Litchfield enquirer., 1874-04-30
A Man witt, a History.


 4ke California legislature lately passed
 bill to remove the legal disabilities of
 MT. Henry Meiggs, the railway king" of
 Peru. Meiggs went away from Galifornia
 und@ npealiar circumstancea The his
 tory q the ease was thus related by As-
 semblyman J. F. Swift, during debate
 on the bill:
 Mr. Speaker, the gentleman whose name is in this bill, Henry Meiggs, was a vD4aaRf and merchant of San Francisco Mom about the year 1S49 to 1854. He came to this state as most of us did to seek his fortune. His opportunities were as good as those of any of us. He was o man of intelligence and eddcation.a man of more than ordinary ability; man who should hAva bean asc capable of making his way in the world as perhaps any man in the statsS 1tlehs 6f since. From 1849 until 1854 he engaged in mercantile pur- suits. his business each year branching out and becoming, more extended, until, in the years 185f-' '52-'53, he was among the most prominent men in business in this state. His establishments extended throughout the state, and he was engaged in many and diverse kinds of business. sometime in 1854 it suddenly became known to the public that Henry MeigQs had fitted out a vessel, had freighted it. had placed his family-and if I recollect rightly, his brothers family-on board that ship and had quietly weighed an- chOr and sailed away and subse- quently was developed the fact that a se- ries of crimes had been committed, chief ly, believe, in the nature of forgery: that bonds, if | recollect right, or per haps warrants, or some such thing, to a very large extent, had been forged. Of the truth of those charges 1 know noth- ing. This ship that contained this pre- ciOus.cargo found its way first to Austral- ia, and there they remained for some time; but not finding that place to their satisfaction, again they made remove, and were next heard of in the republic of Chlli. Very soon after that it became noised about through the county, in his old home, here in California, that Melggs was becoming a very prominent man, that he was man who had contracts with the government-a great developer of the resources of the state, builder of railroads, and engaged in transactions of of that class, and, in short, that lie was accommodating a colossal fortune So mat matters moved on until 1860, as near as I can recollect. Two or three agents of Meiggs' arrived in California and began secretly and quietly to gather in the in- debtedness and liabilities of Meiggs. Taey were admitted to have passed into nundKcdo of thousands nf dollars and per- haps millions. Almost every business man m the community had claims against him. He had been a man in whom the people had so much confidence that he was known as "honest Harry Meiggs;" and as a consequence there were many poor people, widows-people ill the hum- blest position in life-whose property was in his hands, and he had either carried it away or had dissIpated it in some way In 1860 these agents arrived in California. and it became rumored about that Me1oes' liabilities could be sold. I remember the fact that they were generally gathered up at from one to six and seven cents on the dOllar-many of them for few cents some triAing sum. About GA or '65. it was fEoised about that Harry Meiggs had paid of his debss in California. If I am not much mistaken there appeared in the newspapers advertisements to the effect that anybody who had any claims against Henry Meiggs. by applying at some place, could get payment in full, dollar for dol laE. From Ohii, having built all the rail- roads the community could stand, that their limited resources would permit, he went to Peru, built railroads there until that state wRs substantially reduced to bankruptcy. While it possessed railroads, lt was brought to a very low condition Financially. Now comes this measure. Henry Meiggs wants to come back to California, and have no objection to his coming back. If the circulation of peti tions. which were circulated and signed by some of the most prominent men in the state. has any influence, that might we'll say that he could come back in the most perfect safety without this law; but ob- ieCt Co this law. I object to it as Cali f0rnian, proud of the name as such. It is En ap0thesis of crime, making hero of . man who is under an infamous charge. I only know that you are asked, and you ash us. Co put on the statute books dis. graceful enactment, which will go down to pOsterity covered with infamy. Idon't believe it is possible-I will not believe it unhl see the vote registered-that California assembly. representing the peo- ple. and not alone its capital. but its wealth and muscle and toll, will fall down and worship this golden calf. I protest against thia hiM Ido not believe it can be passed. you have written on the page of the history of California that which you can never cease to be ashamed of.