National Republican., 1876-06-06

INQUIRED IF NULLlGAy
himself did not say that only opr of the letters
bore upon the subj jcct under iDquiry?
MIR. HUNTON understood him to say two
letters. But he committee thought it was their
themselves, and to ascertain If they touched the
matter under inquiry. Hence, they demanded
the letters from MT BLAINE. The gentleman
had no right to talk TO the witnesses, or to
take the papers, which Of right belonged to
the committee. He (Mr. HuNToN) had never
CATION, and he had simply done his duty He did
not desire TO do any injustice to the gentleman
Mr.. blaine. Did you know Of the receipt of
the telegram from Caldwell3
Mr.. HUNTON. The gentleman from Ken
tueky [Mr. KNoTT] will answer that question
Mr.. ELAINE. But ask the chairman, with
whom have had to deal. ask If 1t is not q fact
InSS Sn Io aTS sne
of the committeeroom and showed you the tele-
gram from Caldwell?
swer that in full i will. Expressions of disap-
probation on the Republican side
Mir. BLAINE said he desired to say something
further Just here. The gentleman had alluded to
TO his talk to witnesses. He wanted to show that
Mr.. HuNToN himself was in the habit of examn-
ing witnesses before they went into the % commit
ton. May q, and signed A. p Robinson. and ad-
dressed 10 himself In this letter Mr.. Robinson
a subpoena: that he had seen Mr.. HUTTON on
the previous day; that Mr.. HUSToN asked him such
questions as impressed him with the belief that
persecution, of him, (Mr. BLAINR;) that he felt
that Mr.. BLAINE should know this, in order that
he might
BE ON HIS GUARD,
and that he would call upon him that evening
and more fully explain the matter. Mr.. Robinson
said further that he felt that Mr.. HUSroN was
cCuching him as to what he should say and the
out the strong points against Mr.. BLAINE. [Sen-
MT. nUNTON said he had talked to that wit
ness and others in advance for the purpose OF de-
teTmining the form of the questions to be put.
Mr.. BLAINE. Yes; but he charges that you
coached them in order to get ut the strong points
Mr. HUNTON said he did not know what the
gentleman meant by coaching He had examined
the witnesses
BEFOREHAND
to know how to question them, and that was us
He then again dwelled upon what he called Mr..
BLAINE's improperly in making his speech In
advance Of the report of the committee. He could
not know what that report would be. If the
evidence cxculpated the gentleman, No one would
sign a report to that effect more cheeriuliy than
he If on the other hand, the evidence condemned
him, he would not shrink from his duty in making
Mr.. hNUTT, of KY, said that question had
been put to him and an imputatiOn thrown out in
such a way that he would answer in a manner
different from what he intended to, IL they had
come from any other source. Those who knew him
best knew that he did not seek personal contro-
yersies, and especially would he not seek one
with the gentleman from Maine. lie is entirely
too pondeTOus, and when he is in the House you
can't tell half the time whether he is the Speaker
or whether the proper occupant Of the chair is.
Now, the gentleman has seen fit to drag him
(Mr. KNoTT) into this matter, and the first CON-
pIaint is thai he had appointed Mr. HUNroa and
Mr. AsHE as members of the sub committee. He
wanted TO say that these gentlemen were Mr..
BLAINE's peers in every particular, and 1t was
disparagement to the gentlemen from Maine to
say that in honor they were vastly his superior.
Misses on the Republican side.
And this subcommittee was appointed long be-
fore the gentleman's name was mentioned in con-
pection with the subject Of inquiry. 1t is strange
that you cannot touch one Of these railroads but
tee was raised, and long before he knew that Mr.
BLkINE's name would be connected with the
matter, be (Mr. KNOTTi went to Mr.. FRYE, the
gentleman's friend and colleague, and asked him
10 take a position on IL and he declined It.
air. FRYE said that was perhaps SO, but he
had no recollection of the fact. But If the
oFBER WAS MADE
he supI osed he was to have the place Of Mr..
LAwRENCE, and not of either Mr.. AsHE or Mr..
