The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-02

he said with good many "by Gods that he was going
to hold those letters for his protection aud ms Fhdca
ton.
sad:-"when you get through with TIE examna-
tion, will you give them 10 me thenyp
He said:-"No: II any body .impuns' my motives, tne
pronounced in tina: wayl, in any way questions
nv veracity In tho papers, shall publish these let
ters +"
sa,d:-"you do not think would attack you in tho
papcrsY There Is nothing 10 mako mo attack you ~
the papers
He sad:-"well, II anybody did he should publish
| them"
had been running over the letters for some time.
The nrst time when be handed them TO me, he had
shown reluctance. and, as have stated, remarked,
You are not afraid Of my keeping Them ?" and he
answered, ION, no. and handed them to me without
any assurance ut ALL without anything being SAID
about H. and had idea OF doug anything else but
handing them back, until he announced his purpose
ana determination that. no matter who should question
his testimony or impcach or impun his vcracity, he
would publish the Iettera y
said -"Thesc are private ctters these arc letters
that relate to matters that have more connection or
relationship with the examination now going on be ore
and II wonld be grossly unfair that you should treat
my private correspondence in that way" then SAID
.'w you ring the bell for servant and tell him to
send Mr. Fisher up from the lower roomf"
He did 80. and very soon Mr. Fisher cnmc up, and
we had litile conversation. IN which repeated be-
fore Mr. Fisher what Muliigan had said-hir declara-
ton ,r or rather his menace ! said;
then said that would be glad II Mr. Fisher would
take charge OF the letters that they we're rghtfuiy in
his possession or rlgnliuiy in mine, but not
III any third PERSONS. Muigan repeated again
in Mr. Fishers presence his declaration that he would
ieel himself at liberty to publish these letters any
time he III II anybody should provoke him unto
wrath by any comment on his testimony, and owing
to the somewhat enlarged facilities OF the American
press for making criticisms upon everybody found
that my private correspondence hung by tho thread
OF his taking offence at any OF the thousand and ono
paragraphs that might be set uoat IN the papers, and
Under these circumstances viii not give these
letters up,' and In order that he might not
be mistaken 10 the ground OF my action, l
called Mr. Atkins from the lower room, for
wan fadf 10 n hNt ha urAn md srht
said:-"l will not return these letters because you
threaten TO mako use Of them which is illc
climate, which Is unfair, which Is entirely un-
| Just, and have no idea hat any shall take my
private correspondence and hold 1t a menace over
my head 10 be used at his beck option for his own
purposes under somebody's Erection" We went
down stairs and he repeated and rcaIrmed his state
good; will retain the letters. . When went home /
sent for two friends, one q member OF the House OF
and iaa eSery ono Of these letters before them
these letters which "would disgrace for liie and
ona my children sosrow,nE 70 me grave and de
and read every OF tnem just the order In which
they were marked and numbered by Muil'gan himself
then said TO these gentlemen alter consultation
~ am going TO submit these letters to two Of the
wisest and best counsel that can find in the city
BIO guided entirely BY them the action shall take
before the Judiciary Committee. II they say any OF
those letters should be In duty bound 10 deliver; II
they intimate to me that there is anything in the
letters which bears even remotely or otherwise upon
delivered but shall wait and be guided by their
opinion as TO what ought to do in the premises.
send 10 my house and take any package from my files
Of correspondence Tor tht last Ave years and
sss q hem % Ss
actions which are passed and settled up
and which do not want revived, not that there Is
anything in them which IS In any degree embarrnss-
ing have read them over freely to those two
friends, and, as say will read them over freely to
those two counsel. There is nothing IN these letters
which shall have occasion to blush The result
is that postponed my action until could have this
conference IN regard to Il.
There was another reason which made It peculiarly
exasperating me; that Is that In the month Of Sep
tember 1872, Mr. Fisher and l. after very long and IN
the main very pleasant business relations, extending
back 10 period when ! was very young man, had
nai M dat we was sspsmDer 81
II then said that all letters on either side and all
papers and scraps OF papers should be given up and
written careessy, as business letters often are got
great many letters from him, and gave up oil that
had. Mr.. Muligan claims that Mr.. Fisher gave these
letters him, that he has right TO them and that
no has the right 10 dspos, Of that correspondence
which Is all OF II, private When said TO him that
4 1t was all private correspondence he said
tine letter of public man public"
That was tho ground he took in conversation, and
| especially II letter was not marked private.
Some Of these letters. however are marked Private,
some are marked personal" and marked
! CONFIDENTIAL" insisted that il the grossest
You take these letters before the committee with
out the committee designing mo any wrong They 60
out to the world and then when II 10 seen they have
| the publication has been achieved and accomplished,
and It will be 100 late for me 10 incrpose any objection
them
involves what myself protest against, which Ii the
entirely private letters which have relevancy
ground and that ground ! stand now l
justify myself for not returning the letters
letters He had no right to those letters take that
ground most distinctly that there are but two men
wrar and shs
and on that right stand. Now, ! shall produce the
letter with great freedom on which MT Muiisan has
based his testimony that acknowledged having
ccivcd the $64 00O and shall show you has no re-
| lation TO that subject
BY Mr. FRYE-Q-Do not some OF those letters
late to matters TRANSPORTING long before you became
a member OF Congress for the first time.
| Tho CnAiRNAN-As understand you and espc-
ciAlly understand from Mr. Mulgan, you had pos
session OF those letters on two occasions?
| Mr.. BIAISE--Yes
The CmAinMAs-On the first occasion you promised to
return themy
Mr. BLAISE-It did not assume SO formal shape as
promise thought he exhibited little hesitancy in
handing them 10 me, and SAID to him. "You don't
think would keep them, do your" IL was rather an
interjectional remark. ! do not know whether Mr..
Fisher or Mr. Atkins was In the room when nrst got
them, but both OF them came in wLilc was rcading
and looking over tho letters. handed them back TO
The CnAIRxAS-why did you have the second inter-
view In Mr.. Muisan's room in the absence OF these
Mr. BLAlSE--It was Mr. Mulligan who had left the
not wanted TO satisfy myself with respect TO
specific letter; fifteen letters mako rather voumin-
correspondence to remember ali about; went and
told him wanted to specific letter and he handed
me the package.
The CHAIRMAy-whcn you rot the iettcrs the second
time II was your intention to return them 10 Mr.. Null
| ngans
Mr. BLANE-Ycs.
Tho CHAIRHAS--you changed your intention upon his
declaration that II his veracity were assaed he would
publish the lettersy
Mr. BLAixg-Ycs; that he should attack me II any
/ body else attacked HIM.
/ Tho CHAIRxAx-I ask at your hands the production
of those letters for the pcrusal OF the committee not
for publication, that the committee may for them
selves whether they bear upon the question:
Mr. BLlISE-ln privatey
The CHAIRMAX-Xo, sir with no privacy; but GER
tanly will not make them public unless they bear
| the question
| Mr.. BLAyE-I will take occasion 10 consult my
| sci IN regard TO IL
| The CmAiRSAx-You decline, then, to produce thcms
NJ IN -Enrt ho rrrS ant vdn.l