New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-14
letters in their proper order. They. need

NV having been interested in certain bonds
of the Little Rock and Fort Smith Rail.
road, alleged to have been purchased by
your company in 1871.
1t is due to me, think, that some state
ment in regard to the subject should be
made by yourself as the official head Of
the Union Pacific Railroad Company.
Very respectfully,
Sidney Dillon, Esq, President Union Pacific Bail.
road Company.
OFFICE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY,
New YORK, April Is, 1876. )
DEAR SIR have your favor of the
thirteenth instant. and In reply desire 10
say that have this day written Colonel
Thomas A: Scott, WHO was president of the
Union Pacific Railroad Company st the
time of the transaction referred to, letter
Of which send copy herewith. On re-
csipt Of his reply will inclose it to you.
SIDNEY DILLON, President.
Hon. James G. Blaine, Washir gton, DC.
OFFICE OF THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY,
New York Apri Is, 1876.
DEAR SIR-The press of the country are
making allegations that certain bonds of
the Little Rock and Fort Smith railroad,
purchased by the Union Pacific Railroad
Company in 1871, were obtained from Hon.
u
avails in some form went to his benefit, and
that the knowledge OF these facts rests
with the officers of the company and with
yourself.
These statements are injurious both to
Mr.. Blaine and the Union Pacific Railroad
Company. There were never any facts to
warrant them, and think that statement
to the public is due both from you and my
self. l desire, as president of the company,
49, ,oh e.
phatic manner, and would be glad to hear
from You on the subject.
Very respectfully,
Colonel Thomas A. Scott. Philadell ha, Pernsyl.
vania.
OPFIcE Union PACIPIo RAILROAD COMPANY !
New York, April a. 1876.
DEAR S1R-As l advised you some DAYS
ago, wrote Colonel Thomas A. Scott, and
beg leave to inclose you his reply.
desire further to say that i was q d.
rector of the company and a member of the
executive committee in 1871, and to add my
testimony to that Of Colonel Scott in veriti-
cation of all that he has stated in the in.
closed letter. Truly yours.
SIDNEY DILLON, President.
Hon. James G. Blaine, Washington, D. c.
PHILADELPHIA, April 81, 1876.
MY DEAR SIR have your letter, under
date New York, April Is, 1876, stating that
the press of the country are making allega-
tions that certain bonds of the Little Rock
and Fort Smith railroad purchased by the
Union Pacific Railroad Company in 1871
were obtained from Hon. j. G. Blaine, of
Maine, or that the avails in some form went
to his benefit; that there never were any
facts to warrant them; that it lie your desire
as president of the company to repel any
such inference in the most emphatic man
ner, and asking me to make o statement in
regard to the matter.
In reply, beg leave to say that, much as
the controversies that are before the public
in these days of scandal, from which few
men in public lite seem to be exempt, l feel
it my duty to state:
That the Little Rock and Fort Smith
bonds purchased by the Union Pacific Rail
road Company in 1871 were not purchased
or received from Mr.. Blaine, directly or in-
directly, and that Of the money paid by the
Union Pacific Railroad Company, or Of the
ayaiis Of said bonds, not one dollar went to
Mr.. Blaine, or to any person for him or for
his benefit in any form.
All statements to the effect that Mr..
Blaine every had any transaction with me
directly or indirectly involving money or
valuables of any kind, are absolutely with
out foundation in fact.
l take pleasure in making this statement
to you, and you may use it in any manner
yoa deem best for the interest Of the Union
Pacific Railroad Company
Very truly yours,
THOMAS A. SCOTT.
Sidney Dillon, Esg, President Pacific Union Rail.
road Company, New York.
And this closes the testimony 1 have
wished to offer.
Several newspapers-someo Of them. doubt
less, from friendly motives-have urged that
should ask for committee to investigate
these charges. l might have done that and
attend all congressional invesii-
cations. Three and q half years ago
moved a committee to investigate the
Credit MObilier charges, and though every
particle of proof, in complete exculpatiOn
Of myself was before the committee in
thirty six hours after its first meeting, l
was compelled 10 wait for more than two
months, indeed seventy full days, before
got public report generating and vindi.
eating me from these charges. If l had
asked for a committee to investigate the
pending matter; | should have been CON-
PEELED to wait its necessarily slow
action with the charge all the while
hanging over noe, undenied and unan-
swered and, pending the proceedings of an
investigation which l had myself asked, pro-
propriety would have forbidden my col
lectiDg and publishing the decisive proofs
which l have now submitted. For these
reasons have deemed that the shortest
and most expeditions mode of vindication
was the one which was bound to choose |
by every consideration of myself person.
ally and of thy official relations. / have |
not omitted the testimony Of q single ma.
terial witness to the transaction on which |
the accusation against me is based, and I'M
less l msapprehend the scope and force of |
the testimony it leaves no charge against |
me. In any and all events, J am ready to |
submit the whole matter to the candid |
judgment of the HOUSE and the country, |
and, if the House thinks the matter should |
be further inquired into. beg to express |
my entire readiness to give ell the assist |
ance IN my power to make the investiga- |
lion Is thorough, as rigid, AMI as impartial |
Is possible.
To give a seeming ccrroboration or
foundation to the story which l have dis
approved, the absurd rumor has lately ap-
reared in certain newspapers that | WIS |
he owner of some $4,000 or $3.50, 900 of
he Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad
ponds, which l received without icunsidera-
Thomas A. Scott received his $4,000.
The statement. is gratuitously and
Utterly false. No responsible author ap-
,ears anywhere for this unfounded
tory, but in dismissing it desire to make
he following explicit statement: More
han twenty three years ago, in the closing
lays Of Mr., Fillmores administration, the
government granted to the State of Arkau-
as some public lands within it's own limits
o be applied to the construction of rail.
Dads 10 that State. The Legislature of
n X nsas incOrnOratpd rha T,ittla RocI and |
Fort Smith Railroad Company the same
ear, and gave to the company portion of
he lands it had received from the general
nHarnment tn aid In fha CON strnction of tho |