Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1884-09-27


New York, Sept 19.-Hon. William
Walter Phelps gives to the public tn
following private letter addressed to hin
nearly two weeks ago:
Augusta, Sept. &, lSS4.-My Dear MI
Phelps: ! have your favor of the 4th
advising me that "the continuous inven
! ton and wide circulation Of evil report
render it advisable lin your judgment
not to wait the slow process Of the law
but to speak directly to the public il
my own vindica,ion.' In this opinion
many others, on whose judgment l rely
concur. shrink instinctively from tn
suggestion, although feel sure / coul'
strengthen the confidence Of all who fee
friendly to me by bringing to view th
simple thread Of truth which is conceal
Ell in this endless tissue Of falsehood
You can imagine how inexpressibl,
painful it must be to discuss ones do
mestic life in the press, although thinl
with you that under the circumstances
could count upon the generosity Of the
public to justify statement which
might otherwise seem Objectionable. ]
can in any event safely commit the facts
to you for personal communication to
those friends who have taken 40 delicate
and SO considerate an interest ia 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 lS4S,
when l was but eighteen years Of age, l
first met the lady who for more than
,hirty-fonr years has been my wife. Our
acquaintance resulted, at the end Of ri <
months in an engagement, which, with.
out 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 in Kentucky and establish
myself elsewhere, l was suddenly sum-
moned to Pennsylvania by the death OF
my father. 1t being very doubtful if
could return to Kentucky, was threat
ened with an indefinite separation from
her who possessed my entire devotion.
My one wish was to secure her to myself
by an indissouble tic against every pos
sible contingency in life, and on the 3Oth
day Of June, 1850, just prior to my de-
parture from Kentucky, We we're, in the
presence Of chosen and trusted friends,
united by what | knew was in nv state
of Pennsylvania a perfect and fully
legal form Of marriage. On reaching
home found my family, and especially
my bereavei mother, strongly dis
my business plans as in
volving too long separation from home
and kindred. complied with her wish
that ! should resume, at least for time,
my occupation in Kentucky, whittier
returned in the latter part of August.
During the ensuing winter, induced by
which were increased by
legal consultations, / became alarmed
least doubt might be thrown upon the
of our marriage, by reason of
noncompliance 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 requisite
Of legal marriage. After much delib-
Grafton and with an ardent desire to
guard in the most effectual manner
against any possible embarrassment re-
'ulting from our position, for which I
alone was responsible, We decided that
he simplest and at the same time surest
way, was to repair tn Pennsylvania and
have another marriage service perform.
ed. This was done in the presence of
in the city Of Pittsburg in
he month of March. 1851, but was not
otherwise made public for obvious rea
sons. 1t was solemnized only to procure
IN indisputable validity, the first mar
rage being bv my wife and myself al
ways held sacred. At the mature age of
ifty-four / do not defend the wisdom or
prudence OF secret marriage, suggested
by the ardor and inexperience Of youth,
out its honor and its purity were inviao-
ate as l believe in the sight of God, and
cannot be made to appear otherwise by
he wicked devices Of men. 1t brought
70 me cowpanionship which has been
my chief happiness from boyhood's
years to this hour, and has crowned me
with whatever success l have attained
in life. NV eldest child, son, was born
in his grandmother's house on the 18th
day Of June, i85l, in the city of Augusta,
Me-, and died in her arms three years
later. His ashes repose in the cemetery
Of his native city, beneath stone which
recorded the name and the limits of his
innocent life. That stone, which had
stood for almost an entire generation,
has been recently defaced by brutal and
hands. As a candidate for
the presidency knew that l should en-
many forms Of calumny and
personal defamation, but confess did
not expect to be called upon to defend
the name of beloved and honored
wife, who is mother and grandmother,
nor did expect the grave of INV little
child would be cruelty desecrated.
Against such gross forms Of wrong the