Weekly Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-07-03
Mr.. Fisher and Lotteries.

We have received from gentleman in this
city the following communication, in regard to
the connection Of the Hon. George P. Fisher with
the lottery question in this State. The commu-
nication fully exonerotes Mr. Fisher from the
charge of having received bride to aid in the
passage of any lottery scheme by the Legisla-
ture. We ask for the article an attentive peru
sal. The author is well known to our citizens.
and his declarations are entitled TO full credence
Mr.. Enron;
In many of the papers published
in the State, lately, appeared the names OF
number of the members Of the bal aud other
prominent citizens of the State, with the amounts
purporting to have been received by them for
their services 10 procuring the passage OF an act
Of assembly, commonly known as the Lottery
Grant" Amongst those names is that of the
| Hon. George p. Fisher. TO relieve Mr.. Fisher
from the conclusions derived from the reading Of
the articles refer ed to is the cause Of this COM
muncation.
Before the teImiDation Of the last session Of
| Congress, through the exertions Of MIR. Fisher,
m amendment to the - tax bill" was added and
carried through the House, which, III bis ludg-
ment, would entirely and forever break up the
Lottery system in every part of the United
States
Some gentlemen OF this State went to Wash
ington, to prevent the adoption OF this amend
ment by tue Senate. One Of them, MIR. Alfred
Il. Wootten, told the writer then in Washington,
that he did not consider Mr.. Fishers course JUS
tifiable, inasmuch as he had received a fee from
the Lottery men. knew that Mr. Fisher was
opposed to Lotteries principle, aud thought
Mr woolien labored under mistake. IL
satisfy myself | called on him the same day nnt
asked him about his connection with The Loite
ries.
TIE statement he made TO me is substantial,
as herein given. And | ask my readers 10 e
I member that this was given some months belor
, these lists we're published
10 December, 1868, Mr. Fisher received
! letter from @. s. Layton, Esq, the senior counse
Of France, Broadbents Co., asking if he (Mr
FISHERY would take fee TO aid in the passage o
, their proposed grant, to which negative repl
= was given, and the refusal based upon ~
!, reasons;
!, First, That he could not conseientiously adso
4 cate the passage of their Lottery bill, aud
u Second, That even if he could do 30. he di
y :, not Tor a moment conceive that the Legislator
y would pass any such bill, ind therefore as
II matter Of honor he could not take a fee 10 per
form labor which could not in his Judgment
!, 70 accomplished. This was shortly before th
" meeting OF that Legislature which passed Il
Us bill
p Richard N. Merriken had an Interview with N
=, F. at the request Of Mr. Broadbent, and otfert
70 him a certain fee of 81 500 to advocate the pat
70 sage Of the bill 1.-THE sum being more than donb
40 that offered by Judge Loyton) with a large col
~ Iingent fee in case the bill should pass. Til
offer was also refused for the reason then give
shat he toGs in conscience opposed 10 Lotteries.
ns Soon afterwards MIR, Merrken offered Mr..
IT a certain fee of $1,000 in hand with a hea'
ms contingent fee as before. This offer was also I
Il" fused. Mr.. Fisher was then requested by Il
same gentleman TO name tho sum that he won
no be willing TO take in cash, TO aid in the passa
eu OF this bill, which be declined to do agai
OF stating that no sum could induce him 10 uiolste
'Ae conscientious convictions.
J.. AS is well known the bill passed and Woo
ies Eddy & Co., made application for the extensi
'en of their then existing grant, so as to make
100 Commensurate with that just given to France
Co Mr.. +. was employed by the latter and
ecu receive fee to oppose the proposition Of Voc
'st Eddy & Co., but before being employed 80 to
OF he was at work with the Legislature attempt
VI TO defeat this proposition
vss Before consenting TO receive fee for dol
ole what he felt himself bound to do, he took
iity advice Of MIR, Isaac L, Crouch and of Rev
D. Bradford each of whom told him that ii
o. could see no improperly in receiving pay fol
D. service which he believed it his duty 10 perfo
n n aad had been already engaged in SO doing wi
n out pay.
'rai Messrs. Crouch. Bradford, Layton and Mer
lar ken are all now living some Of whom are
'lep believe, personal and political friends of JuC
nv mas Fisher, and others are neither.
me John Dale and Stephen Broadbent are a
e. familiar with the facts herein set forth, an
fol- have no doubt but that any Of the genten
eral above named would give to ang reader oil !
communication who is q candid inquirer of
Mol the truth, a statement corroboraiing every vi
, @, herein contained,
"a. f; This explanation should and no doubt '
ELL satisfy every honest reader that the commune
ny tons which have appeared in connection v
zan. this subject not only untrue with respect
Mr.. Fisher, but very unjust, and feel'that !
el statement will convince its readers that there
sell, some men who can refuse to receive Large
on conscientious grounds. g. P
Wilmington, July I'd, 1868.