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4i: WEDNESDAY. APRIL 9. . BEK6S kJS T-AT-AR1IS K. J. BKIGHT. For some time past the papers hay teemed with the old slander manufactured for par tisan purposes against R. J. Bright, who was incontrovertaoly shown to be innocent of ail wrong-doing. The following letter - from Senator McDonald.'which comes to us by due course of mail, settles the question: ; Ukitkd States Sksatb Chamber, Wawjisgtos, April 2, 1879. J The nomination and election of Mr. R. J. Bright as sergeant-at-arms of the Senate of the United States having revived In some of the partisan press of the coon try the stale slander In regard to his action as public printer In In diana, and a garbled and false statement of the judicial Investigations having appeared in cer tain "leading Journals, including the Inter-Ocean of Chicago, it Is due to the public, as one of his counsel then and one of his senatorial friends now, I should make a brief reference to the facts oatof which this slander originated. The suit and prosecutions referred to in these pub lications were instigated through bitter parti san feeling, engendered in a newspaper con troversy between the Indianapolis Sentinel and Journal the former being the Democratic organ, then owned by Mr. Bright, and the lat ter belngthe Republican, organ and were grounded on Mr. Brlght's action as State printer in the purchase of paper for the use of the State, in which Mr. Bright had followed the usage that had obtained and been practiced for more than ten years before he came into office. The first trial upon the indictment, owing to the extreme partisan feeling that had been engendered and the partisan character of the jury, witnout an examination of the State printer's books and accounts, resulted in a disagreement. The second trial, which fol lowed as soon as the defendant could obtain It, when the books and accounts of the State printer were brought into court, and fit his request and with his concurrence were fully examined, resulted in his immediate acquittal. The following letter of the Hon. A. U. Porter refers to the last named trial: . ' Hon. J. E. McDonald: Mr Bkak Sir I remember very well the case of the State against Richard J. Bright, in which I was one of the counsel for the State and you for the defendant. The case was tried upon its merits, and a verdict rendered, after a brief retirement of the jury, for the defend ant. Mr. Bright, according to my recollection, " met the case boldly, and did not strive to withhold anything that would throw light upon the transactions involved. The trial make a good impression in favor of Mr. Bright. I can say frankly of Mr. Bright that he has many friends in the Republican party, as well as his own party, who wish hlui well. Yours very truly, A. (i. Porter. In the meantime a civil action had been brought against Mr. Bright to recover the amount charged by him for the State paper. Colonel Norman E3dy, Democratic secretary of state, held that the state printer was the legal custodian of the State paper. He died suddenly in January, 1872, pending these suits. Hon. Conrad Baker, Republican governor of the State, appointed Colonel Farquer.a leading Republican, to succeed Mr. Eddy. Then, on consultation with the governor, it was decided that the secretary of state, and not the state printer, was the legal custodian of the paper. On receiving notice to that effect, the state printer tendered all of the State paper to the secretary, and after it had been examined and counted by disinterested experts, selected by . the secretary, and found to be correct, it was received by him ; and thereupon, by the advice of the governor, the secretary of state ordered the civil suit to he dismissed without cost to Mr. Bright. This ended the judicial proceed ings. The prosecution closed in February, 1872. In March, 1872, upon the first settlement of ac counts between Mr. Bright and the State, the latter paid the former $9,555.50, as the State record shows, a part of said amount being due wnen the proceedings against him were in stituted, and the balance having accrued dur ing the pendency of the suits. These facts are In my knowledge, because I was of counsel for Mr. Bright from the beginning of the suits to their ending. At the succeeding Legislature, it being Re publican, the accounts of Mr. Bright as state printer were fully investigated, and be was ex onerated, and the action of the jury and the State officials, fully justified and approved. Since that time no resident of Indiana of any respectability, so far as I know, has ever at- tiibuted to him anything wrong in connect ion with these matters. Last year Mr. Bright was a candidate for sheriff of Marion conn ty , the most desirable office in the State, and although there were several popular candidates for the nomination, he was nominated almost by ac clamation. In the canvass an effort was made to revive this same old slander, and notwith standing he was opposed by one of the most popular men ln the Republican party, who was a candidate for re-election, ana who had the aid not only of his party organization, out the power and influence of the office, Mr. Bright ran about 700 votes ahead of his party. In his late canvass for the office of sergeant-at-arms, he had not only the bjarty support of my colleague and myself, bnt of every Repre sentative in Congress from Indiana, both Re publicans and Democrats. Very truly. J. E. McDokald. - TEE FUST PLACE FOB THOMAS A, HEN DRICKS. The New York Evening Express very kindly takes Mr. Henry Watterson to task for intimating that . the next presidential ticket will