Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-05-02

Adopted.
Mr.. Clark of Missouri, moved to suspend the
rules to make it in order to offer an anne ndrent
to the post Office appropriation bill, to repeal the
legislation of the last session, in regard to third
class matter.
Agreed to.
Mr.. Holman of Indiana, moved to suspend the
rules and pass the bill to repeal so much of the
resumption act authorizes the redemption and
cancellation of United States notes and the sale
of United States bonds for the accomplishment of
tina, purpose.
Rejected.
Mr. loskins moved to suspend the rules and
adopt the resolution instructing the various COM
mtces charged with the investigation of alleged
frauds and misconduct to complete the same as
early as possible and to make report thereon on or
before the 10th day of Jane next, except when
otherT lse expressly provided by the House. lie
jected-Si to 1876.
Mr.. Blaine, rising to a personal explanations
sent to the Clerks desk and had rc i Washing
ton special to the y. y. lle,ala ti s,st. ay, Re
iccting upon him in the matter OF certain bonds
Of the Kansas Pacific L. Il. Co.. and suggesting
that in his explanation last week he had found it
too embarrassing to be answered and had there
fore taken refuge in silence.
The paragraph having been read. MIR. Blaine
said
This story is an old one, and though Twas per-
fectly aware of its industrious circulation in many
quarters, did not refer to it when spoke last
week of the SCI 600 SANDER, because | did not
wish to confuse the two on the mind of the pub
lie. Being in possession of all facts needful for
the complete REPUTATION of this second SANDER
dc sired to wait until | could see it fully and con-
nectedy stated in print The story consists of
two parts, one as to my having certain interest
in the Kansas Pacific Railroad, the other as to my
receiving coin bonds of that road from }. b. Stew
art, in the law flee of Stewart X Riddle, in this
city, several years since. When the circulation
of the story attempted some three years ago,
Hon. A. u. Riddle, who was then as now relied
upon as witness by those who concocted the
SANDER, made the following statement in writing,
which has never before been published
Wa hington, d. G., Feb l, 1873.
II have not the slightest knowledge of the
transaction referred to in any way, shape or FORM
and never saw Mr.. Blaine in the office of Stew
art & Riddle from July August 1861; Col.
Stewart and myself were law partners, and we
had our office in the Colonization building, at the
corner of = street and Pennsylvania Ave. The
company never formally dissolved and was an
active concern for several years; have no knowl-
edge whatever of any bonds having been delivered
by Col. Stewart to Mr.. Blaine, anything else of
value being paid to him by Mr.. Stewart.
(Signed), A. G.. RIDDLE.
Joseph b. Stewart also wrote me square denial
of it at the same time, and within few weeks
has written me the following more complete and
detailed contradiction OF the falsehood in all its
phases;
New York City, April 2, 1876
| Hon. J. G. Blaine, w Washington, ID. c.:
| Dear SRI have once before corrected the alb
surd and false report IN regard to your being In
terested in the Kansas Pacific Railroad and OF
| your having received from me certain bonds OF
| that company said to have been delivered to you
by myself in the law office of Stewart < Riddle, in
the city of Washington Let me repeat then. that
so far as | have any knowledge, you never had at
any time any interest whatever in the company
referred to, and my means OF information as to
those who were so int. ested were very extensive
/ aud complete. As to the story of my having de-
livered to YOU in my law Office certain bonds of
the company, let me say again that 1t Is without
the slightest foundation in fact, false in whole and
in detail. ! never saw you in my law office in my
life, and have no knowledge or belief that you
ever were there. l never delivered to you there
or elsewhere any bonds of the Kansas Pacific K. X.
Co., or any other railroad company. l never had
a business transaction of any name or nature with
you in my whole life. The young man, knowlton,
a former law student in my office, who seems to
have innocently or careesslv been the author OF
a story in regard to the delivery OF bonds to you,
which found its way into the press, was swift to
retract it. and ex pressed great regret 10 me for
the publication of that which he had only uttered
as Jest, and was used without his knowledge or
APPRECIATION and should be instantly revoked,
which was done.
| Your brother, John Ewing Blaine of Leaven-
worth, Ks. held an original interest in the corpo-
ration known as the LeavenwoIth. Pawnee Il
Western b. II. Co., chartered by the territorial
| legislature of Kansas, about the year 1896, and
which the evidence that came into my hands
showed he acquired very early in the history OF
the enterprise.
This road by successive merges, became the
Kansas Pacific, and his interest was preserved
through all these changes of organization. As
early as 1868, and before had ever seen you, L
became his attorney, as l was also for several
others who he Id like interest, and through tedi-
Gus proceedings and negotiations finally secured a
settlement by compromise, and If | remember
correctly writing without the papers before mel
your brother became entitled to 10 construction
bonds afterwards changed and reduced to a small
er number of bonds of another issue. This whole
transaction was open, honorable, above board and
free from all grounds of imputation AS to any par
| ty connected with 1t.
| If without nv knowledge you ever had an in
erest in the Kansas Pacific railroad, it must have
preiudced you very greatly against that corpora
ton, for in 1866, when the bill was passed by Con-
gress giving the company additional lands, with
enlarged powers to swing its line southwark and
build to Denver, | remember you was one OF Its
most stubborn opponents. You voted against the
bill in all its stages, and you did so against the
earnest request of myself and others who were in
tercsted in the interests Of the company in Wash
| iugton at that time.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) JosEPH b. STEWART,
| Late Of Stewart and Riddle Of Washington, ID. c.
Gen Thomas Ewing OF o., who is always quot
| ed in this matter as witness having knowledge
of some feai full facts, wrote me quite recently the
following letter:
Lancaster, Ohio, March 90, 1876.
Hon James G. Blaine, Washington, ID. c:
Dear Sr-I surprised to learn that some
persons are revivng the long since exploded story
of your having acquired an interest in the Leav-
enworth, Pawnee & Western r. X. Co., after
wards the Union Pacific east division, and now the
Kansas Pacific.
Four years ago this charge was set atoat and
published a card denying it. | was a director OF
the company at the time when you are accused OF
having acquired an interest and until some time
in 1868, and know that you had no interest in
the company whatever. The report referred to
seems to have originated in the fact that voui
brother, John f. Blaine. one of the early settler
of Kansas and clerk four courts at Leaveuworth
held stock in the company, lee itlmately and prop
erly acquired long before you were ever candi
date for congress, and with which you had moth
ing whatever to do. Beyond this there was nc
interest in the company held directly or indi-
rectlv by any one of your name.
The similarity of the names of j. Z. Blaine anc
J. g. Blaine have led to the confusion on which
the allegation is based. In that possible similarity
| can see some excuse for the origin of this mis-
statement, but none for the presidency which
urges it after frank and full denial.
| Very truly yours,
(Signed) THOMAS EWING.
Three years ago the Knowlton story was told IL
n tln, q