The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-06-09
Blaine's Explanation.

On Monday, eX-Spcaker Blaine rose in the
House TO q personal explanation, in which,
with abundant display of rhetoric and flour.
ish Of oratory, he assailcd the committee
which had been investigating his question:
BILE connection with the affairs of the Union
Pacific and Northern Pacific railroads.
The principal witness against him was
James Mulligan, formerly Warren Fishers
clerk, who testified that Blaine, while q
member Of Congress, acted as the broker of
Fisher in disposing of large block
of the securities of the Little Rock and
Fort Smith Railroad Company Fisher was
the contractor TO build the road--that is, he
was in himself the Credit Mobier of the
concern. lie was acting for the Ring of New
England capitalists who had secured control
of the company, and for building the road
he was TO have all the bonds and stock of
the company, and was to divide the profits
with his coadjutors. Blaine undertook to
sell about $4,000 worth of the bonds and
stock, preferred and common, TO some of his
wealthy friends in Maine, which he succeed
ed in doing. For this service he received
about $1G2, 800 in the bonds of the company
rs commission. But the speculation turn
ing out badly, the Maine capitalists wanted
their money back again. and Blaine was
compelled to refund and take back the sc.
curitics, or portion of them at least.
Certain letters, written by Blaine, said to
establish his guilt, were in Mulligan's posses.
sion. These Blaine wanted, but Mulligan
refused to give them up, notwithstanding
Blaine's entrcaties and the offer to Mulligan
OF consulship. Blaine, however, was al.
lowed to read them, under pledge that he
would hand them back He did so, and a
few moments afterwards he asked to see
them again. Another pledge that lie would
return them was not asked the second time
whereupon Blaine took possession of them
and refused TO give them back.
One Caldwell, now railroad contractor
in Europe, was mixed up in these transac-
tons. He could not be found, although il
was asserted that his evidence was impor-
tant to clear Blaine.
On Monday Mr.. Blaine proceeded to make
an explanation before the House of the mat
ter. lie appealed to every sectional preju-
dice, stating that the recent attack was made
upon him personally because the Democrats
of the House We're eXaspcrated with him in
consequence Oft speech he made earlier in
the session. He then entered into an argu-
ment on his right to possess the letters he
had taken from Mulligan; denounced the
committee for attempting 10 obtain these
letters, deed them, aud for the propriety OF
his action said, in the spirit of true bun
combc, he appealed TO iorty.four millions OF
American people for his justification. Til,
done he read the letters, not, us he said
without humiliation and as he read com
mented upon them and explained certain
passages
Finally he said there was one witness
(CaldwelD who had not been heard from and
charged that the committee had received II
cable dispatch from Caldwell in London
which completely eXoneratcd him, but that
the committee from motives Of personal hos
Utility had suppressed that dispatch
In reply Mr.. Knott, Of the committee
stated they had received such dispatch, but
it could not be verified Indeed that being
simply dated London, it was impossible ia
communicate further with Caldwell 1t
would appear TO ordinary people that il
Caldwell is a friend to Blaine, and can exon.
crate him, the proper way would be for him
to abandon the railroad enterprises in which
he is engaged, and by appearing before the
committee shed what light he can upon the
dark transaction.
Mr.. Blaine's explanation is accepted by
his friends as n complete vindication, but
when narrowly examined it is suggestive
only of the bold and ingenious efforts FIRE.
quently made by lawyers when their clients
have no proofto sustain their innocence.
The whole scene in the House during the
delivery of Baine's speech, was one which
will notsoon be forgotten by any of the large
crowd that witnessed it. The older mem
bers of the House say that in all their OK
perieEcc they never before witnessed such a
scene. They had seen members expelled,
had heard men charged with treason, had
seen knives and other weapons drawn, and
yet they never saw mUIe excitement or
greater interest manifested in the proceed
ings than there was on Monday.