Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-06-07
MIR. Hunton. Not my habit, sir; | have
seen several.
Mr.. Blaine. | have received this letter
Which | wish to read:

Mr.. Blaine. l have received this letter
Which wish to read:
WASHINGTON D. G, May %, 1876
Dear Sir: / arrived here last night 10 give my
testimony il the case concerning yourself be-
fore the Judiciary Committee. | was summoned
10 the committee room 1T ten O'Clock this morn
ing and WAS sorry to find the Investigation post
p5ncd until Tomorrow on account of your i'll
ness I shall endeavor to call and pay my re-
spects this evening. I was great y taken by sur.
prise ut being taken aside by Mr.. Hunton and
somewhat closely interrogsted privately as to
the points of the testimony l should be able to
,.yn against you. All his inquiries seemed to
b, made with an animus, and the thorough ques
,iouing he gave me IN this informal manner as
,,uished me beyond measure. l had no idea
that Congressional investigations were conduc.-
ed in this way. II they are they cease t. be fair
aud honorable and degenerate into prosecutions
and then into prosecutions.
learned after leaving Mr. Hunton that he
lss heen pursuing this course with other wit
icSscs who are presumed to have some testl mo-
nv 20 give ag inst you. Mr. Hunton's Inquiries
were not merely general, but were, 1t seemed to
ne about as minute as they could we'll be- and
put with apparent desire to have every fact
sisted in y manner that would lnculpate you
have felt that / WAS in honor bound 10 CON-
,nunicate this to you rs early rs possible for
your own protection. l sm very truly yours.
A. Z. ROBINSON.
Hon. j. g. BLAINE.
He camc that evening and had some CONVEX
s..iOa with ms; aud when the rentlclnau asked
he had seen ne, h. supposed II was III refer
rncc 10 the testimony H. did not come 10 tell
me- what be could testify to, but
Mr.. Hunton. | did DOT give way for a
speech.
Mr.. Blaine. have made speech enough.
Nlt. Hutton The animus of that wltness Is
showu by his letter more than nine Is shown
| do NAT 2,ov | rnunr hovn dppiad
tha. have talked with some hall dozen wit
ue>scS.
Mr.. Blaine. But he said i, was un lersto>d
you coached" the witness; that is tie phrase
he used.
Mr.. Hutton | say that if he OF any other
mau says that undertook to post the Wilt
ness or TO coach him or ntimatcs by any
other technical term which | may not under.
; aud that there has been an attempt 90 my
part to :dueuce his les imouy, it is false, aD
u:ely false.
Now confess that | had talked to these
witnesses; but never, never have | attempted
to Influence their testimony 10 the sllg htest de-
gree. My Object in talking to the Witnesses
was to learn how to examine them; | thought
il my right and my duty.
Mr.. Blaine That is jus: what Mr.. Robinson
sayS-hat the object was to get the strong
polnts against me.
Mr.. Huntop. | did 90, give way to the gen
tIeuap. beg hun to recollcct that have The
Il or. and not to attempt to take 1t from ue
until | yield to him.
want him to recollect also that | was DOT
uulcr investigation; | was not interested 10
the result; aud lhough may have talked to
witnesses before their examination, was hat as
Tad as for the gentleman from Maine, who was
Interested IN the result, 10 take them to his
h ,uSe? | say here upon my personal rcspou
>!,iity that not once have | attempted to ln
hucnce the testimony Of a witness summoned
before me n any investigation ordered by this
H use. Why, sir, the gentleman knows that
u witness 10 his examination 10 the open COM
mitteero room stated, 10 my conversation Wi! b
you, Mr. Huntop, this statement occurred |
never attempted to conceal the tuct that on
several cccasons-probably four or FIVE, it may
hc less or it may be more-l did talk with wit
neS>,s, that might know under which resulu-
ton theii te>tm my came that might know
how to bring out the facts in the possession OF
the witu:ss. Ii that is wront, NJ. Speaker,
i is an error OF judgment on my part. can
lci see it.
Now, these are the facts in this case; and
beg the House to bear 10 mind that they have
committed these Investigations to the hauds Of
committee and willie that committee Is pro-
ccediog with its Investigation the gentl, man
from Maine, who suppvses that he is involved
in this invests CATION, undertakes to torcstall
the coucluSious of that committee, and make
his ,wn statement 10 the House of the result
OF that investigation. Mr.. Speaker, il this
practice is to DC observed n the House, let all
references to committees be discontinued and
whcntv,r there is an inquiry here which may
possibly involve a member, let that member
yet up on the floor and make his statement;
let that b. received as the report of the com
mitec let il be adopted and thus let the
matter cad. If that is not to be the practice,
let this committee 90 on with its investigation.
lrthc testimony does not mplicate Dir. Blaine,
| undertake to say that The committee will not
only cheeru,ly aud promptly, but with pleasure
report hat fact to the House. r. on the other
hand. the testimony shall involve him in the
chargcs which are under consideration ty tho
committee, then rest assured that l. as one OF
the members of the committee, mean to report
the facts to the House aud the conclusions to
be drawn from these facts.