Mr.. KNOTT Oh, of course not [LaughterI
fused TO surrender the Mulligan letters the SUBJ
ject was reported 10 the full committee. mem
Der suggested that the facts ought to be reported
to the House. in order that Mr.. BLAINE might be
brought TO the bar but he {Mr KNorT) said that
IL the gentleman from Maine wanted to Join the
noble army of martyrs he must volunteer as he
had done to-day. lie did not purpose to assist
him TO it. AS to the insinustiou that the commit
tee withheld its report in order that the with
holding might operate against him at Cincinnati,
mn nurnote AS to his nomination At Cpciupsti he
lMr KNOTT ard his political colleagues had not
the least objection. They hope he will be nomi-
then their case is indeed hopeless. [Applause on
the Democratic side.l But If in the light Of all
the facts about him the American people should
elect him President, all he could say was God
help the American people. [Renewed applause
and laughter
He did say in the committee that IL Mr.. BLAINE
got the letters in the manner reported, and under
a pledge to return them to Mulligan and did not
return them, that was question Tor him to settle
with the American people, whose suiIrages he
seeks. The course pursued to-day by the gentle
man from Maine was Unprecedented in parlia-
mentaTy proceedings; that he should take a sub
ject being adjudcated from the committee, and
never done the gentleman n wrong but had ex-
tended to him all possible favOrs. He was
granted every latitude. Nothing was done that
could initiate against his aspirations. God
Knows we want En- nominated at Cincinnati.
[ Applause by Democrats.l AS to the question
Of contempt he might be brought to the bar and
i5rglng to thecOmmtte &c, and for tampering with
witnesses,
Mr.RUNTON, interrupting, said that as re-
garded Mr.. Robinson he testified unwillingly
/ hat he had been to see Mr.. BLAINE, and only
afier repeated Questioning by Mr.. AsHE. lie
then admitted that he had gone to see MIR.
Mr.. BLAINE. Or course he did. He came to
tell me how you had attempted to coach him.
Mr.. KNOTT, resuming. alluded tc the Cald-
well matter, and said 1t was at first suggested to
to him, but Mr.. BLAINE objected, say
ing II was nonsense, and that Caldwell would not
come: But when all the. witnesses continually
mentioned Caldwell's name IL was determined to
telegraph him anyhow. II is true that he MT
KNOTT received reply last THURSDAY: The
ST " hen he else asserts that
an attempt was made to suppress 1t he hurled the
falsehOOd back into his teeth.
He did get that dispatch, as stated; but 1t had
no date; II designated no street or locality where
Caldwell could be found. 1t looked suspicious,
and he believed 1t was put.u hxed u2, JOB.
[Derisive remarks on the Republican side. He
believed yet that IL was putup job, and that be-
lief was enforced upon him because the gentle
nan seems to know 50 much about 1t, even to the
moment of its receipt. 1t was neither his purpose
nor his duty TO lay before the Committee O uIs.
patch whose genuineness he doubted. He wanted
10 ascertain first whether Caldwell was in Lon
don. for he had been informed that he was in
Italy. On Saturday he told Mr.. HuSToN that If,
after a search, Caldwell could not be found he
would lay the telegram before the full committee
and let 1t 20 for what 1t was worth, but every
lawyer knew it was not worth anything as evil
dence.
Mr. McCREERY,a merIoer Of the Judiciary
Committee, inquired If Mr. KNOTT had ex.
hibited the dispatch to any Republican member
MIR. KNOTT said he had not, nor had no
shown II to q member OF MS Democratlc irlendS
IRerublicaps. Read the dispatch now. Read 1t!
MIR. KNOTT said he would do so in due time;
but not until II suited his convenience. Mr..
RLAlSE had substantially stated Its contents.
Mr. FRYE said as all the contents were not
told the inference was that the dispatch con-
tanned more than Mr.. BLAINE had stated II did.
Hr. KNOTT said he had not the dispatch with
him. IL was at HIS room. The dispatch was TO
the effect that Caldwell had seen reports Of the
investigation in American papers; that Scotts
testmJ,Y was substantially correct; that he had
never Gwen Blaine the bonds; that he would
make affidavit to the facts, but that his business
would not permit him to come to the United
States That was all that was in II. In conclu-
sion, Mr. KNOTT again denied that he had at any
time suppressed the dispatch.
Mr. BLAINE said as The dispatch had not been
read he demanded the previous question on his
resolution and the House must determine
whether II would permit n committee to suppress
a matter Of so much Importance. ICries oil order,
orGer.l
Mr. BANNING moved to lay the resolution on
TIE table, but subsequently withdrew 1t.
The House then refused to second the demand
for the previous questiop-yeas l0l, nays l0I.
Mr.. BANNING then moved to refer II to the
Judiciary Committee.
MIR. BLAINE and his friends wanted test
vote On the direct question, and amid good deal
of excitement Mr.. BLAINE and Mr. McCRAEY
moved to suspend the rules and pass It. There
was Gapger OF being forced on the record, when
Mr.. SPRINGER made the point OF order that
It was sgreed last week by unanimous consent