The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-06
w A SHINGTON.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.


HoUsE--A DRAMATIC AND EXCITING SCENE
CHANGE OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT IN THE Elk
SPEAKERS yAyoR-HEsPoNsEs OF Mr.. Hun
TON AND PROCTOR KNOTT.
When the House had nearly droned through the
morning hour, with its tedious and unevcntiul call OF
the statcs Dir. Blaine seen to converse for mo-
mcnt with Mr.. Cox, who in the chair Mr.. Cox
nodded assent and as Mr. Blaine returned to his scat
no motioned to page, who presently brought him
glass OF water. AT this OF The older members
pricked up their ears, and some said:-
''Hclio, look out now, Ba,ncs going to speak"
The warning few around the House very quickly.
and by the time he SAID "Mr Speaker the House and
galleries wero on the alert He 10 question OF
privilege and at once plunged into tho subject which
has been the topic Of conversation hero Tor the last
week, the famous letters He asserted and defended
his right TO them his determination to keep them; his
belief that in SO dong he was defending not his own
rights alono but those OF the whole public against
reasonable searches and seizures.
He contendod that the committee had right what
ever to demand the letters and ho declared that no
conceived himself be tho object OF unreasonable
and. by some persons, vindctive prosecution Hc
spoke without notes and with but little excitement,
and therefore tho freely and effectively but he
spoke tho question which everybody was asking his
neghbors was 'sWill he road the cttcrsy"
At last he took mp from the desk where i had
been, small bundle OF papers, and holding IL up,
sa,d:-'Thesc arc tho letters; they my property;
have right 10 them has = right ask
their contents; tho Judiciary Committee OF this
house has more right to interfere with them than
with the nurture ana admonition Of my childrcn."
Here he paused and then said with some solcmnisy:-
but propose 10 take "A, ooo, 900 OF my coun-
trymcn into my confidence will let them Judge
and ruin me-"
He addcd:-"rhcy arc private letters; remember
they cover number Of years. | shall not read them
to You without sense OF humiliation that should
feel myself forced to do But they nothing
that dsgraccs me-" Thercupon he began to read, say
ing, 'Isha make few words Of explanation in reading
some Of these lettcrs in order to mako them intel
lgbic and ask the reporters OF the House 70 follow
carefully, for have made notes OF what shall
say" His explanations few and very bric and
mainly recalled dates-as In case 10 show that at
q certain time no not member OF Congress and in
another that ruling he mado rs Speaker made
before he any friend OF his had any with
the Little Rock road and that the ruling
aud It's manner in accordance with custom; which Is
true.
Since became known that Mr.. Blaine had taken the
letters from Mulgan the here has dark with
reports OF what these letters II published would
veal Persons horc who have been pushing tho pros
ccution Of Mr. Blaine have circulated very wild
Of nearous schemes OF successful jobbery, which the
letters would disclose Washington, always gossippy
town, has been the paradise OF gossps since
tho seizure of tho letters and cautious and
impossible people began to believe that there must DO
some truth in what was confidently reported Mr.
Blame read these letters himself and from the original
and they listened to with tho most eager interest,"
gust at the huge difference between what had been
reported and what they actually revealed.
When he was done he said. turning to the House,
Now there therc are the letters They were Sc
lccted by Mr. Mullgan, my bitter enemy, out OF my
whole business correspondence during neoly fifteen
years They the worst he could pick out tho
damaging to me and he had the whole OF my corre-
spondcnce and he chose the worst. ask any member
OF this House, all Of whom presumably engaged
in affairs what hts judgment 1871
There is doubt that his appeal effective. Tho
members Of the House arc mostly engaged in
affairs and they felt the orcc OF what he said and tho
phrase s'IIe picked out tho worst OF thcmhese arc
tho worst" repeated the floor in conversation
II was supposed that this would close the contest,
and mems minds began already to turn 10 something
elso when the startling and dramatic OF the
dry suddenly came on.
Mr.. Blaine still held tho floor. and, after
slight pause said that no had not spoken
self the object OF a bitter and oven an
interruptions persecution 81 askcd the chairman Of
the Judiciary Committee, he said, fixing his eye upon
Mr. Proctor Knott who sat upon the opposite side OF the
House. ''whcther he has not had his possession for
several days despatch from Dir. Josiah CALDWELL IN
Lonlon-a despatch cxculpating me 80 far as his
knowledge goes guilt OF tho charge which has been
brought against in tho Judiciary Committee
Mr.. Knott rose to his feet IN evident embarrassment
while Mr.. Blaine speaking. He was clearly taken
by SURPRISE and when Mr. Blaine paused he made
ovasivc reply. Tho House and galleries very
greatly excited They saw that Mr.. Knott had not
answered the question. There a brcahcss silence
rs Mr. Blaine walked down tho aisle into the vacant
space before the Speakers chair and said again.
II ask tho gentleman for Did he not, so
long ago Thursday morning, about eight O'Clock,
receive a despatch from Mr.. Josiah Caldwell, in Lon
don, completely exculpating me, and has no not held
that despatch In mis- private possession, without put
ting it into tho possession Of the committocs"
Thcrc was momcntary pause and deep silence and
then Mr.. Knott evidently entirely disconccrtcd and
thrown OF his guard. asked
ssiiow did you know IL 7"
AT this admission tho whole gallery and
almost tho whole House broke into long and
rrcprcssible clap?ing Of hands. Mr.. Blaine
demanded specific answer. hut Mr.. Knott
sat down. ann MI DthIuc tucrchpou ohcreu u rcSOiu.
ton that the Judiciary Committee be instructed TO
report to tho House ut whether such despatch
had received by lis Chairman. what 1t contained
and the wh, 1t was kept back. The democrats
were now very much embarrassed. Some OF their
leading gathered before the Speakers desk TOR
consultation and presently Mr. Hunton took the floor,
lie Is chairman OF tho subcommittee which has been
carrying the Blaine investigation and no made what
every felt TO be very Ineffective speech recitng
elaborate detail what had passed before the commit
tee, haunting NJ. Blaine with the Mulgan testimony
and repeating what Atkins aud Fisher had said
Only incident cnIivcncd his speech. He re-
marked upon Mr. Balncs having conc to eco the wit
ness MulIgan. Mr. Blaine sad:-
NO, until found tnat the gentleman himself was
privately seeing witnesses; asking them beforehand
what they could testify to against and coach.
ing them for tho witness stand" and hc read
a letter which he had received from the witness,
u ,~hi nlain Il thua NJ hal