Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-06-06

to have his private correspondence for the last 10
or II years handed over and make public. Does
it imply guilt Does it imply wrong doing! Does
it imply sense of weakness, that man will pro-
tect his private correspondence! No, sir. 1t is
mans first interest to do it, and it is lasting out
rage on any man to violate it.
have defied the power to take these letters
from me. do it still. l speak with all respect
10 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 correspondence,
than it has to order what | shall do with the fu-
ture and admonition of my children, not one par
ticle more. But am about to show the letters
tholding them up in his hands, | thank God
Almighty that am not ashamed to show them.
There they are. There is the very original pack
age.
With some sense of humiliation, with a mortih-
cation which do not pretend to conceal, with
sense of outrage which | think any man in my
position would feel, [ invite the confidence of
tory-ionr millions OF people, and will read these
letters. applause which the Speaker PRO TEN.
cndeavored to supprcss.(
Many of these letter, have lOi t.,l .eg t-st
bearing on the subject, but some Of them VIII re-
quire little explanation. Some of them may in
volve humiliation, but would good deal rather
take that than take the evil of surmises and still
more evil differences that might be drawn if did
not act with this frankness
Mr.. Blaine thereupon proceeded to read and
10 make piSslDg comments upon tne
Of various points in the several letters.
The first letter was marked private and per-
sonal," and dated August 81, 1872, and addressed
to Warren Fisher, Jr, claiming that the latter
was trying to force him to a settlement, and men
tioning a $4,000 note on account of spencer
stock"
The alluson to the Spencer contract he ex-
planned by saying that in the summer of 1861, two
years before he first came to Congress, be had
been asked if he could not get an opportunity for
the inventor Of the Spencer rifle to bring that new
arm to the attention of the Secretary of War.
lie said he thought he could, and he had come
to Washington, and had an interview With Secre
tary Cameron.
Blaine said he wanted to explain these.
Mr.. Cameron had given orders to have it tested,
by the ordnance bureau it had been thoroughly
tested, and the experiments were so satisfactory
that q preliminary order for 200 rifles was
made.
The company had Immediately proceeded to
erect an armory in Boston; he had been paid not
an extravaganza but moderate fee for his SER
vices, which he had Just as much liberty to take
as any lawyer or agent had to take a fee. Sub
sequently he had taken and paid for $4,000
worth of stock in the company, which had since
been merged into the Manchester Rifle Co. That
was the whole story. There are five letters;
there are the whole CT them, and here is Multi
gans memorandum. | keep it as protection to
ysef to show the identity Of the letters in every
respect"
Glover of Maine-Will you have that memo
randum read?
Blaine-I will do SO.
Hale of Me.-Does this exhibit cover every
paper that came from Mulligan
Blaine-Every solitary secret.
Glover-Let that memorandum be read at the
Clerks desk.
Blaine (sending it to the Clerks desk Yes, |
will be glad to have it read.
The memorandum was read as follows:
The following is the memorandum Of Mr. Null
ligan:
1st-Oct A, 1869, relating to debate in the
House, and Blaine ruling; also globe and favors
he to receive from c. for pressing the bill
2l-Oct 4. 1869; on the same subject.
3d-June q, 1869; thanking Fisher for admit
ting him to participate in the l.. & F. r. r., and
urging him to make Cald. CALDWELL say how
much he would give him, and for what he knew
he would be no dead head, but would render him
valuable assistance.
4th-July %. 1862 on same subject.
5th-September s. lSG9-Contract with different
parties.
6th-Coptract with Northern Pacific.
7th-May IA, lS70-Caldwell designed to treat
him handsomely.
Sth-Oct "a, lS7l-Fisher to Blaine, urging
settlement Of North Pacific Railroad account,
S25 900.
9th-Oct 4, lS72-Blaine admits that there was
$4,000 paid on the S25 900 loan, and to having re-
ceived SO 900 from Fisher.
l0h-Oct l, lS7l-Admts being paid $4,000
on account of loan.
Mr. Blaine sold sundry parties Sl2j,O0O first
mortgage bonds, common stock Sl25 600 and pre-
ferred stock Sl25, 900, for which paid by them
Sl25, 900 cash, and Mr.. Blaine was to receive for
his share OF the transaction $4,000 land grant
bonds and S32, 800 first mortgage bonds.
The memorandum was read.
Mr.. Blane-Now would be obliged for any
gentleman when he reads those letters to see the
obvious interest on which the memorandum was
made up. | desire also to call attention to the
fact that these were the letters for which was
ready to commit suicide and sundry and divers
other desperate things in order to acquire them.
have one or two more observations to make.
The specific charge which went to the committee
was whether was party IN interest to that S64,-
600 transaction, and submit that up to this time
there has not been enc particle of proof to connect
me with it. These letters were picked out of my
correspondence extending over ID years. The
man (Mulllgan) did his worst-his very worst.
They were picked out of the most intimate bust
ness correspondence of my life. l ask you, gen
tlemep, land ask with some feeling,) if any of
you could stand closer scrutiny and more rigid
investigation of your correspondence Now
there is but one piece of testimony wanting-there
is but one thing to close the complete circle of
testimony. There is one witness whom cannot
have but to whom the Judiciary Committee voted
TO send cable despatch, Josiah Caldwell, and
ask the gentleman from Kentucky, if that cable
dispatch was sent.
Knott--The gentleman from Va. (IInnton) and
have both endeavored to get Mr.. Ca!dwelrs ad
dress and have not yet got it.
Blaine-ias the gentleman from Kentucky re-
ceived cable dispatch from Cadwelli
Knott will explain that directly.
Blaine-I want a categorical answer.
Knott have received despatch pun porting to
be from Mr. Caldwell. How did you know got
il?
Blaine-(a advancing down the aisle )-When did
you get that telegram
Knott want you to answer my question first
Blaine-I never heard of it till yesterday.
Knott-How did yon hear it
Blaine-I heard that you got a despatch last
Thursday morning at o'clock, from 10 iah Cald
well, generating me completely and absolutely
from this charge, and with great vehemencc of
mauuer) you have suppressed it.
Loud applause and cheering on the republican
side of the House and in the galleries, which
caused the speaker pro tem to lecture the galleries
aud to direct the door keepers to clear the floor Of
all unauthorized persons.
After some time was spent in having order re-
stored, Blaine again returned to the charge and
demanded of Knott an answer to his question.
Knott contemporary il will answer when i
get ready Go on with your speech.
Blaine-I offer the following resolution;
Resolved That the Judiciary Committee be in
structed to report forthwith to the House, wheth-
er, in acting on the resolution of the House of