Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1876-05-28

the same right as any one TO own IN
the enterprise, | communicated the
acts to them precisely as they had
been given to me. A few days after
| was notified that they v ould be glad
to purchase. A certificate of deposit,
or cashiers check for $4,000, was
placed in my bands in trust, as the
receipt shows, TO hand over to the
person proposing to sell, who in due
time will doubtless speak for himself.
The certificate was to be taken in the
name Of Elisha Atkins, one of the
most prominent and honorable mer-
chants in Boston. was soon
found, however, that the North Pacific
interest was in some way pledged, or
embarrassed, as to title, aud the
matter ran slong for two years aud
finally came to nothing. The money
in full, with interest, was returnedto
Warren Fisher with whom the n-gu@
tiation was had, and the holder of the
North Pacific interest retained ii, or
possibly found another purchaser, Of
which know nothing.
This is the simple whole transac-
ton, out Of which the sensation is at
tempted by the Sun. Ny connection
with it was purely Of friendly char
acter. The transaction was Of course
regarded by me as in every way pro-
per, other wise should most certainly.
,&a,ar h. va racatvoJ auI rooa,,>,al f<,r
the money to hold in trust until the
transaction should be consummated
between the parties.
am very glad, continued Blaine,
that my letter, which the Sun pub
fishes, proves on its face that | would
not myself touch the Investment. !
could easily have purchased it, had |
been willing, but ! didn't deem such
an investment advisable for me to-
make. From first to last, in all leg
islation touching the Pacific railroad, !,
! never had an interest Of penny in
one Of them, nor on any OF their.
branches, directly orsindirectly. In a
private letter, if any man will speak
unguardedly, and this letter written
with no expectation of its ever being
published, proves conclusively that
when ! Pacific railroad interest was
offered me with brilliant promises Of
great profits, | declared would hot
touch it.
think the Sun, IN publishing this
private letter, has supplied a valuable
proof Of my otficial integrity. "lnt the
matter Of ull these attacks resumed
Blaine, after slight pause, 'they are
intended to impress the people with
the belief thatsl have large wealth,
aud that it has been acquired since,
and entered congress. The moderate
property which | own was almost
wholly derived from fortunate invest
ments in coal lands in my native No.
I-nongahela valley, in western Pennsyl
vxtia; made some years before first
ran for congress. notice many pa
pers whose editors never saw me and
know nothing Of my affairs, giibly put
my property down At round million.
The utmost my property would bring
to-day would not amount TO = fifth
part Of that sum. can say with the
stric,est truth that all things consid-
cred, ] am not as well off to day, pc.
cuniarily, as I was the day entered
congress, in December, 1868. Had !
not renamed in congress, | would to-
day, in my judgment, have had a
large fortune, as business enterprises,
which were at my command, If could
have attended to them, have resulted
most favorably, but every friend vic
knows me knows that neither my in.
come nor my expenditures, nor my
habits Of life, imply or suggest the
possession Of fortune, or of anything
indeed, beyond a moderate compe
tencc.
WASHINGTON.