The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-03-30
[ED1ToR AND PROPRIETOR.
NUMBER IA.

State Treasurer. do not report. Runor is now
rife that the Committee mean 10 spin the mat.
ter out until the close Of the present session,
and then let the whole matter 20 over to the
next Legislature. In order that the Black Re-
publican psrty may not have the dsmning record
TO contend against during the Presidential cam.
paign. We lear that there Il too much founda.
ton for this rumor Relying on the strength
Of it, poor nincompoop, who signs himself ID.
w Briggs. has written to the Esstport Sentinel
denying the truth Of our recent statement that
Peck had used thousands Of dollars Of the
States money In the Congressional campaign
Of 1858. Our authority for the statement II 70.
stating that Peck's defaleation to the State,
will reach Sl00, 900 instead Of $4,000. a. report
ed BY the Committee, and that bic outside
checks will amount to another 100000, for
which the State Il not responsible"
The same paper, Q few days before the ap.
pearance of the above paragraph. had stated
the amount contributed by Peck to the cleo
ton Of Somes, to have been $4,000. TO the
election Of French. $4,000, and TO the election
Of Foster, $4,000. From the confident tone
In which these statements were made,-bo.
ing declared to be "reliable," and put forth
"on good authority."- Committee were
induced to believe that, possibly. tho editor
of tho Union might possess information which
would convict Mr.. Peck. not only Of having
expended the public money In the corrupt
msnner alleged, bnt also Of testifying falsely
touching these important points. The Com.
mittee, therefore. conceived Il to bc their du.
ty to call on the editor of the Union, Marcel.
lus T. Emery, Esq, for his information, and
they accordingly summoned him to appear DO.
fore them on the 10th Of February. Tho
substance Of Mr.. Emcry's testimony q a. fol.
lows, taken down as ho delivered L.,
"All the knowledge have Of the matter, is
from rumor. have no personal knowledge.
My sources OF information are such as should
not be willing TO report. The matter about
Peck's using money for political purposes, was
mere rumor. have no definite information
about It, but II Is an inference from facts which
/ have heard. No one who has ever communi.
Gated with me, has pretended to have personal
knowledge, or any definite information Of the
matter l did not suppose when / wrote the
article, that my informant had any personal
knowledge or definite information about the
matter. l understood II was report he had
heard. He gave me the source Of his informa-
ton. l respectfully decline to give the name OF
my informant, or to give the name he gave to
me-"
As Mr.. Emery. In tho face Of this series Of
negations and unqualified confessions Of ig.
nOThnCc tOuCHtuK tHe WHOio muttcfs btih
maintained that he should feel himself justi-
fed in repeating the charges contained In his
article, the Committee thought IL advisable to
require the names which ho had just declined
to give; for as these gentleman. whoever
they might be, possessed sufficient knowledge
to convince Mr.. Emery, the Committee
thought it quite probable that they would
prove Of material service In ferreting out this
matter. Accordingly the Committee voted
to reduiro the names, and Mr.. Emery not
wishing to give them. and being anxious, as
he said. not 10 commit "contempt," he ak.
ed an hour to consult counsel as TO his legal
rights and obligations In tho premises. Tho
Committee at once granted him three hours
and adjourned to suit his convenicncs. When
the Committee met again, Mr.. Emery appear
cd, and while declaring that he did not be-
lieve that no could be legally compelled to
answer the question addressed to him, he yet
thoughtit expedient and prudent to do so,
and would therefore give the names under
protest. He then informed the Committee
that ID. n. Howard. Of Bangor, was his imme-
diate informant, and that Howard's authority
was letter which no had seen from Col.
Geo. w. Stanley, Of Augusta. Mr.. Emery
informed the Committee that Howard had no
more information than he had himself, but
that Col. Stanley, no presumed, had. Mr..
Emery further suggested that II the Commit
tee should call on Louis o. Cowan. Frederic
A. Pike, Jas. 8. Pike, some important inform
alton on the point involved would doubtless
be elected.
Anxious to obtain all possible information
the Committee at once resolved to summon Col.
Stanley before them, and that gentleman ap-
pearcd, and gave the following testimony, rer-
bdfim:
"I have no knowledge that Mr.. Peck has
spent any money for political purposes since
his election Do not know that he has furnish
cd any money. to any person for any such pur-
other information touching facts than such a.
Mr.. Peck had himself communicated to me; and
that was simply that Somes was his debtor to
certain amount. Peck did not state that
Soiues had used the money for political pur-
poses. My conversation with Peck was In the
Iail at Bangor. Have no knowledge Of money
being contributed by Peck, directly or indirect
ly, In the Congressional elections Of the 6rst,
second or third district, In 1853. have heard,
can't remember from whom, that Peck had
sent 81 900 to Mr.. Pike, for sixth district, bot
have no personal knowledge Of the NATTER
Col. Stanley seemed to be no little surprised
tlnt ue H0Oulu uuNC UtCu luOkCu NJ
for the article In the Union. He stated that
his business led him TO write quite frequently
to Bangor. but that In no letter had he made
any more specific charge touching the point in
question, than he had just rccitcd to the Com
mittec.
The committee summoned Louis O. Cowan,
and r. A. Pike, to appear before them, and nd.
dressed the proper questions to Jas 8. Pike, by
letter, with the view Of eliciting information
from them, on the points concerning which Mr.
Emery was sure they would bc fully advised. :.
Mr.. Cowan stated that he did not know Oh
or orr somcs In the Congressional canvass Of 10
3S-that Somes never gave, loaned, or sent
him dollar" That tho only money he rc-
ceived during the whole canvass was SIS from
the County COMMITTEES In payment for printing
and other expenses, actually incurred, and tho
bill Of which he exhibited. Somes corroborat.
cd this statement, % FAR 40 he could, alleging
that Cowan did not receive o dollar from him.
Mr.. Cowan stated that In tho autumn Of 1853.
at the State Fair, Peck had loaned him $50.
and held his note for that amount, which ho
considered himself bound 10 pay; and that at
other times Peck had loaned him small sums,
making In all, from si25to sl50. These sums,
from some intimations from Mr.. Peck, he had
hecn lei 70 regard as gin In consideration Of
tho friendly relations between them, and OF the
Misfortune which had ovcrtakcn him by his
nropcrty being destroyed By hre.s In answer
10 \ question from one Of the Gpmmittec, Mr..
Cowan stated that he had not paid single dol
lar on ANY mortgage since 1887. Peck's tosti-
mony agrees with Mr.. Cowsu's on al these
points
Frederic A. Pike appeared before the Com
mittec and testified that he did not know any
money being contributed by d. ID. Peck In the
Congressional election Of 1883, or any other
year. Mr.. Pixies emphatic language concldd-
ed thus:
"I want my disclaimer 10 cover every posi-
bic point. never knew or heard Of contribu.
tons from Peck, personal or political. direct
or indirect, In 1853, or any other yse,
James 8. Pike beng absent from tns ossse'
Fl :: g g. q E:s