be, as in 1S76, Tilden and Hen drictsl The Courier Journal man is' pro nounced "impulsive," who "often says ill- conaidered and unwise things" a man who '"has an unfortunate : penchant 'for going off half cocked,' as it were." As a matter of course, such a man is quite likely, as the Express pats it, to make "unwise, 'impolitic and premature suggestions." The Courier-Journal ticket assigns Mr. Hendricks the second . place on it, and upon this point the Express puts itself on record as follows:. "Thomas A. Hendricks is one of ' the ablest lawyers in the 'West - He distinguished himself in Congress by his talents, his fair nees, bis wisdom and - his' 'moderation.' '' He commanded the respect of his opponents In that body by the weight and purity of his character and the sagacity of bis views. " He - was one of the best governors'1 Indiana has ever had. In that office he displayed re markable executive power. He made a host of friends and no enemies, by his high minded, honorable course. He has the unl renal respect of the people of his State, and of the whole West for that matter. In many points he resembles Abraham Lincoln, espe cially in his honesty, his frankness and candor, his grip on the common people, his love of justice, his profoundsympathy with the masses. He was one of the leading candidates for the nomination in the Democratic convention in 1876. It was with the greatest difficulty that he was pre vailed upon by his friends to accept the nomination for the vice presidency. ,- He made great sacrifice of personal interest And feeling by cocsfrottog to serve asthf' second manv After his homination, through all the campaign in which he had a profound personal interest, In the protracted and In tensely exciting contest which followed the election, he was virtually ignored by tilden and Tilden's confederates, treated as though he had no part or lot in the matter, neg lected and pushed aside as -though he were a nobody. His name was hardly ever men tioned by Tilden and his understrappers. He was left out in the cold by the wily and selfish manoeuverer who had managed to get himself at the head of the ticket, before he was counted out by the electoral commis sion, about which he was not consulted. Sir. Hendricks has at least ordinary self respect. He will be likely to think twice before he consents to act as second man on any ticket headed by Samuel J. Tilden. Mr. Henry Watterson's flint-lock has flashed in the pan. "Three Democrats stand prominently be fore the country to-day as candidates for the presidency Mr. Bayard, of Delaware; Mr. Thurman, of Ohio, and Mr. Hendricks, of Indiana. They are able, honorable men. The country would indeed be fortunate to secure the services of either one of them as president. Other things being equal, the next candidate of the Democracy should be a Western man. Between Senator Thurman and ex-Governor Hendricks It would be very hard indeed to choose. But Mr. Hendricks has one claim to the nomination which Mr. Thurman can not urge, in the fact that for the sake of the party and to strengthen a weak ticket he consented to take the second place when fairly entitled to the first place in 1S76, and was counted out of the vice presidency, to which he was fairly elected. If he is drafted into the service again it must not be as the second man." The views expressed by our New York co temporary are manifestly in'.' harmony with the sentiments of the great body of the people South and West, and it is not too much to say that in the East Mr. Hendricks would command a larger Democratic vote than any other name mentioned in connec tion with the first place on the ticket. At any rate it is well enough to state tbat the Courier-Journal ticket which places Mr. Hendricks second, is not endorsed by the Democracy anywhere. STATE ITEMS. Franklin has three poultry dealers. OwensVille, Gibson county, wants a pub lic hall. Dunkirk has a new paper called the Banner. The Dubois Agricultural society is to be reorganized. ' Columbus children are now aSected with scarlet fever. ' " The -Vincennes Presbytery meets at Sul livan to-morrow. V" There are 470 members of the Blue-ribbon club at Hazel ton. The Fort Wayne Presbytery meets at Warsaw on the 15 th. The country youth has laid aside his school books to manipulate the plow. , The Jasper Normal sohoel special term opens April 7 and clo3es May 30. The Gibson county Agricultural society have issued their premium list for their next fair. . . , . . There is to be a concert at Fort Wayne soon in which 75 little children will take part. Black bass that weigh from three to five pounds each are being caught in the lakes near Warsaw, - . A dozen of 120 grains of arsenic taken with intent, failed to kill a Newcastle barber named Kennedy. , The first house built in Princeton has just been pulled down to make room for a modem structure. The ticket office at Warsaw was entered by burglars on Friday nieht, and robbed of $100 and a large number of railroad tickets. Delphi Times: It is said that a well known young man who had been invited to his own wedding has gone hence, perhaps to Lead ville. The store room of Leib Brothers, at Goshen, was closed Friday upon an execution. The liabilities of the firm are $12,000; assets, $20,000. Stephen Martz, of Evansvillc, sues another citizen of that secluded burg, named Fidel Hofnian, for $30,000 damages for calling him a thief and swindler. Fanhy Goldsbury, of Crawfordsville, has begun suit against Andrew J. McMaher, for seduction, claiming $5,000 damages. Mo Maher is wealthy, and the suit may be a blackmailing affair. The board of county commissioners of Morgan county has offered a reward of $500 for the murderers of Wash Brown who was murdered at his home in Green township, Morgan county, a few weeks ago. , A large number of citizens of Carlisle hare been summoned to appear before the grand Jury to testiTy in regard to the case of T. W. Aydelote & Bros., druggists, who are accused ot selling an immense amount of whisky by the drink. , The L., N. A. and TV railroad company's large depot and office at Weatville were de stroyed by. fire Friday. 