Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-15
Statements by Ex-speaker Blaine and
##a BBt Speaker Kerr. ,..a,1

Ia III Speaker Kerr. ..a,.l .
IN his statement and explanation in the
House on the 5th, Mr. Blaine claimed that he
had rightful possession of the letters obtained
by him from the witness Mulligan, who had
no night whatever to them. After lengthy
remarks in which he stated that the whole
inquiry of the committee Investigating spe-
cific railroad companies had been aimed per-
sonally at him, he proceeded to read the
letters and memorandum in question, and
made passing com u1ents upon and explana-
tions of various points in the several
letters. He introduced the reading of the
letters with the following remarks: "Many of
these letters have not the remotest bearing
on the subject, but some ofthem will require
a little explanation. Some of them may pos
sibly involve humiliation, butt would good
deal rather take that than take the evil sur
misses and still more evil differences that
might be drawn if L did not act with this
frankness." s.'' a'-
After the reading of the letters and memo
randum, the speaker went on to say that
there had not been one particle of proof to
convict him of the specific charge against
him that he was party in interest to the
S64 600 transaction. These letters, he said,
were picked out of correspondence extend
ing over fifteen years, and the most intimate
business CORES ondence of his life; the man
Mulligan had done his very worst. Mr. Blaine
then charged that Mr.. Knott, Chairman of
the Judiciary Committee, had suppressed
telegram received by the committee, COM
pletely generating him (Blaine) from the
charge against him, and demanded of Mr.
Knott to know if such telegram had not been
received by the committee. He then offered
a resolution instructing the Judiciary Com
mittee to report forthwith to the House
whether such telegram had not been received
from Mr.. Caldwell, Or whether the committee
had heard from him (CaldwelD in any other
way. In answer to Mr.. Blaines insinuations
against him, Mr.. Knott stated that there had
been no wrong done to Mr.. Blaine by the COM
mittee. So far as the letters were concerned,
the committee had not decided what should
be done with them, but Mr.. Blaine had been
positively assured that he would not be mar
tyred by the committee. Yet, in defiance of
all parliamentary law, an ex-Speaker of the
House had, in the House, under pretext Of
personal explanation, taken the matter away
from the jurisdiction of the committee. AS
to the telegram from Mr.. Caldwell, Mr..
Knott said he hurled the falsehood back into
the teeth of any man who suggested
that it had been suppressed. He said 81
have it. did not suppress it at all. In less
than thirty minutes after I received it read
it to several gentlemen, but there was no
particular address in London from which it
purported to come, and did believe, and am
not altogether certain yet that do not be-
heve it was a fXed-up job" t.t.f...s
In answer to requests from the Republi-
can side to read the dispatch from Caldwell,
Mr.. Knott s2id: 81 have not the dispatch
here. 1t is at my house. The contents of it
are substantially as stated by the gentleman
from Maine (Blaine) l dc not know that
can repeat it in the exact terms. The pur-
port of it is that Caldwell had seen Thomas
A. Scots testimony the New York papers,
and that it was substantially correct; that he
had not let Mr.. Blaine have any bonds, and
that he would send an affidavit to that effect,
but that he was engaged in a railroad enter
prise over there and could not come to give
his testimony without serious pecuniary loss
This is substantially what is in it, and if the
gentleman had only waited that dispatch
would have been presented to the committee
for whatever use the committee might see
proper to make of it. / had no desire to in
jure the gentleman from Maine personally,
and especially not politically, but l desire
that the truth may be told. -.-...- srs a..
Mr. Blaine moved the previous question on
his resolution, and attempted to make
further remarks, but was prevented by loud
calls TO order and by the Speaker pro tena
ruling that he was not entitled to the floor for
that purpose.
The House refused to second the previous
question, and then the motion of Mr.. Blaine
was referred to the Committee on Judiciary
yeas, ia; nays, 81. q vEss FIST
/ az fBr EODTEy 9rEA
On the 5th, Speaker Kerr appeared before
the Committee on Expenditures in the War
Department and, through his counsel, pre-
sented a statement in relation to Harney's
! charge that he (Harney) had paid him (Kerr)
$3.50 TO secure the appointment of A. P. Green
to vacant Lieutenancy. Mr.. Kerr stated
that, in 1866 or 1867, he was called upon by
Mr.. Green in relation to the appointment. He
did not recollect that he was introduced by
Harvey, and had no consciousness of ever
having known Harvey, He (Harney) had
never visited him anywhere, and had never
paid him money for his influence, or for any
purpose whatever. He KERR had told Green,
after examining his credentials, that if be
could procure the names of certain New
York parties whom he knew he
would aid him. Green did procure
the Endorsements desired and he (Kerr)