The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-09-27
A BASE LIE NAILED.
A Letter from Mr.. Blaine that will Reach
the Hearts of the People.

Hon. William Walter Phelps, of New Jersey,
assumes the responsibility Of giving to the public
the following private ktter, which was addressed
to him upwards of two weeks ago, and which COM
pletely nails the base SANDER uttered some time
ago by the indianapolis Sentinel, and for the pub
LEGATION of which Mr.. Blaine has sued that paper
for libel:
AUGUSTA, September 9th 1884.
Ny Dear Mr.. Phelps: have your favor of the
4th, advising me that "the continuous invention
and wide circulation of evil reports render it ad-
visable lin your judgment) not to wait the slow
process of the law, but to speak directly to the
public in my own vindication." In this opinion
many others whose Judgment rely concur.
l shrink instinctively from the suggestion,
although feel sure could strengthen the conf
Deuce of all who felt friendly to me, by bringing
to view the simple thread of truth which is con-
cealed in this endless tissue of falshood. You can
imagine how inexpressibly 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 public to
Justify statement which otherwise might seem
Objectionable. can, in any event, safely commit
the facts to you for personal communication to
those friends who have taken so delicate and so
considerate interest in my affairs. The leisure
we wait only for the election, gives me the oppor-
tunity for this prompt reply and for the following
essential detais
At Georgetown, KY, in the spring of 1S4S,
when 1 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 engagement, which,
without the prospect of speedy marriage, we nat
urally sought to keep to ourselves. Two years
later, in the spring of $780, when was maturing
plans to leave my profession in Kentucky and
establish myself elsewhere, was suddenly sum-
moned to Pennsylvania by the death of my father.
1t being very doubtful if / could return to Ken
lucky, 1 was threatened with an indefinite separa-
ton from her who possessed my entire devotion.
Ny 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, lust
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, perfectly legal form of marriage.
On reaching home 1 found that my family, and
especially my bereaved mother, strongly discoun-
fenced my business plans, as involving too long a
separation from home and kindred. l 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, induced by misgivings under
new responsibilities --misgivings which were
increased by legal constitutional became alarm
ed lest doubt might be thrown upon the validity
of marriage, by reason of noncompliance
with the law of the state where it had occurred
for 1 had learned that the laws of Kentucky made
license, certified by the clerk OF the county court
an indispensable requisit of legal Marriage
After much deliberalion, and with an anxious
desire to guard in the most efectual manner
against any possible embarrassment resulting from
our position-for which alone was responsible
we decided that the simplest and at the same
time the surest way, was to 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 solemnzed only to secure an
indisputable validity-the first marriage being
by my wife and myself always held sacred. At
the mature age Of fifty -four 1 do not defend the
wisdom prudence of secret marriage, sug-
gested by the ardor and the inexperience of YOUTH
but its honor and its purity were inviolate, as 1
believe, in the sight Of God, and cannot be made
to appear otherwise by the wicked devices of men.
1t brought to me a companionship which has been
my chief happiness from boyhoods years to this
hour and has crowned me with whatever of sue
cess 1 have attained in life. My eldest child-a
son-was born in his grandmothers house on the
18th day June 1851, 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
a stone which recorded his name and the limits of
bis innocent life. That stone, which had stood
for almost an entire generation has been recently
defaced by brutal and sacriligous han is. As q
candidate for the Presidency, 1 knew that should
encounter many forms of calumny and personal
defamation; but confess that did not expect
to be called upon to defend the name of beloved
and hOnored wife, who is a mother and grand
mother, nor did I expect that the grave of my
little child would be cruelty 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 unspeakable
outrages which resist must be to the noble man
hood and the noble womanhood of America.
Your friend. verv sincerely.
JAMES G.. BLAINE.