The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-05-29
BLAINE.
Another Charge OF Railroad Job
berry and the Ex.Speaker's An.
sWcr-.-Newspaper Reports OF
His Great Wealth.


berry and the Ex-Speaker's An
sMer-.-Newspaper Reports OF
His Great Wealth.
NEw YoRK, May 27.-The Sun pub.
fishes a ID Bter dated Augusta, Maine, No
vember q, 1870, from James G. Blaineto
Warren Fisher, IT,, Of Boston, offering for
S25, 900 to procure for Fisher the one hum
dred and nine:y.second part Of the entire
franchise Of the Northern Pacific Rail-
road, including the land companys stock.
After describing the immense prospective
profits Of the transaction, Blaine says he
himself can not avail himself Of the op-
portunity, but obeying the first and best
Impulse, offers it to Fisher. In his con.
Guiding paragraph Blaine says: "Keep
my name quiet-mentioning it no one,
unless to Mr.. Caldwell" Blaine's re-
ceipt to Fisher for S25, 900, and the agree
ment TO deliver as described, is also pub.
lished. Blaine was unable TO deliver,
and alter over years waiting, Aquila
Adams, one'of the pool for which Fisher
acted, reclaimed $1,000, his interest, from
Blaine, and obtained il.
The correspondence seems to have been
furnished to the Sun by Adams, letter
from whom is also published.
WASHINGTON, May 27.-Ex-Speaker
Blaine, in reply TO inquiries concerning
the article in the New York Sun, to-day,
said "Some six or seven years ago
some friends oftmine in Boston desired
to make mall Investment In the North
Pacific enterprise, and, aS the Vice Presi-
dent Of the road, Hon. r. D. Rice, was 4
near neighbor Of mine in Augusta, il was
thought might find out where and how
the purchase could be made. In one or
two instances heard Of interests being
for sale, but nothing was done. Finally,
in the autumn Of 1870, definite invest.
ment was for sale, and il was brought to
my attention, with very glowing and ex'
travagant accounts OF its prospective
profits. As ii was road chartered by
Congress, deriving its, franchise and
grants directly from Congress-, and liable
at any time TO apply to Congress
for fututc favors, ! did not myself en-
tertain for moment the idea OF becom.
ing interested in il, but as these friends
had been wishing such investment, and as
they had the same right that any other
private citizen had to own stock in the en-
terprise, communicated the facts TO them
precisely us they had been given to me.
A few days after 4 was notified that they
would be glad to purchase, and certif-
cate Of deposit, or a cashiers check, for
$4,000, was placed in my hands lin
trust), Us 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 merchants in
Boston.
at was soon found, however, that the
North Pacific interest was in Some way
pledged, or hypothecated or embarrassed
as to the title, and the matter ran along
for over year, and finally came to no.
thing. The money in full, with interest,
was returned to Warren Fisher, with
whom the negotiation was had, and the
holder Of the North Pacific interest re-
tanned il or possibly found another pur-
chaser, OF which know nothing.
"This is simply the whole Of the trans
action out Of which the sensation is at
tempted by the Sun. My connection with
it was purely OF friendly character. |
had not the remotest interest in it in any
shape or form, and no intention or un-
derstanding that should become inter-
ested in It. The transaction was, of
course, regarded by me as in every way.
proper, otherwise shouldmost certainly
never have received and receipted for the
money in trust until the transaction
should be contaminated between the par
ties. q ...-- ..H
al am very glad, continued Mr.. Blaine,
'fhat my letter, which the Sun published,
proves on its face that l would not myself
touch the Investment. l could easily have
purchased it had l been willing, but | did
not deem such investment advisable for
me to make. From first to last, in ali
legislation touching the Pacific railroads,
l never had the interest Of a penny in one
OF them, nor in any Of their branches, d.
rectly or indirectly. In private letter,
il anywhere, a man will speak unguhrd.
edly, and this letter, written with no ex-
pectation OF its ever being published,
proves conclusively that when a Pacific
Railroad interest was offered me with
brilliant promises Of great profit, ! de-
clared that could not touch 1t. l think
the Sun, in publishing this private letter,
has supplied q valuable proof OF my Of.
fetal integrity in the matter.
"All these attacks" resumed Mr..
Blaine, after 4 slight pause, care intend.
ed to impress the people with the belief
that 1 have large wealth, and that 1t has
been acquired since 1 entered Congress.
The moderate property which own was
almost wholly derived from fortunate in
vestment in coal lands in my native Mon
ougahela Valley in Western Pennsylva-
mia, made some years before l first ran
for Congress. notice many papers,
whose editors. never saw me, and know
nothing Of my affairs, glibly put my prop
erty down at a round million. The ut4
most my property would bring to-day
would not amount to the fifth part OF
that sum. l can say, with the strictest
truth, that, all things considered, / am
not to-day as we'll off, pecuniarily, as
was the day entered Congress in Deccm.
Der, 1868. Had not remained in Con-
gress would to-day, in my judgment, had
q large fortune, as business enterprises
which we're at my command, il could
have attended to them, have resulted
most iayorably, But every friend who
knows me knows that neither my income |
nor my expenditures, nor my habit Of
life, imply or suggest possession Of
or OF anything, indeed, beyond a
moderate competency"