The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-04
KNOTT'S REPLY TO BLAINE.
THE CHARGE THAT M ESUPPRESshD
THE CALDWELL TbLEGRdM'
o.. Indignant Kcntucisinu Accusing blaine
sf Concoctins the Drspnich-A Loua ana
E,eiting Debate-Tho Report Exonerat-
,aa Knott Recalled nnd Recommittcd.

~, .,ancoc,,py tbe Dr.pntcii-A Loua and
E,eitina Debate-Tho Report Exonera'-
tne Knott Recalled and Recommi"ed'
wAsurxaroy. Aug 3. In the House to-
t,v Mr. uurd Dem. Ohlo). from the Judiciary
committee submitted the unanimous report OF
th., committee In regard tn the Caldwell tele-
-, IN. entirely exonorating MI Knott, the Chair
,n,, from any Intention OF desire OF withhold
g., n improperly from the knowledge Of that |
oommittoe or OF the House.
Mr. Knott Dem, KY, Chairman OF the COM
nIttee. said he mad no Intention to speak on tho
subject, "a he was perfectly satisfied with the
report Of the committee exonerating himself
from all suspicion, either OF mistake or judg-
ment, or having been actuated by an unworthy
motive; but be had seen an article lately puo-
Ished in the Philadelphia North American, re-
inserting that the Caldwell despatch had been
UNANIMOUSLY suppressed by him (Mr. Knotp, and
holding up to the contempt OF the country
man who should so deoase himself by conceai-
ing the proof OF the innocence OF a political Zoo
and he felt called upon TO speak In his own be-
halt Il was, however, peculiarly painful Tor
him 20 speak on the subject In the absence
OF the gentleman from Maine. (Mr Blaine) who
had found II necessary for the promotion OF his
own pers ,nal ends to make an unJustinable and
disIngenuous imputation on him. (Nr. knotU
Notwithstanding the erroneous impression with
which the popular mind had been hned by thAt
s,blIme piece OF acting, aud notwiths standing
the food OF vltuperation and calumny which
was hurled on him (Mr. Knott by the Repuoli-
can press, conscious OF tho rectitude OF his in-
tentions, conscious OF the correctness OF bis
judgment. conscious OF having done his duty TO
His committee. conscious that he had done
nothing more than lie ought to have done, ne
had waited long anu patiently Tor MT. Biaites
reappsarance In the House before opening his
iips in his own vindication. He had waited only
90 be di-apponted by the news OF MT. blaine
r.signatton. 1t was said that the band OF God
was upon him. aud that he was sick. Whether
s no m Ally prostra ed bv an attack OF sick
ness, or whether he was only acting part 10
postpone the investigation until the popular IN,
terest had somewhat subsided. he (Mr knotp
did not know. He only knew that the esntle-
Mr. Knott then referred to the action Of the
committee on tne subject of the Little Rock
the testimony OF some of the witnesses. partic-
uisriy that Of Mr.. +. IL, Rollins late Treasurer
now Senator elect from New Hampshire. He
SPOKE OF the very convenient memory OF pr Mr
Rollins, and said that no unpreJuOlceu nlinu
could read tho record OF hts testimony without
arriving at the conclusion tnat he considered
himself under no legal obligation to remember
any fact which could not be proved by some
other witness: but bis Testimony. taken as
Of Mr.. Har rison before the committee, and had,
besides, left the impression that there was
State OF Denmark" something which no fel-
low could nnd out" The testimony before the
Mr. blaine was most Interested In having j. iah
Cnidw ell brought before { committee. N hts
manner. IL Caldwell bad refused to come, that
OF course, would be an end OF ~
would nave vindicated, and Tot convicted, Mr..