'About all of the company's property was saved, but the agent occupied a part of the building as a residence and lost about everything he had in it. . Three weeks ago Henry Csblentz, a prom inent German citizen ot Hartsville, while asleep was bitten by a wharf rat. The bite began to grow painful and became swollen. From his hand and arm the swelling soon spread to his body: By the time tbe phy sicians arrived the -unfortunate man's body was swollen to almost twice its ordinary size and he was sunering intense pain. Siace it has been decided by the county commissioners that the old court house at Franklin, Johnson county, is unsafe and unfit for further use, and tbat a new struc ture must be erected at once, a determined effort is to bs made to try to bring about the removal of the county seat 'from Fianklin to Edinbure. A subscription of $25,000 has been secured. A bitter controversy has sprung up between the rival to wds. General Packard, Colonel Baugh, Chief of Police Ruby and Bevenue Collector Calve Friday captured an illicit distillery at' La fayette, and arrested the distiller, Valentine Jester. The concern was iocs tea in nation's beer ararden. in the southern Dart of the city, in an out-of-the-way place, Inclosed by a high board fence, and shaded by numerous trees. - The kettle is of copper, and holds about 30 gallons. Instead of a spiral copper worm he improvised a square-jointed tin worm, incased in a barrel. Cole or charcoal was the fuel used ia the fanuoe. GEORGE D. Pit ENTICE. A Thrilling Chapter Out of the Past Political History of Kentucky, Colonel J. Stoddard Johnston's Acsonnt of the Negotiations for the Control ; of the Old Louisville Journal. An Overwhelming Vindication of the Meino . ry of the Iead Journalist The . Late George W. Johnson. Special to the Courier-Journal.. Frankfort, . Ky., April 4. To-morrow's Frankfort Yoemaa will, contain the 'follow ing intensely interesting article from the pen of Colonel J. Stoddard Johnston, secre tary of state: In my absence from Kentucky for several weeks past I have seen, in various papers, reference to a choree which has been made in some quarters to the effect that, in the early part of the war, George D. Prentice had been' bribed with $50,000 in gold to throw the influence of his paper, the Louisville Journal, on the Confederate side; that he receivrd the money and en deavored to carry out his part of the contract; that he wrote as, article of the character desired, which was put in type and about to go to press, when the clerk. Mr. Calvert, notified Paul R. Shipman, of the editorial staff, who suppressed the arti cle, and without the knowledge of Mr. Prentice, wrote and substituted a loyal arti cle in its stead, which placed the Journal on the side of the Union and saved Kentucky I have not seen the various articles which have appeared, either in support or attempt ed confutation of the charge, and regret that my absence has prevented me from sooner discharging a duty which impels me now to show wherein the charge seems to me unjust to the memory of Mr. Prentice. I have seen but fragmentary statements, and know not upon whose authority tbe charge is made. In what, therefore, I shall write, I desire to be understood as seeking to impugn no one's veracity, but simply to give the evidence which happens to be in my possession. I do not desire controversy; I wish merely to es tablish the truth. I shall endeavor to be as brief as possible, although the handling of a subject involving so many collateral points will require some preliminary explanation and amplification. When, shortly after the firing on Sumter, Mr. Lincoln issued bis proclamation calling for troops, no man in Kentucky ventured to applaud the policy of coercion. There was a strong Union feeling in the State, but on everv side the expression against the attempt to whip the Southern States into subjection was unequivocal. The doctrine of an armed neutrality was proposed by Mr. Crittenden, and from being urged most strongly by the leaders of Union sentiments, was taken up and indorsed by the Southern Rights party, until Kentucky was apparently not only united among her people in a policy which promised peace, but which it was claimed bad tbe sanction and guarantee of both beliger ents. It was of course delusive, and the mid dle of September witnessed both beligerents with a strong foothold on her soil, and the State in a fair way to be ground beneath the upper and nether millstone. Some of the Union leaders began early to prepare in se crecy for itsoverthrow, while the most philo sophic Southern men becoming satisfied that it could only end in disaster, began to look out for some more permanent basis for peace. Among these was George W. John son, of Scott county, Kentucky, a farmer of professional education, who, having several times served in the Legislature, announced early his determination never to fill an office of profit, and declined nominations for lieutenant governor and for Congress the latter frequently, lie was a man of great purity of character and larga culture, with abilities which would have made him con spicuous in any