Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1880 — THE MOREY LETTER. [ARTICLE]

THE MOREY LETTER.

Address* of the National. Democratic Committee. , New York, Nov. 13. The Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee held a private meeting last evening, which was not over until nearly midnight. The members present were W. H. Barnum, Frederick O. Prince of Massachusetts, Abram S. Hewitt, William W. Armstrong of Ohio, and William L. Scott of Pennsylvania. Hiram Atkinson, Chairman of the Democratic State Committee of Vermont, acted as proxy for Bradley B. Smalley, of Vermont; Charles J. Cauda, Treasurer oi the National Committee, as proxy for Alvah W. Sulloway ; and William C. Whitney, Corporation Counsel of this city, as proxy for Outerbridge Horsey, of Maryland, Barnum presided. The committee issued the fallowing address : In response to inquiries the National Democratic Committee makes the following statement in reference to the so-called Morey letter : 1. Neither the committee nor any sub-com-mittee thereof has ever taken any action in reference to the letter. 2. It was first called to the attention of the Chairman of the committee on the night bes ore its publication in Truth on the 20th of October. 3. The Chairman thereupon requested Mr. Smalley, a member of the committee, to examine the letter, but permission to do no wan refused at the oilice of the Truth,. 4. No member of the committee ever saw the letter or any copy or portion thereo rntil after its publication, or was in any wise concerned therein, or gave any advice in reference thereto. 5. Hart, publisher ot Truth, brought the original letter to hcadquarti rs. No. 138 Fifth avenue, on the afternoon of the 20th of October, where it was seen for the first time by any member of the committee and other persons not members. All those who wi re familiar with the handwriting of Gen. Garfield came to tl conclusion that the letter w; s genuine. 6. The committee decided to purchase a reasonable number of electrotype plot, sol the facsimile, which had already been prepared by Truth,. 7. No denial having come from Gen. GarHeld of the authenticity of tho letter, notwithstanding the telegraphic demand ot the Nev. York Herald and a very sharp leader in that paper, the committee decided to give out the electrotype plates, which was accordingly done. The propriety of this action was not doubted by the committee, as the letter seemed to be m harmony with Gen. Garfield’s vi- ws upon the subject, covered by a letter gathered from the public records, Of undoubted genuineness. 8. The first complete demal was not published until four days after the original publication in Truth, and to this denial, unsupported by any other evidence, the committee, in view of Gen. Garfield’s connection with other scandals, attached no weight. 9. Therefore, when evidence was offered to show that Morey was areal person, and not v myth, the committee called lor its production, as’ they were bound to do, in order to arrive at the truth. 10. if the letter had been forged, or any fraud committed in reference thereto, or any false evidence been given, it has been done without the knowledge, consent, or privity of the committee, or any member thereof. Finally, the committee approves of all honest measures to punish any and ail persons who have committed any violation of law, and have rio interest in this matter but to arrive at the very truth of the affair. That there should Lie doubt as to the authenticity of the letter is largely due to the failure of the prosecution to put Gen. Garfield on the stand. [See eighth paragraph.] Wm. H. Barnum, Chairman. By order of the committee. Frederick O. Prince, Secretary. A resolution was passed tendering the thanks of the committee to W. H. Barnum, Chairman, to the Advisory Committee, and to the ofiicers of the committee for the efficient and faithful manner in which they performed their respective duties.