[Mary Louisa Mitchell/Michel Binckley at Mossy Creek [Tennessee], to John Milton Binckley at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, February 12, 1877].
[Pencil note: Had Tilden taken his seat, J.M.B. would have been Minister to Spain]
My beloved husband,
For three days past, in fact ever since it became so apparent that the Democrats had been trapped that I was compelled to realize it, I have been trying to make up my mind what to write to you. I am so indignant that I feel as if I myself could fight rather than see such fraud successful. For us especially what hope can there be in a future so dominated by your enemies? But the Democrats seem to have no spirit left. Will they fight for their rights, or not?
If they do, my impulse is to say to you go into the army at once. But have I the right to say what might involve such fearful consequences? And yet I cannot say do not go. I know you would yourself, much rather go into action of some kind: and you would not feel the risk as I would, waiting in silence. And if I should consent and anything should happen [to] you, how could I justify myself to your children?
It is a fearful thing! All I can say is this -- if a war comes, you have my consent to act as seems to you best and right, no matter what that way may be.
I dreamed of you last night as standing before the world torn and battered. I could not reach you, I was chained to a bed -- but I saw you, and cried out that it was all well, I was satisfied, for you had endured for the sake of the right! And tho' that was a dream, you know that if I can feel that I am helping you, I can endure almost anything
[Following section heavily redacted, inked over. It may be more recoverable if projected onto a wall or using a filter]
I have . . . . . brought . . . very . . . clothes[?] . . . to the L . . . what is . . . It is very . . . to . . . I am witness[?] for . . . after it is . . . but then I must . . . have patience.
Do Milton write to me whether Hayes will be President, or not.
P-----g refused my pictures. I intend to write to that Chicago man shortly. I am having neuralgia badly for the past week; but my health is better than for some years past: almost restored. Am suffering this morning, and stupid from [a] restless night.
Cannot write more just now. Children perfectly well & doing well. Nellie is almost too busy.
God bless and keep you, my love
Mary
[Envelope addressed to Hon. John M. Binckley, 425 East Water Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and date stamped BRIS & CHAT Feb. 13 (Bristol & Chattanooga?)]
[Mossy Creek, about thirty miles from Knoxville and on a rail line, is now Jefferson City (since 1901). The Branner Institute for Young Ladies opened in 1876 in Glenmore Mansion]
Election of 1877 electoral map (from presidentelect.org). Rutherford B. Hayes (R) was awarded one more electoral vote than Samuel J. Tilden (D): 185 to 184. Tilden won more than 50% of the popular vote. Voter participation was just under 82% of those eligible. The Compromise of 1877 ended Reconstruction in the South, abandoning African Americans to "home rule" and Jim Crow. In exchange, Republicans retained the presidency.
John Milton Binckley (1821-1878)
Mary Louisa Mitchell/Michel Binckley (1838-1930)
Nellie = Nella Fontaine Binckley (1860-1951)
Original manuscript of the Binckley letter is in the John Milton Binckley Papers, 1816-1943. Library of Congress Manuscript Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. This is my rough transcription.
Many thanks to William Myers for sending scanned copies of the documents from the Binckley papers, and also to Mary Davy and Sally Young for their assistance.
SAD EPISODE
In the Family History of a Once Prominent Public Man -- Betrayed by a Trusted Friend, He Seeks Satisfaction at the Pistol's Mouth.
Chicago Special, of the thirty-first to the Cincinnati Enquirer: About two weeks ago, the Chicago papers published a Milwaukee dispatch, to the effect that John M. Binckley, who was assistant attorney-general under President Johnson -- who had lived in this city for some years, but who had resided in Milwaukee for twelve months or so -- had mysteriously disappeared; that it was unknown where he had gone, and that it was feared that he had committed suicide under the influence of mental excitement or aberration.
