Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-05-31
A BOn--
by B.aine's ! !,' l..." \
In CDnMcctS on
Northern Pacific H. NJ
Rut the Ex-Speakef Is Ia, '"'
to the Occasion, ARA IN
Mains tlae Whole Trans
action,
ViMdicntfng Himself an Hon
esq and Generous Man.

WAsIuNGToN, May 27.-Ex-SpcalScr
Blaine in reply TO the Inquiries con-
,erning an article i'm the New York
San, said: "Some six or seven years
ago some friends of mine in Boston
desired TO make a small Investment in
the Northern Pacific Railroad enter
prise. AS the Vice President of the
road, Hon. II. ID. Rice, was a neighbor
of mine in Augusta, it was thought
might find out how and where a
purchase might be made. In one or
two Instances heard of interests be-
ing for sale, but nothing was done. !
Finally in the autumn of 1870, q de-
mite interest was for sale, aud 81
brought to my attention III was
glowing accounts OF WIN Vcr!
profits, as il wa.r ITS prospective
Eon1rcss dan, road chartered by
crafts d'.e wing its franchise and
Iinhir Getty from Congress, and
on at any time TO apply TO Con-
SIS at any time for future fayors. I
did not myself for moment entertain
the idea of becoming interested in IL.
but as these friends had been wishing
Tor such an investment, aud they had
The same right as any. other private
Citizens to go into The enterprise. /
communicated the facts 10 them pre-
cisely as they had been given to me.
A few days aftcrward l was notified
that they would be glad to purchase,
and a certificate of deposit or cash
ier's check for $4,000 was placed in
my hands in trust,as the receipt shows,
TO hand over TO the person proposing
to sell, who in due time will doubt
less speak for himself. The certificate
was to be taken i'm the name of Elisha
Atkins, one of the most prominent
and honorable merchants in Boston
1t was found, however, that The
Northern Pacific interest was in some
way pledged, hypothetical or EN-
barrassed as to the title. and the mat
ter ran along for over a year and fin
ally came to nothing. The money il
full, with interest was returned tt
Warren Fisher, with whom neeatia
tons were had, and the holder of tn
Northern Pacific interest retained
or possibly found another purchaser
Of which l know nothing. This i
simply the. whole transaction, out o
which q sensation was attempted b,
the Sun. My connection with il wa
simply OF friendly character. L a,
not the femotest interest in it in an,
shape or form. and no intention o
understanding that should becom
interested in it, The Transaction was
OF course, regarded by me as in eyer
way proper, otherwise | should mos
certainly never have received an,
recelpted for the money to hold ii
trust until the transaction should b
coIsummated between the parties
am very glad, continued Blaine
that my letter, which the .sasa publish
es, proves on its face that would,no
myself touch the investment, / caui,
easily have purchased il had l becl
willing, hut did not deem it an ad
Nsaele investment for me to make
FROM first to last in all Legislation
touching the Pacific Railroads neye
had the interest of a penny In sny a
them, nor in any Of their hranche.
directly az indirectly. In a priyat
letter, il anywhere. man will speal
unguardedly, and this letter. writes
with no expectation Of being publish
ed, proves caRclusisely thai when
taplHc kailraad Interest was otlere,
me with brilliant promises of grea
profits. declared that | would no
touch IT. thiak The .sla, i'm publisl,
ing this private letter has supplied
valuable proof of my official integri
ty in the matter. All these attacks
resAMeu blaine, after q SLIGHT pause
We're Intended 10 impress the pcopl
with the belief that l have Larry
wealth, and that ii has been aco,,ire,
since entered Congress, The mod
crate property which | own was al
!aost wholly derived from fort,,nat
ttff7kSs 1M \ "a Valley in Wcsterl
Pennsylvania, made some years betor
] first ran for Congress, | hottie
many papGrs whose editors never sd,
ne and know nothing of my atrlirs
giibiy PHI my property down at
rohnd million. The utmost my prop
erty would hiring to-day would no
amount TO the one-lifth part Of tina
sum. | can say with the strictes
truth that, all things considered, | an
not to-day as well of, pcc,,niarily, a
4 was the day | entered Congress il
December, 1863. Had | not rouaine,
: in Congress | would to-day, in m,
Judgment, had q large fortune, as tn
business enterprises which were at m
command, i'll could have attended L
them, wnuld have resulted most ia
: vorably. But every friend who know
me knows thatncither my Income. no
expenditures, nor my habits of lie
; imply or suggest the possession of
fortune or anything, JUDGED, beynn'
a moderate cnninetnIIcY