Blaine. In any event, Mr. Blaine would nave
occupied the attitude OF challenging all the tsst-
mony that could De procured against him In
the light OF subsequent events ne (Mr. hnotU
thought Il probable that MIR. Blaine may have
had good reason for not desiring that Caldwell
should be disturbed in the feiiracy OF DIS for-
elgn home. Caldwells testimony would have
been OF vital portance either for the com mplste
sxculpa ion of Mr. Blaine, or TO show the nature
The question Of sending "a despatch to Caldwell,
requesting him to return 70 TINS country anu
on tho 10th Of May, and the proposition had
been seduOusly and earnestly opposed on the
mr' Knott went on to rehearse the story OF
the Caldwell Telegram and said that as soon 40 as
he received II he thought II extremely nshy,
and II then occurred 10 him that Il was scheme
ooncocted on this side OF the Atlaniic TO max :, 4,
the Judiciary Committee and the House ltseli
the instrument Of perpetrating a fraud on the
American people. lie was convinced OF y, h'
stances of his famous Interviews with Blaiue
wherein the Latter rfoye ed au!eet.y Ia & the uuS, @
wherein, in the lace OF the pledge 70 return The
letters, Blaine cooy put them in ms pockei
lie submitted that after tnat he had ampi
ground. for believing that Mir Blame would no
scrupe to be party 10 the concocting OF %
Caldwell telegram, or anything else that "oui
tend to promote his private or POLITICAL end,
Passing on to the dispatches sent u Caidwell
Sss1dony Snd wnH' of Fayo. Sos he said that Fyo
was the Italian n me for Honeycomb," and n
siderstion OF the honest whlch Caldwell ha,
gathered through the instrumentahty OF hl
arch-broker, James q. Blaine, anu OF his ben
the gushing receptacle Of the precious treasure
extracted for him by the active ana disinterest
ed Blaine. Caldwell hid adopted the despdtcl
concocted for him, but tie would Just as readl
adopt despatch requesting him TO say that sf
Almighty wheeled the DIRT out OF which tn
MR.. FRYE's REPLY.
NJ Frye mep Me) replied to Mr.. Knott
speech. He SAID be did not know when he wa
more panied than he was 70 day, or when hi
feelings had been so wounded as they had bee
to-day. An attempt by him 10 review the testl
mony under the laroox resolution was entlrei
unnecessary; and on attempt 10 revive ~ an
pronounce judgnent upon II, by the Gentlema
from Kentucky (hr. knott), when thal Case h@
been postponed until next ID cemOer, was Win
out the slightest Just tincation IN b0nor or J
parliamentary law lbet testimony wheh
beyond DOUBT every homes, sincere seek.
after truth, that Mr.. blame never , ha
and Fort Smith ponds that were purchas,
hv Mr.. scott u Mr. { lldwell anu sold to IN
Union Pacific kuToad CJmuany. None out
nina hed with Jealousy, ed with malice
filed with wicked purpose, would drre pre-
nounce Judgment on a peer OF hts on the nOo
OF the House ON any such testimony as tina
He did not propose 10 review the testimony !
reference to the Caldwell despatch, but h. as
serted that II failed TO show anything wbuteye
ns to Mr.. Blaine inspiring, or sending, or SO,
ing TO nave sent, any despatch ~ Caldwell. IL
repeated what himself and Mr.. Blaine ha
again aud again SAID 70 NJ. Knott that :
might ursue the lnNtSllgdtlOn 10 Tue very Dl
ter end, and that at thlt end he would not In
the Hon. James q. Blaine. No mind that va
not made reckless by bitterness, BY malice /
wicked purpose. would even dare assert tni
Mr.. Blaine iustig ted, s'ood over, or helped o
Mr.. Caldwells clerk lReed) TO publish thei
desp ltches. when Mr.. Blame was on u
floor the gentleman from Kentucky ID not a
tempted TO make any attack upon him, b.
he h d undertaken h feeble and unworthy d
fence agiinst Blaine. Friends OF Nil Knott hi
asked him to agree 10 report that shoulu e
cupa' Q him. They said that he desired excl
patton because he had unfriendly look and u
friendly criticism from his own sde oI u
House He had learned, gradually, 10 nave co
bdenre In that gentleman 10 admire NM az
to loyo him 4; and no had exculpated MIN, al
said that mad kept back that telegram IN Yoi
faith; tat the exhibition OF malice whlch y
gentlem ~ from Kentucky had dared 70 ma
fn the absence OF Mr.. Blaine, had satisned hl
tlAt he had not known tnat gentleman "
Knott in tho deep recesses OF his hes
That gentleman knew that God had stru
down Mr.. Blaine that for TWO and hi
days hs had never uttered one wore
bad never recognized wife or child had nev
closed his eyes and vet no stood up In =
House, and, In the absence OF Mr. Blaine, insl
u4t,d that IL was all a part Of the play; that
Blaine was great aud leading character IN
haf ia DiaVed admirably, A ga