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

Washington, June 5. Blaine is on the floor
making personal explanation in regard to the
investigation. After stating that the democratic
members of the Judiciary Committee had not
dared to bring him before the House for refusing
to produce the private letters taken from Mulgan,
Mr. Blaine announced his intention Of reading
every one of them in the House, and is now doing
50. There is great sensation in the hall. Blaine
has been several times interrupted by applause.
Mr.. Blaine (rising to a question of privilege)
proceeded TO address the House on the subject OF
the investig alton into the Union Pacific and
Northern Pacific transactions in which his name
had become Involved. He read the resolution of
fered by Tarbox on which the inquiry to the
connection of the Union Pacific X. r. with bonds
Of Little Rock x Fort Smith r. Il. was commence
ed. The author of that resolution had at the time
disclaimcd any particular aliusion to him (Blaine)
disclaimer which he (Blaine) regarded at the
time with some little incredibly. 1t soon became
entirely obvious that the resolution solely aud
only aimed at him, and that the Union Pacific
matter or any other incident to the investigation,
was secondary, insignificant and unimportynt.
He did not complain of that he was ready to
meet it. The gentleman on whose statement the
accused rested (Mr. Harrison) had been the first
man called and had stated what he knew from ru-
NOR. Then Mr. Rollins, Mr.. Morton, Mr.. Willard
and Mr.. L. y. Scott were examined and their tes
timony was complete and conclusive in disproval
of his (Blaire) 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 surprised last week at being told that
the committee would then turn and investigate
the transactions Of the Northern Pacific r. r. Co.,
on a newspaper report that there had been some
effort on his part, with friend in Boston, to pro-
cure for him some shares of that company (Which
had proved abortive) He had asked the gentle
man from Virginia. the chairman of the sub-com-
mittee, QIuuton,) under what authority he pro
posed to make that investigation and had been
told that the authority was resolution offered by
Mr.. Luttrell, on the 3lst of January. lie thought
that that gentleman (LuttrelD would be surprised
to find out that the first thing done under that
resolution to bring its whole force to bear on
little transaction in Boston which had proved no
transaction at all. That investigation was begun
and the three witnesses had testified just precisely
as the circumstances were. lie had no sooner got
through with that than in another part of the
Capitol, without the slightest notice warning to
him, the committee on the real estate pool had
entered on an investigation specifically aimed at
him, so that there were three Investigations going
on at the same time without any of them being
completed. He understood that the gentleman
from Va. (1unton,) proposed this morning still
another inquiry about the Kansas Pacific r. X.
Co.. transaction which was ID years old if il
isted and this was also aimed al him.
Now he would say and say it boldly that under
these general powers to investigate specific rail
road companies, the whole inquiry of the commit
tee AIMED personally at him. Why did they
not organize committee to investigate James q.
Blaine. He wanted to meet the thing squarey
He did not wish to stir up any blood on this ques
ton. but he would say that since certain de-
bate 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 be remarked that while there were
seven democratic members Of the Judiciary Com
mttee, the chairman of that committee CHR.
Knott selected on subcommittee to which these
matters had been referred, two members from the
south who had been in the rebel army.
Knott of ky.-One word.
Biaine-Atter a moment.
kuott-Allow me word now.
Biaine-Well, 90 on.
knott-The matter of that railroad investigation
was referred to the subcommittee before | ever
heard your name mentioned in connection with it.
l had no act or part in melting any investigation
duplicating you at all.
Blaipe-Then the gentleman from Va UIunton)
insisted under that resolution which was obvious
" on its face limited to the S75, 900 bond transac
ton with the U. L. Il. r. Co., going on into all
the affairs OF the l.. X. 4 F. S r. r. and inciden-
tai thereto, and pursued it to such extent that
finally had myself through my colleague (Frye)
to take an appeal to the full committee, and the
fun committee decided that the gentleman (llun-
tom had no right to 60 into it; but when he
came back he resumed the examination exactly in
the same way until he was stopped by my col
league (Frye), acting not as my attorney, but as
my friend. and when finally the witness Mulligau
came, loaded with information in regard to the +.
:. II. r., the gentleman Hunton drew out what he
knew had no reference to the question under in
vestigation, and then and there Insisted on all my
private memor anda being allowed to be exhibited
by this man Mullgan, which had no more connec-
ton or relation with this Investigation than with
the North Pole.
The gentleman tried his best also (until | be
lieye that idea had been abandoned) to capture
and use and control my private correspondence.
This man had selected, ont of correspondence
running over great many years, letters which
he thought would be peculiarly damaging to me.
lie came here loaded with them. He came here
for a sensation. He came here primed. He came
here on that particular errand. was advised OF
it, and obtained these letters under circumstan-
ces which have been VIGOROUSLY scattered through
out the L. S., and are known everywhere. l have
them (holding up the package). | claim that |
have entire right to these letters. not only by
natural right, but on all the precedents and prln-
cipies of law. The man who held them in his pc
session, held them wrongfully. and the committee
which attempted to take these letters from this
man for use against me, proceed wrongfully. 1t
proceeded in the bodest and most defiant viola
ton of the ordinary personal and private rights
that belong to every American citizen.
l am willing to meet the Judiciary committee
on that point. | wanted that committee to intro
duce it, | wanted the gentleman from Ken
lucky (knotO and the gentleman from Virginia
(IIunton) to introduce that question on the floor,
and they did not do it.
Knott Tin his seat - Oh no, you want to be
made martyr Of.
Blane-Yes. and you did not want it; there's
the difference. l will go a little further and say
that you did not dare to do it.
Knott-We will not talk about daring"
Hamilton of n. il rise to question of or
der. Is the gentlemans language parliamentary
Blane-Yes, entirely so.
The Speaker pro tenn, Cox of n. Y. in tie
chair-It is for the chair to decide.
Blaine-I understand the Judiciary committee
to have abandoned that issue against me, but
there has gone forth the idea or impression, that
because l would not permit that man, or any man,
(when could prevent it) from holding mem
ace over my head my private correspondence,
there must be something in it most deadly and
destructive to my reputation. would like any