequate
redress, and know that in the end my most ef
fectiye appeal against the unspeakable outrage:
l resist must be to the noble manhood and the
noble womanhood Of America Your friend yer,
sincerely, JAMES G.. BLAINE.