station. He was thoroughly domestic in his tastes, of no military am bition, a non-eombatant irom having, by an accident, lest the use of one of his arms, and, though a man of practical turn in business affairs, was essentially speculative in states manship, a doctrinaire in politics, a zealous Democrat, intensely Southern in his views, and with remarkable personal magnetism. He soon became convinced of the magni tude of the war before us, and its danger to tbe liberties of the whole country, unless checked early. The main expedient on which he relied was negotiation and peace able separation, establishing two confeder acies, upon tbe basis of free trade and alli ance, offensive and defensive. Having been In close association with him at the time, I knew his views well, and having his papers In my possession, I speak with documentary authority before me of his action looking to the practical adoption ot uiaidsas. Me sought the co-operation of such men as he thought would give strength to their execution, and, among others, George D. Prentica. Prior to seeking Prentice, he wrote a letter July 2, 1861, to Hon. 5. F. Robinson, ot Georgetown, afterward governor of Kentucky during part of tbe war, a warm friend tbeugh political opponent, urging him to throw the weight of his great influence in this direction. A copy of this letter in his handwriting is be fore me. Its length precludes its insertion. Besides, it is rendered unnecessary from its similarity in argument to that to Prentice given farther on. I refer to it to show the general scope ot Mr. Johnson's efforts. A few days thereafter he went to Rich mond, in company with Colonel George Hancock, of Louisville, and submitted to J President Davis a proposition that commis sioners should be sent to Washington to pro pose peaci on the same terms The copy of the letter to Mr. Davis, with the formal sag gestions and arguments in the handwriting of Mr. Johnson, is also before me. What success he mat with in this does not appear; but it is known that he was received by tbe authorities at Richmond with every mark ot distinction and confidence. He returned to Kentucky, reaching Louis ville about tbe 21st of July, and, ha vine known George D. Prentice well for a long time, though politically opposed to him. conceived the idea of endeavoring to enlist him in advocating the same views proposed to Hon. Jas. F. Robinson. He confided his DurDose to Colonel Hancock and Colonel A. Keene Richards. It was well known that Mr. Prentice was an improvident man in money matters, and an obstacle was at once presented as to . his abil ity to control the Louisville Journal, which was owned by tbe firm of Prentice, Hender son & Oiboi'ne. Besides not being sole owner of the Journal, Mr. Prentice was known to be involved in debt. It was therefore deemed proper by these gentlemen, in considering the embarrassments by which Mr. Prentice was hedged, to remove whatever financial obstacles might militate against securing the influence of Mr. Prentice and the Journal. I became aware of all these facts a few days after the precise date of which I speak, being at that time the near neighbor and daily companion of George W. Johnson.. But, in in addition, I will state that within the past week I have specially visited Colonel A. Keene Richards, now residing near George town, the only survivor of the Immediate parties to ibis conference, who confirms me in all my statements, and as far as he U mentioned, makes my narrative his own. George W. Johnson drew- up the formal proposition, the original of which, in his handwriting, 1 have in my possession, and is as follows: '"..: , IStricUy Confidential. George D. Prentice, Esq., Louisville, Ky.: . DeaSir You have long since expressed the opinion that the Southern States could not, and should not, be subdued by arms. If their subjugation it Impossible and wrong, this war should not be sustained, aniens it Is a war of defense by the "United States." In the Southern States the idea of waging war, ex cept In self-defense, is not even talked of, and he who would advocate a war for the subjuga tion of the North would be scouledaa a fool. The terms on which-the Southern Confederacy desire peace 'are tbe anion of the 15 slave Stares, and their Independence as a Southern "Confederacy." For such recognition by the United States they will con cede, a condition to stand forever, to wn: Reciprocal free trade between the two nations In the produets of each. Inothej words, the "United States" shall Import into the "Southern Confederacy "all of its product, free of duty, and In like manner the Southern Confederacy shall Import Into the United Stiatea Its products, free of duty. This will leave each Government to lay Its own tariffs, exempting the products ot each, reciprocally, from such tariffs. - - Such pterins of peace would be materially beneficial, and highly calculated to produce a kind feeling between the two sections; would give to Northern manufacturers tbe full ad vantage of the Southern tariff, and to South ern sugar, wool, hemp and provisions the ad vantage of the Northern tariff. It would obvi ate all the difficulties as to the navigation of the Mississippi and its tributaries, and a long line of inland custom houses. If there is any obstacle In the way of vour advocating these positions, in the ownership of the stock of the Journal, I will furnish In 10 days. In New Orleans, o,000 in gold to pur chase that amount of its stock. If no such dtlncnlty as this exists, but others involving personal obligation and responsibility on your part to party or friends, I will In like time 10 days pay to you in