Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-09-20
mr.. BLAKE EXPLAINS THE HISTORY OF
HIS MARRIAGE.
William. Walter Phelps gives TO the public
the following letter:

d1o MdhnAA0c
William. Walter Phelps gives TO the public
the following letter: :.
AUGUSTA, September 6, 1884.
M Dear Mr.. Phelps: l have your favor
of the 4tb, advising me that 1.-THE continuous
invention and wide circulation of evil re.
ports render it advisable lin your judgment
not 10 wait the slow process of the law, but
to speak directly to the public in my own
yindication.' In this opinion many others
on whose judgment rely concur.
I shrink nstinc,ively from the suggestion,
although feel rure could strengthen the
confidence Of all who felt 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 mex
pressbly 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 pub
lie to justify statement which otherwise
might seem Objectionable. ] can, in any
event, safely commit the facts to you for
personal communication 10 those friends
who have taken so delicate and so consid-
crate 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 details:
At Georgetown, KY, in the spring OF
1S4S, 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 engagement which, without
the prospect of speedy marriage, we natur-
ally sought to keep TO ourselves Two years
later, in the spriug of 1850, when was
maturing plans TO leave my profession IN
Kentucky and establish myself elsewhere,
I was suddenly summoned TO Pennsylvania
nv the death Of my father. 1t being very
doubtful if could return to Kentucky, l
was threatened with an indefinite separa-
ton from her who possessed my entire de-
yotion. MY one wish was to secure her to
myself by an iudssoluble tie against every
possible contingency in life, aud on the Goth
day Of June, 1860, just prior to my depar-
ture from Kentucky, we wore, in the pres.
epce of chosen and trusted friends, united
iy what knew was, in my native State OF
Pennsylvania, u perfectly legal form OF
marriage. On reaching home l found that
NV family, and especially my bereaved
mother, strongly discountenanced my bust
uess plans, as involving too long q separation
from home and kindred. / complied with
her wish that should resume, al least fol
a time, my occupation in Kentucky, with
er returned in the latter part of August
During the ensuing winter, induced
by misgivings under new response
bilites-misgiving which were increased
by legal copsultations-l became alarmed
lest doubt might be thrown upon the
validirv of our marriage by reason Of non
compliuuce with the law of the State where
it had occurred for had learned that The
laws of Kentucky made a license certified
by the clerk Of the county court and inais
pensibie requisite of legal marriage. Ate
much deliberation, aud with an anxious
desire to guard in the most et1ectual name
against any possible embarrassment result
ing from our posilion-for which l alon'
was responsible decided that the sim
plest, and at the same time the surest way
was to repair to Pennsylvania and hav
another marriage service performed. Thi
was done in the presence vi witnesses, IL
the city of Pittsburg, in the month Of March
1851, but was not otherwise made public
for obvious reasons. 1t was solemnized ouI.
10 secure an indsputable valldity-the frs
marriage being by my wife and myseI
atupava. old sarred g=.Att.he me nrazage.-C
!, prudence OF secret marriage, suggest
ed BY the ardor and the Experience O
youth; but its honor and its purity wer
inviolate, as I believe, il the sight of Ged, ant
cannot be made to appear otherwise by the wicke'
devices Of men. 1t brought to me companion
} ship (WHICH has been my chief happiness from boy
hoods years to this hour, and has crowned MI
, with whatever Of success have attained in life
Ny eldest child-s son-was born in his grand
mothers house on the 18th day of June, 1851, il
the city OF Augusta, Me-, and died in her ARM
thrie years later. His ashes repose in the GENE
terry of his native city, beneath stone which re
corded his name and the Limits of his innoren
life. That stone which has stood for almost al
entire generation, has been recently defaced by
brutal and sacrilegious hands. As candidate fol
the presidency, knew that I should encounter
mauv forms Of cslumny and personal defamation
but l confess that did not expect to be called
upon to defend the name of beloved and honored
wife, who is a mother and grandmother, nor did
| expect that the grave of my little child would
be cruelty desecrated.
Against such gross forms of wrong the law gives
no ;ldequats redress AMI 1 know that in the end
my most effective appeal against the unspesk able
outrages which l resist must be to the noble man
| hood and the noble womanhood of America.
| Your friend. very sincerely,
JAMES G. BLAINE.
|