Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-03-30
Letter from senator sherman.
WASHINGTON. Marc, 90.

WASHINGTON, March 90.
+, GENTLEMEN In your editorial in
the Enquirer, of March 18th, in com
menting ON my card to you as to my
action on the Cincinnati Southern
Railroad bill, you repeat my state
ment "that either in this or any meas
use that has passed Congress, or is
pending, has had any pecuniary inter
est" and you say:
'.If this is true, he has certainly
been very badly slandered gentle
man. Somehow or other there is a
popular impression that Mr.. Sherman
has contrived to make his connection
with politics highly lucrative bust
ness, and that he has exhibited, since
he has been in Congress, worldly
thrift that is remarkable. There is a
| futher impression that he is now o
very rich man, whereas, a few years
ago before he was in public affairs, his
circumstances were decidedly moder-
ate. Perhaps our Senatorial friend
may not be aware of the existence OF
these aerogatory reports, ana will
thank us for giving him an oppor
tunity, now that he knows of their
existence, to disprove them"
have not beeu ignorant that there
has been studied effort-ascribed
by me to the common tactics of polit-
ical warfare-to create the impression
by vague innuendo, that | have used
| my Official position to make money
for myself. / know that this charge
or imputation is without the slightest
foundation, and / now repeat that /
never WIS pecuniarily interested in
any question, bill or matter before
Congress that never received any
thing in money or property, or prom
Use, directly or indirectly, for my vote
or influence in Congress or in the de-
partments that l have studiously
avoided engaging in any business de-
pending upon legislation in Congress.
The only enterprise in which l ever
engaged, which rests upon an act of
Congress is, that in 1862. After the
bill passed authorizing the obstruction
of street railroac in this city, 1 with
others openly subscribed stock, and
undertook to build it in pursuance
of the act of Congress.
From the position assigned me
here / have had to deal with great
questions involving our financial sys-
tenn of currency, taxes and debt. and
/ can appeal to all my associates in
Congress, each of the eminent men
| with whom as Secretary of the Treas
ury have been intimate, and to every
| man of the multitude with whom l
have been brought into contact, to
say whether l have ever been infiu-
enced in my course by pecuniary in
terest.
But you say that the impression is
that | am very rich man, whereas
before l was in public affairs, my
circumstances were decidedly moder-
ate. This allegation contains two
gross exaggerations. When 1 enter
ell public life, was largely engaged
in my profession and in other lucra
tive business. III had not engaged
in politics might have been the rich
man you suppose. i am not this day
relatively richer, considering. the
changed value of property, than /
was when | entered the Senate.
Seine time ago it was stated in your
paper that | was worth millions. A
very small fraction, indeed, of 81,
000, 600 will cover all am worth.
My property consists mainly of real
estate, palpable to the eye, and the
rest of it is chiefly in a railroad with
| which was connected before enter
ed public life.
l have managed my business affairs
with reasonable care, prudence, econ
omy and success. What / have is
the result of this.
You kindly offer NE opportunity
to disprove these reports. Well, how
can l ? What charge is made against
me? How can / fight shadows i? How
can a man prove himself innocent
against an innuendo?
But as you offer NE the opportuni
ty, now invite you, Mr. Faran, to
come to my home at Mansfield, and /
will show you all l possess there,
and render you full account of all i
have elsewhere, and if can't fairly
account for it without being suspect
ed of receiving bribes, or gifts, OIL
stealing, then You can repeat these
| baseless accusations with an easy
conscience.
You may ask why have not met
| these 'lerogatory reports before. Per
haps ought, but / feel the humila
ton of such controversy, anc
thought it time enough when a speci
fic charge was made. And am TOLD
by Mr.. Hedges, my former law part
ner, that in my absence, last summer
he corrected some gross misstate
ments in your paper about me, ant
that you refused or neglected to pub
lish it-even to notice it. AS, how
ever, you now, in courteous way
invite this letter, I take great pleasure
in accepting your offer. Very truly
yours, JOHN SIBERIAN.
Messrs. Faran & Mclean, editors O
| the Enquirer.
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