New-York tribune., 1876-06-02

anything that is material to this matter.
Mr. BaineI shall object the Committee going into
my prvae letters until my statement about this matter
is first heard; wish make my statement first, II the
Committee will hear
The Chairman-I want you to state anything In those
letters which bears upon your testimony OF yesterday
concerning the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad
bonds which you understood into the hands OF the
Union Pacific Railroad through Thomas A. Scott
Mr.. Frye-I will object to that VIII you allow me to
ask him two questions to lay the foundation Vi le
objection which makei
Tie Chairman-State your objection to the question
first.
Mr. Frye-I desire show by the witness that those
letters were addressed by Mr. Blaine 10 Mr. Flsber ha
they were in a safe occupied by Mr. Fisher that this VIII
ness having right whatever to them, they NOT Dehg
his property ALL took possession OF them and brought
them here to Washn gon that there is nowhere IN any
of the letters any reference whatsoever to any pohds
were sold to Caldwell to Fisher, to "Tom' Scott or 10
tho Union Pacific Railroad Company.
The Chairman-H there Ia not he will so answer
have framed my question with that direct yiew
BLAINE DEMANDS TO BE HEARD.
Mr. Boine-I wish to ask the Committee before you so
into the contents OF those letters TO let me make my
statement.
The Chairman--we will give you hearing.
Mr. Baine-But | do not think you have right 10 IN
cct anything into tho testimony OF the witeAs III III
point What mean is this question of the posses
sion Of the letters that stands alone IL IL ehtep
ndenrndent of every other matter After you 80 luto III
aad have disposed of it, the other matter can DC q'e
properly proceeded with and before tho witness piocees
any further should like to make statement as 10 LIDO
personal matter which he has broached III CONNECTION
with the possession of these letters
The Chairman-we examining him IA TO those ie'-
ter now do not think Is best to inject anything into
the testimony Ut this point.
Mr. rve-The witness made II n matter Of privilege by
asking permission make separate statement III refer
mi. a. nuffh fla all
road Company.
ME- Baiueo has Injected his personal statement ana
want 10 make counter statement
The Chairman-I do not want to do anything that
would put you at disadvantage, Mr. Blaine but do not
think 1t would be regular at this time.
Mr. Blane-Are you going To proceed now with the
examination without allowing any explanation oil tis
statement that has been madef
Tine Charman-That seems to me to be the regular
course Of proceeding.
Mr. Blaine-It does not strike that IT is quite fair
play / do not the impression to 20 forth 10 the
world in regard to these letters tas mn has stated
without my having an opportunity Of making my own
statement
The rlnlnTherc il possible chance OF ITS going
foltht the world without your having such opportunity
Your statement far as can conro H. vii be before
the Committee ample time for publication at the same
time ,s this Sitness's statement
DEBATE fS COMMITTEE.
a.
now to testify relative TO the contents Of certain
letcrs not his letters all be stated iu reply hat lie
thinks he tell something tina: was In them; these
letter. II hl. statement Is true, are all in existence
al in the hands OF Mr.. Blaine; Mr. Blaine has not de
cucd to furnish them has ne ntimlted that he viii
decline; submit shat there Is no rule OF evidence by
which you can nterrogae this witness relative u the
contents OF tesc letters until they shown TO be be
yond the power OF tho Committee TO have the letters
themselves make that as legal objection to asking
this with "a what is In the letters.
The ChaIrmau-Your objection would possibly in
court OF jnsee DO w, taken, bus has bc de~'d by
the fail Committee that ts Committee is not 10 be gov
erncd by tue ordinary rules o; law II the statement OF
the witness be true and Mr. Blaine has the letters, hen
the question ASKED the witness Is at once answered by
the production OF the letters. IL Mr. Blaine conir"Vefs
the statement of the witness and does not produce tho
letters, have right t. examine the witness about
them in order to elicit the truth.
Mr. FryeIf Mr. Blaine took the letters they arc In cS-
istcncc they have not been destroyed Gt all. II tie
witness give, statement at all as 10 the contents OF
these letters 1t only be gabcd statement You are
searching for facts You do not want garbod iacs pro-
vidcd you have the real facts do not mean that
this man would garbe them moro than any
other man but ans nan, stating the contents Of
letters under such circumstances would bo unable 10
state exactly what they contained; II may be thht MT
Blaine would say you tat there wac not single "ord
In those ctters beginning 10 end to the I'll CT tt
Mr. Caldwell Mr.. Scott the Union Pdcilc Railroad
Company ever anything whatsoever TO do with any
bonds which Mr. Blame hal OF this railroad IN Arkansas
il NAV he that he wonld say that there was not the
sigAtst word in the letters indicating directly or ndi-
recty that the bonds which you arc inquring about aud
the transaction which you are seeking had anything
whatever to do with the bonds which Mr. Blaine had oi
that road.
The Cbairmor-Thc witness has stated that those
letters were given 10 Mr. Blaine under pledge from Mr.
Elaine that they should be returned to him. Assuming
that Mr. Blaine has those letters, hs has violated
proni.G and he has not offered TO produce Them 10 the
Committee. have asked tho witness question as 10
the contents Of those letters far they bear upon tho
sunect matter Of the resolution. That IA perfectly
proper II Mr. Blaine is apprchcnslgc that the wthcss
will give "A garhlcd statement, inadvertently or oihe-
wise tho rJmedy IL In his own hands-to produce the
letters Hhedeclnes TO produce the letters, then TINS
evidence is legitimate
Mr. Blano-I would prefer making statement Ia
advance II the question Is insisted upon haYe no
objection to 1t.
Nr Frye-Mr Blaine may desire time to consider
yybctber Le will pass the letters " the Committee
not.
The Chair,nan-whcn Mr.. Blaine makes that request
from the Committee 1t will be time enough to consdcr H.
Mr. Dlauo-Tiat would have formed part OF the state
ment which asked permission 10 make.
Mr. Asho-I would suggest this: The witness hassworn
that Mr. Blaine has a memorandum which the witness
made of the contents OF each OF those letters, ana
lie swcars that Mr.. Blaine promised 10 re-
turn IL TO him. but he has not done 30. III MT
Elaine will .produce that memorandum to the
Committee, the Committee viii only examine the witness
"a 70 such letters as the memorandum indicates to bear
upon the point under inquiry Mr. Blaine can then meet
wness's answers by showing the letter Itself To the
Committee which will not go the record II II is fouhd
that the memorandum does not correctly state the con
tents OF the letter. and the matter Will not 80 any
further. -
Mr. BIaine-I think could simplify this matter very