gold S25,U00, to be disposed of by you without question on my part, in any way yon wish, us your absolute property, so as to secure your release from all personal obligations Interfering with the advocacy of these measures by you. " In this contest our friends have fully em barked not only their lives, but their proper ty, and consider that your influence is the only thing now needed to secure a union of parties in Kentucky, and that opinions held and expressed by you frequently heretofore offer no Impediment to this arrangement. We think that the advocacy by you of such terms of adjustment as are desired by tbe South will prevent a sec rl flee, on our part, of a large amount of property, and prevent a civil war between citizens of the State. If you accept either of these terms, the con ditions, on my part, will be performed with the perfect conviction that we will have thus sec a red the union of all good men in Ken tucky, and that you will thus become the agent of heralding to the whole nation accept able, honorable and mutually advantageous terms of peace. Very respectfully, your obdl ent servant. Georof w. Johnson. P. S. I;have for some time been absent from home, and wish to return to my family as soon as possible, and would be glad to have your decision as early as possible. The South will only propose peace after victory. Now is the time to act. - CJ. W. J. July 2i. 1861. - .'. . It will be observed that this was written on the day it was knoirn tbat the battle of Manassas was a victory to the South, which will explain the nature of the postscript. At first it was proposed to submit the written proposition alone; but Mr. Richards says that George W. Johnson, in his characteristic way, said he would go to Prentice in person; and though it was then nearly 11 o'clock, he, accompanied by Richards, went to Mr. Prentice's private office in the Journal building, where they found htm. The inter view is described as one of great interest and earnestness. George W. Johnson did not visit Prentice for the purpose of bribing him, and Prentice did not regard it in that light. It was tbe act ot an earnest, peace loving citizen, who seemed to have pro phetic vision ot the terrible struggle im pending, in which he lost his own life, and who was striving to bring all the best agen cies to bear for the accomplishment of peace upon terms which he believed would be advantageous and honorable to both sections. The end in view was all to him, and was his main object; the matter of money was tbe mere incident, which he regarded as neces sary to enable Prentice to control his paper. There was nothing sordid in the offer, he being a man incapable of becoming an in strument or agent for corrupting any one. It will be seen that his appeal Is an elevated one, similar in tone, and identical almost in line of argument to that addressed to his friend Robinson, whom he held in the lofti est esteem, and to whom he would not have made a proposal, the acceptance ot which would have compromised him in his own estimation or that of his friends. In fact, in looking back upon tbe events passing at the time ot which 1 write, we are apt to forget that there had then never been any public expressions of a positive, unconditional Union sentiment in Kentucky. No one, not even the Journal, had ever spoken of the Federal army as "our array. ' Not a Union soldier had ever been recruited on Kentucky soil. Horace Greeley had said, "Let our Southern sisters depart in peace. - Even such men a James Speed, afterward attorney genesal, had lately issued an address, an nouncing their adherence to tbe doctrine ot neutrality, and declaring that, while Ken tucky would take no part in the war, but endeavor to command tbe peace be tween tbe sections, as soon as it became evident that it was Mr. Lincoln's purpose to subjugate the South, or make it a war for the abolition of slavery, she would promptly nnsheath her sword for the South. This was the nearest approach to Unionism to wnicn public utterance had been given, though a few men like Garrett Davis, Gen eral William Nelson and General Rousseau were in secret communication with Mr. Lin coln, with a view to recruiting troops and the ultimate occupation of the State. While, therefore, everybody was advocat ing neutrality the Southern sympathizers because it was, as Mr. Davis said, worth more than 60,000 soldiers to the Confederacy, since it protected 700 miles ot border, and gave Tennessee and the States South time to arm, and the Northern because it proved a tem porary check to secession, and offered the only possible hone of saving Kentucky to tbe North at a critical time, when her acces sion to the South would have turned the scale it is not at all strange tbat a tnan like George ' W. Johnson should make such a proposition as the one submitted, or tbat rrenuce,or any one acting with him, should give it a respectful hearing. Prentice dis cussed tbe matter in all its bearings with great seriousness: be feared that secession meant war beyond any remedy except auomiseion or conquest, fie could see no hops in two " Confederacies. ; Johnson was fresh from Richmond, and sketched the determination which prevailed there, and cited the victory just won to show tbe power of the South to win her independence, as also the danger of conquest or prolonged war if hostilities were not terminated on the basis proposed. Breckinridge was still in the Senate; but Mr. Johnson confided to Prentice his belief that he would unite his fortunes with the South, and that Kentucky would follow Virginia. This was held out as a strong -incentive to promt action, as it was