This was followed in a couple of days by another dispatch, stating authoritatively that Mr. Binckley had not committed suicide, and was all right. The explanation of these dispatches came out to-day in this city before Justice Pollak. It is an episode excessively painful in its nature, in view of the standing of all parties involved.
During 1874 and 1875, Mr. Binckley lived with his family in Irving Park, near Chicago. During their residence there they got acquainted [with] Mr. J. W. Tape, a young doctor, who had been appointed physician of the poor house and insane asylum by Dr. Ben Miller, in the spring of 1872, soon after Miller was elected County superintendent of public charities.
The doctor and Binckley family were on terms of reasonable intimacy, but no one had ever heard of impropriety until three weeks ago. About this time, it is alleged, Binckley said he discovered in some unknown manner that his wife had been guilty of too much intimacy with Dr. Tape. He charged her with the fact, an it is further alleged that she, at his dictation, wrote a confession of her misdeeds. Subsequently, however, she repudiated this confession, and asserted that it was made under threats.
Then she left and went to her folks in Virginia. Her father, Harvey Mitchell, who was for many years a draftsman in the land office, is dead. Her mother was a daughter of Gov. [Judge Peter] Johnston, of Virginia, and a sister of General Joseph Johnston.
About the day after the explosion at Milwaukee, the following dispatch was received at police headquarters here:
MILWAUKEE, October 14, 1877.
M. C. Hickey, Esq., General Superintendent of Police, Chicago, IL:
John M. Binckley of this city, formerly a resident of your city, left here this morning for your city with murderous designs on Dr. John Tape, of Oak Park. Jealousy the cause. Notify Tape at once.
WM. BECK
Chief of Police
[Private.]
Tape heard nothing about him, and was beginning to indulge in hopes that it was a horrid dream, when he received the following letter:
CHICAGO, October 25, 1877
Dr. J. W. Tape, Mount Clare, Cook County:
SIR. Last Sunday, a week past, I called at your lodging, about sunset, and was invited to wait in your room. I chose not to stain a blameless fireside with your blood, and left word for you to meet me at the depot, where (knowing you always carried arms) I intended to make you fight. The police protected you. Since I have been dogged night and day.
On the twenty-second instant I wrote to you, offering to appear at the house of one of your Masonic brethren, unarmed, for a private personal interview. You have not responded. No living person knew my object. I reserved it to you. It was to make an unlawful proposal. If you are cowardly you will now have my liberty in your power, for, finding no other way, I avow here by my proposal, which is for a mortal combat. As I can invite no friend to expose himself in Illinois, it must necessarily be a secret meeting between us, which is not prescribing terms. This I do prescribe, and nothing else, viz: The fight must go on until one is dead.
Now all the rest is with you, and as you know yourself to be uncommonly deft and skillful, you perceive your immense advantage over bungling strength. Make everything to please yourself but I limit the time to ten days after notice. If you evade this, I will, I must, adopt another way.
No person as yet has ever heard from me the reason of my hostility. Am answer to this will reach me directed to the care of Hon. S. F. Norton, No. 69 Dearborn Street, Chicago, who will not imagine the contents. Respectfully, JOHN M. BINCKLEY.
He received this Friday or Saturday, and went to Justice Pollak to-day and swore out a warrant for Binckley's arrest on the charge of having sent a challenge to fight a duel, which is an offense punishable with the penitentiary or a heavy fine.
Binckley was found, arrested, and taken to the justice's office, where his letter to Tape was produced. Binckley admitted that he wrote it, and said he didn't regret having sent it. So Justice Pollak ordered Binckley to give bail in the sum of three thousand dollars, which was given.
[This is my rough transcription from the original at Memphis Daily Appeal, November 03, 1877, page 2. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress. Link here]
[John Milton Binckley (1821-1878)
Mary Louisa Mitchell/Michel Binckley (1838-1930)
Bail of $3,000 in 1877 equivalent to about $65,000 in 2016
Portrait of John Milton Binckley via NYPL via Digital Public Library of America. Link here]
