New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-27
NOT rHE C0NNIrTEL,S EACLE


The Boston AducriiScr Of February % pub
lished a special Geographic communication
from Burlington. Vermont. dated February p,
III which occurred the following remarkable
statement:
able 10 contradict the report which has been 80
indusriousy circulated in Vermont to Mr., Edmundss
injury, that he refused to speak for the Republican
ticket during the last Presidential campaign The truth
is he offered hrs services speaker TO the Re
publican National Committee, unasked at the same
time frankly telling them OF the existence OF certain
written statements by him the spring OF 1850
them to say whether, In vie" OF the prob
ability that those statements would be made public, II
was prudent for him to make any addresses The Com
mttee decided not, and that the reason, and
the sole reason why Mr.. Edmunds did not take more
active part the campaign Mr. Elmunds did not sulk
in his tent" us has been alleged lie earnest for the
success Of the Republican ticket and voted for 1t on
election day Buttne National Committee decided that
it was not that should speak account OF
his unfavorable opinion of Mr.. Blaine written in 1850.
which in the hands of a third party
There was a general assumption on the part
of the press of the country that TINS statement
originated in the Office OF The Burlington Free
Press. The Free Press, known as the organ Of
Mr. Edmunds quoted it from The Adrer' Ser,
ard had indeed preceded it with limitations to
the same effect-causlng it thus TO be under
stood that this explanation OF Mr. EdmundS'S
declining to speak was to be accepted as au-
thentic aud conclusive. As 1t must have fallen
under Mr.. Edmunds's observation, his silence
gave it an apparent personal sanction.
The fact thus announced, If it were fact
was SO important, not to say extraordinary,
that we determined to investigate 1t
with special care and thOrOughness.
There was but one authoritative source
from which 1t could be corroborated
OF conclusively dIsproved, and that was the
National Republican Committee. On examina
ton of the files of That Committee left IN the
custody of B. F. Jones, esq, of Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania-widely known as an hOnOra bic
and Conscientious gentleman-we find the fol-
lowing +
On the 18th of July (18S4) Mr.. Jones, as
chairman of the National Committee, wrote to
Mr.. Edmunds inviting him to address Repub-
lican meeting III Notwithstanding in appro-
pirate terms on the importance of speech
from Mr.. Edmunds at that early period of the
Presidential campaign. Five days later, Mr..
Edmunds sent the following reply. 1t was
written in the hand of another, but was signed
by Mr.. Edmunds himself and the word "pri-
vate" was written over it in Mr.. Edmundss
vate" was specially observed by the Commit
tee, from the fact that Mr.. JOness letter was
written officially as chairman and on the Official
paper of the Committee. Here is an exact copy
of Mr.. Edmunds's note -
BURLINGTON, "a July, 1854
DEAR sIR-Privste-
Ihave yours OF the 9th inst requesting me TO attend
political meeting and speak at Brooklyn at the end of
this month regret my condition is sneh that IL is
mpractcable for me TO engage In ahy political work
so stated the gentlemen OF the Congressional and
National COMMITTEES before left there.
Very truly yours, GEORGE F. EDMUNDs.
b. F. JONES, Esq,
PAP Flfthave,
New-York
The reference made TO his condition" by
Mr.. Edmunds was at first interpreted by the
National Committee as assigning the state Of
his health as the reason for declining to speak,
and while the circumstance suggested regret,
no other significance was attached to it.
short time afterward. 1t being ascertained
that Nj. Edmunds was in his usual condition of
health, the National Committee sent personal
friend and political supporter of the Vermont
Senator to see him at his home in Burlington
and earnestly request that he would make a
speech for the Republican cause. Mr. Edmunds
again declined.
A few weeks after this unsuccessful errand,
Mr.. Edmunds was in the City Of NewYOrk In
connection with the telepho case in which he
is or was counsel. AS he appeared to be- in
excellent health, the National Committee dis
patched another personal friend TO call on the
/SeuatOr and request hum to speak at some