noMesirable to have Kentucky divided in sentiment, and his (Prentice's) going would unite all the elements and give her great influence by unity. Prentice, who was always fond of Breckinndee. - and admired him greatly, was outspoken in condemning sucn proDaoio action as thus foreshadowed fey his friend. He contended that Breckinridge had a vast power for good in staying the war, bnt should wield it for a restoration of the Union, and' not its dismemberment; but, withal, spoke so tenderly and adminnzlv of him. that it, being afterwards repeated to him, served as tire key-note in explaining tbe devotion and friendship shown by him to Prentice's son, who afterward served with him, as well as of the friendship between Prentice and himself, which was not broken during their lives, and of which they bad the opportunity, annng the war, to give mutual evidence. . The conference lasted several hours, and Johnson left with little or no encourage meat. Mr. Richards avers, and it comports zany wun niy recollections as tola me few days afterwards, that while Mr. Prentice listened respectfully to the arguments of Mr. Johnson, there was no abatement of his con victions as held antagonistic to those ot Mr. Johnson. The latter, with the earnestness which was part of his nature, begged tbat he would not suddenly, or without matured thought, give a final answer, but take time, and they parted. There was no further in terview; but I have in my possession three autographic letters, written by George D. Prentice, in reference to this fubject, which came into my possession shortly after being received by George W. Johnson, and have been carefully preserved by me since as historical documents. The first is in pencil, without date, but written several days after the interview, and sent to Mr. Johnson while he was still in Louisville. It reads as follows: v My Dka Sir I have been sick In bed ever since 1 saw you. Tis, of course. Impossible for me to say now anything beyond what I have said. I shall always be bappj to see you, but can not leave my room. Your friend, . O. D. P. The second was sent by mail, and is writ ten in ink, as follows: , . ' LouisviLLk, Ang. 4, 1S6L My Dear Sir I have not been able to at tend to any sort of business since 1 saw you. I am confined in a darkened room. My eyes are very badly inflamed. 1 do not seem to my self to be Improving. Tbe doctor encourages me to hope, however, that I shall be out soon. Ever your friend, Geo. D. Prentice. , The third and last letter, which, I claim, vindicates Mr. Prentice from the charge with which his memory has been aspersec, was addressed to "General Geo. W. John son, . Payne's Depot, Scott county, Ken tucky," near which place he resided, and the envelope, which, together with the let ter itself, is before me as I write, is post marked Louisville, August 13, 1801. it was t?ken by me out of the post office-under the ollowing circumstances: The receipt of the two preceding communications, without a positive declination from Mr. Prentice, led Mr. Johnson to hope that he might yet yield to his argument, and tbat the Journal might take sides with the South. I went to the depot on the morning of the 13th of August, as I bad in several preceding days, hoping to find this change in the Journal. On the day mentioned I found the letter in the post office for Mr. Johnson, which, on taking to him, he read and handed to me: Confidential.! " ' Louisviio-e, Aug. 12, 18GL Mr Dear Sir During my confinement in my sick room, which I left this morning for the first time, 1 reflected calmly, and tried to reflect deeply, upon the suggestions you have made to me. I do not know that in war the Union can possibly be restored. If I knew that It could not, I should certainly take the course you recommend, but I have some hope that it can, and upon this hope I feel bound in conscience to act. This may ruin me politically and per sonally, but that matters little. In tha Journal of to-morrow morning, which I shall order sent to you, you will find an ex presslon of the views I think myself bound to endeavorto enforce. If at any future time I conclude with you that there Is no earthly chance of the South's coming back In war, 1 shall advocate the rcognltlon of Southern in dependence, but in doing this I shall feel little else than despair for what I bave ever regard ed as the most blessed country on earth. At some future time I may take your counsel, but for the present my course is taken. Sincerely, yonr friend, Geokoh D. Prentice. I am familiar with the handwriting of Mr. Prentice having seen him write, and corre sponded with him, and know tbat these are autographic letters. Accompanying this last letter wa a copy, of the Louisville Journal of the 13th ad dressed to Mr. Johnson: and the article re ferred to was a leader of more than a column in length. Long as it is, I regret tbat the scope of my letter will not admit of its re production, since, read in connection with the proposition of Mr. Johnson above given. it is the cap stone in my argument in Mr. rrentice's vindication. It is in his strongest style, and is a direct reply to the arguments advanced by Mr. Johnson in favor of two confederacies, and in full keeping with the earnest spirit which characterizes his last letter. No one but George D. Prentice could have written such an article, and its context bore such internal evidence of his author ship in the unmistakable response which it contained to the pending propositions for a peaceful settlement ot the w.t- that it would bave been recognized as Prentice's even without his letter announcing its authorship. I well remember the day and