Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-09-25
AUGUSTA. Sept. 6. 1884.

OF giving To the puOiIc the following prl-
vate letter addressed to him nearly two
weeks ago:
AUGUSTA, Sept. 6, 1854.
MY DEAR Mr. PnELPs-I have your
| foyor oT the 4Ln, ad gisIng me that the
continuous Invention and wide circua~
zion of evil reports render it advisable
in your judgmenD not to wait the slow
pruct sstS OF The law, but 10 speak di>
rectly to the public in my own rindica-
tion. In. this opinion many others on
whose judgment | rely concur. | shrink
lnStiuc lively from the suggestion, al
! ihough feel sure could ST eaghten the
confidence OF ali who feel friendly to
me, by bringing to view the simple
thread OF truth which IS concealed i'll
this endless tissue OF falSeh0Od. You
can imagine how iueXpressi6ly painful
it must be 10 discuss ones domestic
life in the press, although | think with
you that, under tue circumstances,
could count upon the generosity Of the
public to Justify "a statement which OH
erwise nigh be Objectionable. can in
any event safely commit the facts to
YOU for personal communication to those
! llICAIbo W tip ilehNN OO uV4iSoNV anu
so considerate AN interest in my affairs.
| The leisure hours of to-day, when our
cam paigu is ended, and We wait only
for the election, gives me an opportuni
" for this prompt reply, and for the
following essential details:
At GeurgetowD, Ky, in the spring of
1913, when / was buC eighteen years of
age, first met the lady who for more
than 81 years has been my wife. Our
acquaintance resulted at the end of six
months in an engagement, which, with>
out the prospect of d speedy marriage,
We naturally sought to keep to cur
selves. Two years later, in the spring
of 1850, when | was maturing plans to
leave my profession in Kentucky and
establish myself elsewhere, Was sud-
denly summoned to Pennsylvania by the
death OF my father 1t being very
doubtful if | could reurn to Kentucky,
| was threatened with an indefinite sep
aratiou from her who possessed my
entire devotion. Ny own wish was to
secure her to myself 10y all indiSsOluble
tie against every possible contingency in
life, and on the 30Ih day of June, 1850,
jnst prior TO my departure from Ken~
tucky, we were, in the presence of cho+
sen and trusted friends, united by what
| knew was in my native State of Penn
sylvania, a perfectly legal fol N of mar
riage.
On reaching home l found that my
family, and especially my bereaved
mother, strongly discountenanced my
business plans, as involving too long a
separation from home and kindred.
complied with her wish that | should
resume, at least for time, ny occupa-
ton in Kentucky, whittier | returned in
The latter part of August.
During The ensuing winter, induced
by misgivings which were increased by
legal consultations, | became alarmed
lest IA doubt might he thrown on the
validity of our marriage, by reason of
noncompliance with the law OF the state
when it Cured. for had learned that
the laws of Kentucky made license
certified by the Clerk OF the County
Court an Indispensable requis te of d
legal marriage. After much delibera+
lion, and With an anxious desire to guard
in the most effectual manner against
any possible embarrassment resulting
from our position, for which alone was
responsible, We decided that the Sim
pleSt and at the same tine the sureSt
way was TO repair to Pennsylvania and
have another marriage service perform
ed. L Is was done IN the presence of
witnesses. IN The city of Pittsburgh, in
the mouth ot March. 1851, but was not
otherwise made public, for obvious rea~
sous. 1t was SOlemHiZed only to secure
an indisputable validity, the first mar
riage being by my wife aud myself ais
ways held sacred.
At the mature age of "a | do not de-
fend the wisdom or prudence of d secret
marriage suggested 10y the ardOT and in
experience of youth, but It's honor and
its purity were inviulate as | believe in
the sight of God. and cannot be made to
appear otherwise 10y the wicked devices
OF men. Ii brought to me Il companionr
ship which has been my chief happiness
from DovhO IDS years TO this hour, ana
has crowned me with whatever of sue
cess have attained in life.
My eldest chid, son, was born in
his gf ndmoth-r's house. on the 18th
day of June 1851. in the city of Augusta
Maine, and died ~ her arms three years
later. His ashes TepOSe in the cemetery
OF his native city beneath Il stone which
recorded his name and the limits of his
innocent life. That stone, which had
stood for nearly ID generation, has re-
Gently been defaced by brutal and saeri-
leginus hands.
As candidate for the Presidency
knew that should encounter many
forms of calumny aud personal defa ma
ton, hut confess that | did not expect
to he called on TO defend the name of
beloved and h0nored wife. who is a
mother AID Il grandmother, nor did ex-
pect that the grave OF my little child
would be crnelly desecrated. Against
such gross forms of wrong the law gives
no adequate redress, and know that in
the end my most effective appeal against
the unspeakahle Outrages WHICH resist
must be 10 the noble manhood and no
bic womanhCol Of America
Your friend very sincerely,
4 IANES G., RTAINF