The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-07
wAsn1NaroN. D. G.. Nav 2s. 1


When do you propose to sail for Europe?
wAsnlScroS. D. c., May %, 1854.
Your favor received. am very glad, all things
considered, that the Government has accepted your
proposition to take all your manufacture till Septem-
her |, 1865. 1t gives straight and steady business
for the company for good stretch of time.
In regard 70 tns tax provision you can Judge for
ported from the Finance Committee OF the Senate,
and now pending in that body (see pages 49, 149),
will please observe that all words In itaic letters are
amendments proposed by the Senate Finance Com
mltee, while all other words included in brackets
are proposed to be struck out by the same commit
tee.
The provision which you inquire about was not in
the original BILL was an amendment moved from the
Ways and Means Committee by Mr.. Kasson of Iowa,
to whom suggested it. 1t is just and proper in
every sense, and will affect good many interests,
including your company.
am glad to hear such good accounts of your pro-
gress in the affairs of the company, Of which have
always been proud TO be a member. Tell Mr.. Wells
that his brother has been nominated by the Senate
for commission of subsistence with the rank of cap
tain He will undoubtedly be confirmed as soon as
the case can be reached will advise as soon as it Is
done In haste. Yours truly,
j. G. BLAINE.
Warren Fisher, Esq. ..
Personally
AUGUSTA, Me-, Oct. 0, 1869.
My Dear Sir
spoke to you a short time ago about a point Of
interest to your railroad company that occurred at
the last session of Congress. AT that time L had
never Mr.. Caldwell, but you call tell him that
without knowing it did him great favor.
Sincerely yours, j. G. BLAINE.
W. Fisher, Jr., Esq, "a India street, Boston.
Mr.. Blaine in explanation of this letter,
said: Now TO this letter 1 ask the attention
of tie House. In the March session OF 1869,
the first term at which was Speaker, the ex-
ira session of the Forty-irst Congress, a land
grant to the state of Arkansas to the Little
Rock road was reported. L never remember to
have heard of the road until at the last night
of the session when it was up here for cousid-
GRAFTON. The gentleman in Boston with whom
L had relations did not have anything to do
with that road for nearly three or four months
after that time. 1t Is in the light of that state
ment desire that letter read. 1t was on the
last night of the session. Whea the bill re-
newing the land grant for the state of Arkan-
sas for the Little Rock road was reached, Mr..
Julian Of Indiana, chairman of the Public
Lands Committee, and by right entitled to the
floor, attempted to put on the bill as an amend
ment the Fremont Ell Passo scheme, scheme
probably we'll known to Mr.. Caldwell. The
House was thin and the lobby in tSe Fremont
interest bad the thing all set up, and Juans
amendment was likely to prevail if brought to
vote. Root and the other members from
Arkansas, WHO were doing their best for their
own bill, to which there seemed to be no obec-
ton, were in despair.
1t was well known that the Senate was hos.
tile TO the Fremont scheme, and if the Arkan-
sas bill had gone back to the Senate with Ju-
)ian's meandment the whole thing would have
gone on the table and slept the sleep of death.
ln this dilemma Root came to me to know what
on earth he could do under the rules, for he
said it was vital to his constituents that the
bill should pass. L told him that Julisn's
amendment was entirely out of order, because
not germane. He had not sufficient confidence
in his knowledge of the rules to make the
point. but he said Gen. Logan was opposed to
the Fremont scheme,a would probably make
the point. sent my page to Gen. Logan, with
the suggestion, and he at once made the point
could not do otherwise than sustain it, and SO
the bill was freed from the mischievous amend
ment moved by Julian, and it at once passed
without objection.
1t was in the autumn, six or eight months
afterwards, was looking over the Globe, prob
ably with some little curiosity, if not pride, to
see the decisions 1 had made the first i've weeks
was Speaker. had not then recalled this
decision of mine, and when came across it
all the facts came back to me fresh and wrote
this letter.
AUGUSTA, June, 20, 1869.