the impression produced upon us by the decision announced in the letter and the article. Previous to that the Journal was for neutrality, and we had hope that it might yet be with us. Now we realized tbat its . whole power would be hopelessly against us. Others might doubt, but we knew that Prentice's resolu tion was irrevocably taken. It is my delib erate conviction that upon his decision hung the fate of Kentucky, and much as I de piored his course then and afterward, 1 am unwilling to bave tbeof his merit act de nied. He may nave been so given at times to convivauty as to require that his manu script should be revised or his articles scru tinized, but no tnan read bis letaer of tbe 12 th of August, 1861, which we have given above, and believe tbat, drunk or sober, be ever pursued a line inconsistent with the sentiments thus expressed. We who read in them the knell of our hopes for a united Kentucky could feel only admiration for the man who, calmly surveying his duty, and knowing that his sons and his oldest and best friends were ranged on the side of the South, could defy political and personal ostracism for tbe sake of conscience. The manliness ot that letter, and the earnestness of conviction which marked tbe article in question, gave new views of Mr. Pren tice s character. Before, 1 knew him only as the - partisan editor, the witty : paragraphia t, tbe genius whose excesses in wine expelled the thought of all moral grandeur, flat this was an exhibition of manhood which compelled cay admiration, and though in the long years of the war 1 felt that but for him we who were exiles from Kentucky, in the Confeder ate army, would have had a different fate, I never forgot the brave and touching words in which he announced tbat with him the die was cast. And therefore it is tbat it grates harshly upon me to hear his name coupled with dishonor, and to find tbe world ready to accept the idle story which has found such wide currency and such ready belief. And hence, rebel though I was, I write this letter in his defense. 1 should bave preferred to have taken more time and deliberation from cares rendered more ex acting from the fearful tiagedy just enacted in our midst, to study events and go over papers which are now getting old, but I prefer to let the promptness of my reply plead for its other defects. Familiar with Mr. Prentice by sight, from my earliest boy hood, and a reader of the Journal from youth till his death, I first knew him by corre spondence during the war, when he wrote by flag of truce to thank me for courtesies shown his wife during ber vnucs tnrougn toe line to see her son, on both of which occa sions I escorted her with a flag on ber re turn. After the war, when I returned to Kentucky and became the editor ot the Yeoman, to find him a Democratic editor, I became well acquainted with him,, and re ceived evidences of his friendship which I am only too glad to repay. I conclude this letter with the- following extract 'rom the Journal of tbe 10th day ot April, 1862, being Mr. Prentice's obituary of George W. Johnson, who fell at Shiloa on the 7th., bearing a musket as a privste in the Fourth Kentucky regiment, although at the time provisional governor of Kentucky, and entitled, had be chosen it, to a high military rank. His death proved the earnestness of his convictions, and the sincerity with which he followed them; while the narrative here given will throw some light upon the senti ments which inspired Prentice to write of him as he did: . ' . . - - George W. Johnson, the provisional gover nor of Kontaeky, ia dead. He was a rebel In arms, and be deserved bis fate. But we have a kind regret for him. We knew him well, and we cherished for hire tne highest personal regard. , He was noble, generous and chlvalriQ. Terribly was he deluded, but we have a heart tear for him. George W. Johnson did indeed die rebel In arms, sealing with his life the convictions which he held in common with the boats of his countrymen who fell at Shiloh and . the innumerable battlefields of tbe war; and history will yet do justice to the love of lib erty and free government which led him to offer np his life as a sacrifice to principle. He at least demonstrated to Mr. Prentice that the propositions that he submitted for his consideration were, in his opinion, worth dying for. But had he lived and returned to Kentucky after the war, he would bave found himself not the only rebel, but that Prentice, and Garrett Davis, and Rousseau, and Bramletto, and nearly all the promi nent Union men who differed with him in the beginning of the war were classified ae rebels at its close. George D. Prentice sleeps in Cave HfU cemetery, in a grave without a monument. While all over tha mnntrr mrm mtetnam nrt obelisks and stately columns erected to men VhA hiklrwMl . H TTnlAn TV were erected to him in proportion to the ser- 1 vices he did in this direction, future genera tions would have no occasion to refer to the (ijiauuui ui rjcyp ior uiiir magnitude, since his would be greater than all of tbem combined. J. Stoddard Johbstos. Frankfort, April 4. 