The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-03-31
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.l
SENATOR SHERMAN DECLARES HIM.
SELF A POOR, BUT HONEST MAN.
WASHINGTON, March 20, 1871

w ASHINGTON, Mafcn ~, 1OI1.
GENTLEMEN In your editorials i'll
the Enquirer of March II, in comment
ing on my card to you as to my action
on the Cincinnati Southern Railroad
bill, you repeat my statement "that nei-
ther in this nor any measure that has
passed Congress, or is pending, have l
had any pecuniary interest,"" and you
say:
''If this is true, he has certainly been
very badly slandered gentleman.
Somehow or other there is a popular
impression that Mr.. Sherman has con-
trived to make his connection with pol
itics a highly lucrative business, and
that he has exhibited, since he has been
III Congress, worldly thrift that is
remarkable. There is a further impress
sion that he is very rich man, whereas,
a few years ago, before he was in pub
lie affairs, his circumstances were decid-
eddy moderate. Perhaps our Senatorial
friend may not be aware of the exist
ence of derogatory reports, and will
thank us for giving him an opportunity,
now that he knows of their existence to
disprove them"
Ihave not been ignorant that there
has been studied effort-ascribed by
me to the common tactics of political
warfare-to create the impression, by
vague inuendo, that / have used my Of
fetal position to make money for my
self. L know that this charge or impu-
tation is without the slightest founda-
ton, and now repeat that / never was
pecuniarily interested in any question,
bill, or matter before Congress; that l
never received anything in. money or
property, or promise, directly or indi-
reilly, for my vote in Congress or in the
Departments; that / have studiously
avoided engaging in any business de-
pending upon legislation in Congress.
The only enterprise in which ever en-
gagged, which even rests upon an act of
Congress, is that in 1862. After the
bill passed authorizing the construction
of street railroad in this city, /, with
others, openly subscribed stock, and I'M
dertook to build it in pursuance of the
act of Congress.
From the position assigned me here 1
have had to deal with great questions
involving our financial system of cur
rency, taxes and debt, and / can appeal
to all my associates in Congress, to each
of the prominent men with whom as
Secretaries of the Treasury 1 have been
intimate, and to every man of the null
titude with whom have been brought
into contact, to say whether have ever
been influenced in my course by pecun-
larry interest.
But you say that the impression is
that am a very rich man, whereas, be-
tore was in public affairs, my circum-
stances were decidedly moderate. This
allegation contains two gross exaggera-
tons. When 1 entered public life, 1
was largely engaged in my profession
and in other lucrative business. If /
had not engaged in politics, l might
have been the rich man you suppose. l
am not this day relatively richer, consid-
ering the changed value of property,
than l was when l entered the Senate.
Some time ago it was stated in your pa
per that was worth millions. A very
small fraction indeed of 81 10000 will
cover all am worth. My property
consists mainly of real estate, palpable
to the eye, and the rest of it is chiefly in
q railroad with which was connected
before entered public life.
l have managed my business affairs
With reasonable care, prudence, econo-
my, and success. What I have is the
result of this.
You kindly offer me an opportunity
to disproye these reports. We'll, how
can / ? What charge is made against
me2 How can fight shadows? How
can 3 man prove himself innocent
against an innuendof
But as you offer me the opportunity.
l now invite you, Mr.. Faran, to come
TO my home at Mansfield, and l will
show him all possess there. and rem
der him a full account of all have else
where, and if can't fairly account for
1t without being suspected of receiving