1 thank you for the article from Mr.. Lewis it is
good in itself and will do good, He writes like
man Of large intelligence and comprehension.
Your offer TO admit me to a participation in the
new railroad enterprise in every respect is as gener-
GUS as could expect or desire. thank you very sim
cerely for it, ard in this connection wish to make
a suggestion of a somewhat selfish character. 1t Is
that you spoke of Mr. Caldwell disposing of share
of his interest to me- If he really designs to do 50
L could know just what to depend on.
Perhaps if he waits till the full development OF the
enterprise he might grow reluctant to part with the
SHARE and do not by this mean any distrust of him.
do not feel that snail prove deadhead in the
terprse. If once embark in it see various cnan-
nels in which know can be useful.
Very hastily and sincerely your friend, -,
Mr.. Fisher, India street, Boston.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 10, 1872.
have your favor Of the 18th. am not prepared
to pay any money just in any direction, being
pressed and eramped that am absolutely unable TO
do so. Please send me a copy of the note Of mine
held by you with endorsement thereon. ~.
would have been glad, instead of a demand upon
me for payment of notes, if you had proposed gen.
eral settlement of all matters between us that re-
main unadjusted. There is sti due to me on arti.
cles of agreement between $4,000 in land bonds,
and $31 900 in first mortgage bonds, making SlO1 900
in all For these bonds the money was paid you
three years ago, ard every other party agreeing to
their full quota alone am lett hopeless and help
less, so far as can see. Hl
Then there is the S25,O00 which borrowed and
paid oyer under your orders, to Mr. Pratt for which
have received no pay. Mr.. Caldwell paid me
small fraction of the amount as supposed, but he
now says the money must be credited to another
count in which he debtor and that he denies all
responsibility as to present and future on the $25 900
for payment Of which, he says, must look solely to
you. only know that delivered the money 10 Mr..
Pratt on your written order. e
L still owe that money in Maine and am carrying
the greater part OF it at per cent nearly $1,000 per
annum, steady drain on my resources which are
sleuder enough without this burden.
Still further, l left with Mr.. Mulllgan, January,
1871 S6UOO in land grant bonds, Union Pacific rail-
road, to be exchanged tor a like amount of Little
Rock land bonds, with Mr.. Caldwell, he to change
them, aud you took them without any negotiation
with me any authority from In regard to the
matter you placed the Little Rock land bonds in the
envelope, and have the original envelope with Mr..
Mulligan's endorsement thereon OF the fact OF tie
delivery to you. Now l do not complain OF your
taking the bonds provided you hold yourself bound
to replace them. The worst of the whole matter Is,
that the bonds were only part mine, and have had
to make good the others 10 the original owner.
my letter is already long.
do not think under the circumstances, it would
be quite wise or kind in you to place any note or
notes of mine that may happen to be in your pos
session, in the hands of third parties as collateral
In any event ask as simple favor that you VIII
copy of all Obligations of mine in your possession.
Mrs. Blaine joins in very Kind regards to Mrs.
Fisher and the expires ion OF the hope that you may
have pleasant and profitable tour to Europe.
Sincerely yours,
To Warren Fisher, Jr., ESQ.
In explanation Mr.. Blaine said:
"There is mentioned in this letter $1,000 of
land grant bonds of the Union Pacific road, for
which 1 stood as only part owner, and as have
started out to make personal explanation, L
want to make full explanation in regard to
this matter. These bonds were not mine, ex-
ceptin this sense: In 1869 a lady who is a
member of my family, and whose financial
affairs L have looked after for many years,
bought, on the recommendation of Mr.. Samuel
Hooper, $4,000 land grant bonds of the Union
Pacific railroad, as they were issued in 1869.
She got them on what was called the stock
holders basis; think it was very favorable
basis
In 1871 the Union Pacific Railroad Company
broke down, and these bonds fell SO tnat tneY
were worth about 40 cents on a dollar. She
was anxious to make herself safe, and had