The Portland daily press., 1876-06-08
Blaine's VindicatiOn.
How It Was Received.

The triumph of the ex-Speaker was yery
freely commented upon by his associates on the
floor, and by prominent persons who heard his
mastery vindication, and with rare exception
the voice was unanimous that he had taken
the straightforward manly course. Among
those who were heard to express their ideas
upon the subject were the following gentlemen:
Representative John Hancock of Texas, one of
the most prominent, cool-headed and able
Democrats on the floor, said the scene was
highly sensational and dramatic, which he pre-
sumed was all that was required in these times
He thought Mr.. Blaine's speech would, how
ever, place him back again in the public conf
dence. There was, be said, danger that peo-
pie at distance could not understand it, 1t
is hard to transfer TO paper the magnetic man
ner of Mr.. Blaine, and it is doubtful that peo-
pie will read the speech in the same spirit as
it was listened TO. He said after the letters
and the speech had gone by telegraph, had
passed through Hce perfecting press, and
gone through the mails thousand miles and
had been read by the old farmers and mechan-
les by candle light, they would be divested of
some of the excitement that is apparent here
now.
Mr.. Kasss2 of Iowa said there was never
such scene in the House, and while he was
respondent yesterday, he was exalted to-day.
He was perfectly, even enthusiastically salts
fed with the explanation. He thought there
was no stop for Mr.. Blaine now, and that he
would be nominated at Cincinnati. He quoted
Shakespeare BY saying, "Out of this nettle
danger we pluck this flower safety
Mr.. Harris of Massachusetts, a calm, deiber-
ate Republican, predisposed to Mr.. Blaine,
said no other nan 10 the country could take
and shake that confederate House like Mr..
Blaine. As for the letters, he would have been
proud to have been their author. He doubted
if any business man or any other could show
such manly letters among their off-hand cor
respondence. He had respondent partner
and some despondent friends in Boston, but he
would answer for them now. Mr.. Blane's old
friends could defy the world again.
ben" " ade sat through the whole proceed
ings, one OF the most interested listeners.
When, about O'Clock, he lounged toward the
coat room, he remarked to friend, "Well,
Blaine is the d-st man to handle in America.
He's got the rebels down and he puts his foot
on them. The people like such man and
will sustain him. They like that sort of
pluck
Mr. Garfield of Ohio said, "Jim has knocked
| a tremendous hole in their locker. l have been
q
such a scene in the House. When the Eman-
| cipaton amendment to the Constitution was
| adopted IN the XXXVIIIth or XXXIXth Con-
gress, there was very exciting scene, but
| Iothing like this to-day. 1t seems to me that
the disclosures that the Judiciary Committee
has withheld is important evidence which will
| be rutnOus to them, and in any event the day
has been strong one for Blaine and his
| friends"
A prominent gentleman in private life whose
| word'cannot be doubted, said that he had
| talk with Mr.. Knott yesterday in regard to Mr..
Caldwell, and that Mr.. Knott sale he had tried
| in vain to find Mr.. Caldwelrs whereabouts but
had failed; that he had no idea where he was
| nor where dispatch would reach him, and
| that he had not heard word from him since
| the investigation began. 1t now appears that
| Knott had dispatch at that very time in his
pocket from Caldwell, which had been there
| three days.
DAN Voorhees,, who, while a member Of
| the House was regarded as one of the most
ultra of Democratic paItisans, said tonight
| that it was the most brilliant, bold, and daring
| attack be ever knew in his life. Mr.. Blaine
| was like horseman riding at frightful pace
| against stone wall. He must either clear it
| or be dashed in pieces against it. But be had
| cleared it with plenty of room to spare. He
| said the Withholding OF Mr. Caldwell's tele-
| gram on the part of the judiciary Committee
| was unfair and contrary to the American idea
| of fair play aud honest dealing. Every
man was entitled to hearing, and an
| investigation by a Committee of Congress
ought not to be of a partisan character, but
ought to be for the purpose of benefting the
| public service and developing fraud. and dis
| honesty. He could not understand how a
Committee could suppress such important tss-
| tmony.
| Mr. Kelley of Pennsylvania, who has never
been accounted among the Blaine men, said
| that in an experience of sixteen years in the
1 House such scene as passed before his. senses
to-day bad never occurred before. II have
Il ha fol MAJ Nhoro Ian Il
/ traitors to their country, aud expelled from the
/ House with the most dramat effect, every
body wrought up to the highest pitch of excite
ment; have seen all the later Constitutional
| amendments passed, when the floors and CALLER
| les were in ecstacies OF passion; have heard
| reports read from the desk of great victories 10
i our armies when every loyal tongue shouted
with joy, and l have heard the news of the fl
| nal overthrow of the country's enemies pro-
/ claimed in this hall when people went wild,
| but L never oeheld such thrilling scene as
this"
Mr.. Steele, Delegate from Wyoming, an old
i soldier, a Democrat, and man not likely to
lose his head, said that if to-day's business did
not nominate Mr. Blaine, it ought. II believe
| said he. lit is worth to Blaine half dozen
/ State conventions"
Mr. Saylor of Ohio said the fact could not be
/ denied that Mr.. Blaipe's chances were inn
| measurably improved by to-days proceedings.
He thought the Judiciary Committee had been
| stamped,
Senator Allison of Iowa, who heard most of
the speech of Mr.. Blaine, said it was a most
| satisfactory defense. People could not help ad-
| miring the courageous and skillful generaship
of Mr. Blaine, who was the most audacious of
| Statesmen. He expressed himself as greatly
pleased with the position in which Mr. Blaine
| and the Republican party were left.
Mr.. Hoskins of New York, one of the fore
| most of Conkling men, said Mr.. Blaine's vim
| dication was complete and satisfactory.
Ex-Congressman Thomas and Judge Tuck OF
| Maryland, both delegates to Cincinnati, said
| the case as it stands tonight makes every luke
| warm friend of Mr.. Blaine a positive one.
| They said that Mr. Blaines speech will make
| Mary land stick to him as long as Maine will.
Col John E. Schey of West Virginia, also
| delegate, said he was a little doubtful about
| Mr. Blaine but now he could not be driven
| away from him with double-barre led shot
| gun.
"Jere Haralson, member from Alabama, a
| former slave and supposed follower of Sena.
| tor Spencer, whose first choice, according to
| his talk is both Conkling and Morton, saws the
| proceedings to-day put Mr.. Blaine on the top
| and make him the next President.
| lCor. n. Y. Timesl
The scene in the House today when Mr..
Blaine produced the letters obtained from Null
lgan. and promised to take into his confidence
100000 of the people was almost unpreced-
| ented in the history of Congress. The part