1879. . SINGULAR SUIT. A Husband Claims Damages Itecaoaeof His AVIfe'n Lack of am Education. ISt. Louis Globe-Democrat. A very singular and interesting question is involved in the suit of Alice and J. J. Ryan vs. Cornelius Lynch, which was set for trial yesterday before Judge Wickham, but was laid over until to-day. It seems that when Alice was 11 yeaisof sge Mr. Lynch took ber from an orphan asylum and adopted her, or at least treated her as his own child. She was an orphan, without relatives or friends to care for her, and Mr. Lynch, a tinner on Franklin avenue, gave ber a comfortable home. He dressed her as well as his means would allow, and she grew up a handsome, bright and intelligent young woman ; but her education was sadly neglected, and she learned little of books, although a belle among tbe young women of the neighborhood. In 1877 she was married ' to young Ryan, who on finding that the beautiful casket was devoid of the treasures of book-learning was greatly shocked and disappointed. The blame for this ignorance was thrown upon Mr. Lynch, and a suit for damages was filed against him Inr naowt. ing to perform the duties- of a parent and guardian by sending his ward to school. The amount claimed is $6 200, of which $5,000' are for the loss of educational advantages and $1,200 for services for seven years. Mr. Lynch puts in an offset against the amount charged for services by charging her for articles of dress, such as nightgowns. drawers, nose, shoes, hats, corsets, dresses of various kinds, bunches of flowers, etc , be sides a $7 prayer book. As for the neglect of education, he claims tbat was the girl's own fault, because she refused to attend school, and when sent would play truant and go promenading with other girls, devot ing herself more ta the nra'tpment nf Moti vating baans than to tbe task of filling her mind with a knowledge of books. A large number of witnesses were, in at tendance, among them Professor Harris, superintendent of the school board, who will be examined as an expert on the value of education to a young woman with an intel i i. j j , . .wu.itn. Muovauu BUU UV 1UUUCJT 11 UCI pUlSC. A unlnrtoA rri t-1 will Kb in k . . .3 r." "... f wu fcuo eiouu offset Professor Harris, and prove tbat Alice refused to go to school,, and wouldn't learn nothin nohow; that she (tbe colored sister) worked ior jur. Lyncn ior $4 a month, making the pies and baking the bread and cooking the meat, and yet found time to eo to school and learn to read and write, and make m- -spectacle woman ot herself. As education is not eomtm'snrv in Rt Louis, and a father can not be sued for neg lecting to educate bis child, the question wiu arise in ine case wnetper a guardian who adopts an orphan can be made to pay damages for neglecting to do what a natural . father is not obliged to do. W. H. H. Rus- bbu is counsel ior tne piaintins, ana will combat tbe old adage that "ignorance is bliss," and contend that "'tis education forms tbe common mind," and girls that- won' t go to school ought to be made to go. Some Curious Facts About Fetrolenin. roil City Derrlck.1 We give below the figures of the exoorts of illuminating petroleum, with their value for 19 years, from MM to 188, inclusive, taken from tbe quarterly report of the chief of tbe bureau of statistics ot the treasury depart- , ment: Year. WH.... GalTons. 12,791,518 12,722,'iU5 84.W5.921 82.6s,.V7 S7.SU2.5U5 Value. ,74.4il ; 9,(i2,957" 18ti5. lb) lstf?. 18SS 1K,E,141 ' 22,5t.43 lHt.. 1K70.-. 27,636,137 2864.193 . j OS S7,19i,7.G 87,66D,t5 -27,01,361 2S,755,tSS 65,401.142 41,513,67 ti - 17L 1872... 1873. lWC 1875.. , 132,tM,! 1SK,1(I2,4M . ltf 1,551 ,9XJ , 2tM,14,73 1K76 1K77. 1S7. , ,441,K44 . 280,214511 .This table shows the rapid growth of the petroleum industry in 15 years, a growth which, if continued, will cause the demand which will lead producers to less careless waste of the product than now. But what we would call more special attention to is tbe difference in the value. For the first three years, as above, there was an increase in the price of oiL In 18G4, 12,000,000 gal lons sold for $6,000,000. In the following year the same amount, in round numbers, sold for $9,000,000. In 1S0G. 31,000,000 gallons sold for $18,000,000, a still further increase in . value. Then production increased, and in 1871 we find tbat the rU region was selling 132 000,000 gallons for $34,000,000. Tbe ex ports were lour times as much as in I860, while the value had not doubled. Then, in. 1877, were sold 202.000,000 gallons for $55, 000.000. and last year it was worse yet, by giving foreign consumers 289 000.000 gallons for $11,000,000 Here the exports were increased 27.000.000 gallons, with a decreased value of $14,000,000. i Will producers heed the lesson given by thete figures, or can they stand the loss and survive? - - "fiiii riv - . fill i. J If Pains in tbe Ba aj wide or tlni. t HTJXT'S BEI EDT" res Back Hide or Lotos, ana all Diseases of the Kidneys, Bladder and Urinary Organs Dropsy, OraveL Dia betes, Brlght's Dis ease of the Kidnevs mm Retention or Incontinence of Urine, Nervous Dlf eases. Female Weakness, and Excesses; Hlia t'S HJCMKDT Is prepared EXrKESs LI tor these diseases. - PmjviDEKCk, R. L, Jane 16, 1878. Wm. E. Cla kki Dear Sir A member of my family had been troubled for several years with Kidney Disease, and had tried numerous remedies without relief; she used HL'SI REMEDY and was completely cured. 8. A. Alpix, 3 Exchange st. - ' Mijoteapoms, Minn . April 7. J87S. Ww. E. t'tAKKS-Drar 8ir-t saw HUNT'S REMEDY used in a case of Dropsy with per fect success. I did sot treat the patient, but four attending physicians had Riven up the case as hopeless. HUNT'S REMEDY was then used with perfect success, arid the patient la well. I shad give HUNT'S REMEDY In Drop sical and Kidney Diseases. C. H. BLBTKEW. M. D. HCMT'." REMEDY is purely Vegetable, and Is used by the advice of Physicians. It hast stood the test of tims B ior vears ana inn i iniiai m utmost reliance may I 111 I I II ' be placed in It. ONE I If 1J II eJ TRIAL WILL CON- W si W J H V VINCEYOU. - Bead for Pamphlet miwv WM. E. CLARKE, rrovuienoe, ti. BOLD BY AJULDSTJOQCSTS.