The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-01-05

i
one to every four Of the population.
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DEFENSE OF GEN. SCHENCK
HON. REvERDY JOHNSON, an honora-
BILE and upright man and one Of the ablest
lawyers of the United States. has of late
been spending considerable time in Eu-
rope. While in London, there was
sudden revival, among certain British
newspapers, OF the Emma Mine Scandal
IN reference to Gen. Schenck, our Minis
ter at the Court of st. James.
Mr.. Johnson felt himself impelled to
make an exact and personal examina-
tion into the facts connected. with the
Emma Mine transactions so far as Gen.
Schenek was concerned; and did SO.
He has now published an admirable let
ter in the Baltimore American, strongly
defending Gen. Schenck from the asper-
sions which the press of this country
had quite too heedlessly cast upon him.
The letter is long, ana we are necessa-
rily compelled to confined our quota
tions to its more salient points, omitting
some details not SO important to the con-
clusion.
Mr.. johnson writes under date of Lon
don, Dec. 13, and says:
| In common with every citizen of the
United States, L had been much con-
cerned at the charges which from time
to time had been made in this country
and in ours against our Minister, Gen.
Sehenck, because of his connection with
what is known as ''Tbe Emma Mine.n
Since my arrival in Lcndon, therefore,
have endeayored to become accurately
| acquainted with all the circumstances
of the transaction so far as he was con-
cerned with them. The result is my per-
fect conviction that there is no ground
whatever for impeaching in the
slightest degree General Schenck's
personal integrity. For myself /
needed not such an examination
to arrive at this conclusion. My ac-
| quaintance with General Schenck has
been intimate for more than thirty years,
serving with him in Congress for nine or
ten years, and an observer of his whole
official conduct. Until this matter of the
4 Emma Mine was stated, never heard
the slightest suspicion cast upon his pri-
tvate or public honor. And SO f-m was
| the confidence reposed In him by his
leountrymen who knew him, that, / have
no doubt, with them his reputation re-
mains unspotted. Itis proper, however,
and i deem it in some manner my duty,
ito give to your readers, as succinctiy as
/ may. the reasons upon which my pre- g.
lent Judgment is founded.
After narrating the details for sending
commission to London TO take testi-
mony in suit pending in New York,
Mr.. johnson continues:
A commission was issued by the Court
to London to take testimony. When it
arrived here Gen. Schenck was Oh the
j Continent, and had been there for sew
4 erai weeks on leave OF absence. While
there he received a letter from Mr.. Tur-
ner, the solicitor OF the plaintiffs, advis-
4 ing him that he desired TO take his testi-
lmOny. He soon started for London, an d
the day after he arrived here, the Com
mission not being then closed, he ap-
\ appeared before 1t and requested to be
heard as a witness, waving all ohjec-
ton he could make to it because OF his
official position. rT
\ lie was heard, and then gave very
4 clear account of his connection with the
enterprise. AS am not aware that this
account has been laid before the Ameri-
can public, Iproceed to give it. 1t was
in substance this: In the latter part of
A October, 1871, on visiting the Hon. VIM.
4 NJ. Evarts at his hotel IN this city, Gen.
s. met Senator Stewart, OF Nevada,
whom he had known for several years,
4 and for the first time, Mr.. 4. w. Park, OF
| California. On this occasion no refer
ience was made to the mine, nor had the
General any knowledge of its existence.
i A few days afterWard Messrs. Stewart
4 and Park told Gen. s. Of the mine and of
the object with which they had visited
4 London.
i They explained to him its great value,
i and inquired whether he would not take
some OF The shares. This the General
declined to do until he had time TO ex-
anime the proofs which they exhibited
to him, among which was report Of
1Prof. Silliman. The examination he af-
terward made, and being satisfied with
its result, he agreed to purchase 800
shares at 22Oa share, the price which
other stockholders paid, but his means
being limited, and that fact being com.
municated to Mr.. Park, that gentleman
agreed TO loan him, and did loan him,
the necessary amount to complete the
purchase.
For the security OF this loan Gen. g..
lpledged Ibe shares, and gave Park as
: collateral properly belonging TO him In
I. the United States fully sufficient to meet
the obligation, and Mr., Park agreed TO
guarntee to him an annual dividend OF
Is per cent. payable monthly. This
g dividend was paid regularly by the Com
! lpany for thirteen months 70 General
Schenck and the other stockholders. AL
7 the time OF this agreement no proposi.
s tion was made or intimation given him
y that Park or Stewart, or either Of them,
!. desired him to be ons Of the directors oi
the Company, nor did he receive such
a proposition until several days after.
. ward. . -
u Being thentold that this would enable
! him to protect his own interests and the
interests OF other American stockhold.
0 eTs, snd without thinking there was any
!, official impfopriety In so doing, he col
! seated, and was appointed q director