The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-06
h. BLAINE.
A Notable Day in The
House.
Mr.. Blaine Rises to a Per-
sOnal Explanation.
And Reads ALI the
Mulligan Letters.
A Scene of Great Excitement.
Knott Confesses to SURPRISING a
Telegram From Mr.. Caldwell.
A Scene of Great Excitement.
Knott Confesses to SURPRISING a
Telegram From Mr.. Caldwell.
Which ExOmerated MIR. Blaine

WASHINGTON, j une Ain the House this FORE
noon Mr.. Blaine of Maine (rising to ques-
ton of privilege) proceeded to address the
House on the subject of the investigation into
the Union Pacific and Northern Pacific trans
actions, in which his naEe had become involv-
ed.
The Character of the Investi CATION.
He read the resolution offered by Mr.. Tarbox
on which the inquiry as to the connection Of
the Union Pacific Railroad with the bonds of
the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad was
commenced. The author of that resolution
had at the time disclaimed any particular allu-
sion to him (Blainel disclaimer he (Blaine)
regarded at the time with some little incred-
ulity. 1t soon became entirely obvious that
the resolution vas solely and only aimed at
him and that the Union Pacific matter or any
other incident to the investigation was secon-
Diary, insignificant and unimportant. He did
not complain of that, he was ready to meet it,
The gentleman on whose statement the accused
rested (Harrison) had been the first man called
and stated what he knew from rumor. Then
Mr.. Rollins, Mr. Morton and Mr.. Willard and
7. A. Scott were examined and their testimony
was complete ond conclusive in disproof of his
(Blaine's 81 having had anything whatever to do
with the transaction.
He had expected to have an early report from
the committee, but it had been prolonged and
prolonged and prolonged, and he had been
somewhat surprised last week at being told the
committee would then turn to investigate the
transactions of the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company on newspaper report that there had
been some effort on his part with friend in
Boston, to procure for him some shares of that
company, which effort had proved abortive.
He had asked the gentleman from Virginia,
the chairman of the subcommittee (HuntonD
under what authority he proposed to make
that investigation, and had been told that au-
thority was the resolution offered by Luttrell
on the 31st Of January. He thought that that
gentleman NuttrelD would be surprised to
find out that the first thing done under that
resolution was to bring its whole force to bear
on the little transaction in Boston, which had
proved no transaction at all.
That investigation was begun and three wit
hSoEOo haU bOepAiOu Juoo PiSSioSiy 90 ohO Oh SuAA
stances were. He had no sooner got through
With this than in another part of of the capitol
without the slightest notice or warning to him,
the committee on the real estate pool had en-
tered on an investigation specifically aimed at
him, so that there were three investigations GO
ing on at the same time without any of them
being completed. He understood the gentle
man from Virginia (Hunton) proposed this
morning still another inquiry about the Kan
sas Pacific Railroad Company, transaction
which was fifteen years old even if it existed,
and this was also aimed at him.
A Rebel Assault.
Now he would say, and say it boldly, that
under these general powers to investigate spe
cific railroad companies, the whole inquiry of
the committees was aimed personally at him.
Why did they not organize committee to in
vestigate James G. Blaine? He wanted to
meet the thing squarely. He did not wish to
say that ever since certain debate took place
in the House in January last it had been known
that there were gentlemen here whose feelings
had been exasperated against him, and it was
to he remarked that while there were seven
Democratic members of the Judiciary Commit
tee, the chairman OF that committee (Knott)
selected on the sub committee to which these
matters had been referred two members from
the South who had been in the rebel army.
Knott of Ky-One word.
Blaine-After moment.
Knott-Allow me word low,
Blaine-Well, go on.
Knott-The matter of that railroad investi-
cation was referred to the subcommittee be.
fore ever heard your name mentioned in con-
nection with it. had no act or part in in
citing any investigation duplicating you at all.
Blaine-Then the gentleman from Virginia
(Hunton) insisted under that resolution which
was obviously on its face limited to the $75,-
600 bond transaction with the Union Pacific
Railroad Co., going on into all the affairs
of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad Co.,
and incidental thereto, and pursued it to such
an extent that finally 1 had myself, through
my colleague (Frye), to take an appeal to the
full committee and the full committee decided
that the gentleman (Hunton) had no right to
go into it, but when he came back he resumed
the examination exactly in the same way till
he was stopped by my colleague Frye), acting
not as my attorney, but as my friend, and
when finally the witness, Mulligan, came here
loaded with information in regard to the Fort
Smith Railroad, the gentleman (Hunton) drew
out what he knew had no reference what
ever to the question under Investigation, and
then and there insisted on all my private men,
oranda being allowed to be exhibited by this
man, Mulligsn, which had 10 more connection
or relation with this investigation than the
north pole. The gentleman tried his best also
capture and use and control my private cores.
pondence. This man had selected out of cor
respondence running over great many years
letters which he thought would be particular
ly damaging to me. He came here loaded
with them. He came here for sensation.
He came here primed. He came here on that
particular errand. l was advised of it and
obtained these letters under circumstances
which have been VIGOROUSLY scattered through
out the UnitedStates and are known everywhere.
how hnr hn1f trfr -.
that have entire right to these letters, not
only by natural right but on all the presidents
and principles of law The man who held
them in his possession held them wrongfully
and the committee which attempted to take
these letters from this man for use against me
proceeded wrongfully. 1t proceeded in the
boldest and most defiant violation of the ordin-
ary.personal and private rights that belong.to
every American citizen. ] am willing to meet
the judiciary committee on that point. l want
ed that committee to introduce it. [ wanted the
gentleman from Kentucky (Knott) and the
gentleman from Virginia (Huntos) to intro.
duce that question on the floor and they did not
do it.
Knott lin his seat)-Oh, no, you want to be
made a martyr Of
Blaine-Yes.and you did not want it, There's
the difference. will go little further and
say you did not dare to do it,
Knott-We will not talk about daring
Hamilton of New Jersey-I rise to question
of order Is the gentleman's language parlia-
mentary?
Blaine-Yes, entirely so.
T5e Speaker pro TEN, Mr.. Cox of New York,
IN the chair-It is for the Chair to decide.
The Private Correspondence.
Blalne-I understand the judiciary commit
tee to have abandoned that issue against me,
but there has gone forth the idea or impression
that because would not permit that man or
any man when could prevent it) from hold
ing menace over my head by private cores
pondence, there mnst be something ia it most
deadly and destructive to my reputation. |
would like any man now onEthis floor, and all
of them are presumed to be men of affairs
whose business has been varied and whose in
tercourse has been large,lto stand up here and
say that he is willing and ready to have his
private correspondence for the last ten OF twelve
years handed over and made public. Does it
imply guilt? Does it imply wrong doing?
Does vt imply sense of weakness that a man
will protect his private correspondence? No,
sir. 1t is mans fret interest to do it, and it
is the last outrage on any man to violate it. L
have defied the power to take these letters
from me, L do 1t still. speak with all respect
to this House. know its powers and trust
that respect them, but say that this House
has no more power to order what shall be done
or shall not be done with private correspon.
dence than it has to order what i shall do with