Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-06-07


refresh his memory This was taken by MIR.
Blaine, and this also be refused to deliver.
MIR. Frye. Will the gentleman pardon me
again for interrupting him?
Mr. Hutton. Certainly.
Mr. Frye Do understand the gentleman
as stating that Mr.. MuIligan testified tina, he
demanded 10 addition to the letters the private
memorandum?
Mr.. Hunon. No, sir. He said that Mr.
Blaine took it when the letters were handed to
him. The memorandum was with the letters
| when they we're handed to him.
Mr.. Frye. 1t was in the bundle
Mr.. Hunton. That may be.
MIR. Frye. Was it SO
Mr.. Hnnton. think it was. And when
MIR. Blaine refused to deliver the letters he
refused also to deliver the memorandum.
Nuw this was the statement made by the wit
ness before the committee charged with the iu-
vestigatiou OF these subjects. Who has right
to complain? The gentleman from Maine or
| the committee? Who has right to complaln
The gentleman from Maine or this House?
Here was witness summoned from Boston.
lie did not appear as volunteer in the case
tie came under tho compulsory proc, SIS OF the
House, and was entitled to the protection Of
the House as long as he WAS 10 the city
OF Washington under his subpoena Is
the authority Of this House in bringing wit
uesses here to testify to subject. matters of in
quiry which the House has thought proper to
make TO be protected or DOT? 1t is question
which concerns this House more than the sub.
committee Of which have the honor to be chair
man.
But the gentleman from Maine says these
were his letters. Why, sir, it is an utter mis-
take as To the law OF the case-an utter, COM
pctu mistake say to his House without the
fear OF successful rctutation that accord.
ipg to the well-settled principles of law
those letters belonged to MIR. Warren
Fisher from the time he received them
from the mail until he delivered them over &c
Mr. Mulliaan, and Mr.. Mulligan was entitled
to the possession and ownership Of those letters
from that period.
Iu regard to how Mr. blulligan got possession
OF those letters, he says, aud Mr.. Fisher zorro
boratcs his statement that those letters were
taken possession of and brought to the city OF
Washington by James MuIllgan with the full
CONSENT and appreciation OF Warrcn Fisher
There was 20 surrepttiuus possession OF these
letters on the part OF the witness, but they
we're brought here with the knowledge anC
consent OF Warreu Fisher, and witness brought
them Tor the purpose Of sustaining his test
mouy OH the stand fit became necessary to Use
them. And | say, MIR. Speaker, that from the
, very momnu: Warren Fisher received those let
tcrs from Mr.. Blaine, Mr.. Blaine ceased to
have any control OF them. he had 10 more
right to the possession or control Of those letter.
than he has to my watch now in my pocket OF
any other piece of property which | may OVID.
Some of the authorities 20 80 tar a. u say thai
the publication of private correspondence may
, be e1jDined by the writer or author Of the cor
respondepcc if it is attempted 90 the part OF
the holder to use that correspondence to the
dctrimcnt Of the 1Criters property But unit
, that is attempted or threatened TIE Wlltcr has
20 right to Interfere with any sort OF use that
the recipient OF those letters chooses to make
/ oil them.
will not 20 further oto this question, be-
: cause my friend the chairman Of tn" committee
the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr.. Kuott,
is fortified with authorities on this uhject auu
will state the law more clearly than | can. But
: il Mr.. Biane-as have said the law declares
was not entitled 10 the possession and had
no right to the letters, ask how he can justify
his course before this House in taking the let
tcrs under promise on his honor to return
them aud then withhold them.
Well, the sub. committee thought that, as
, the letters were obtained by Mr. Blaine under
|
right aud proper that they should be given W
5 to the committee or returned to the witness
the righttu owner of these letters; and whcr
the demand was made upon Mr.. Blaine for tho
production o.! them he skcd for time to con
suit counsel His demand was chccriuEly
, granted, ard an adjournment took place from
that day until ten o'clock the next morning
At ten . clock the next morning we heard FROM
Mr.. Baiue that he had not gotten through
with the consultations; that owing to peculiar
circumstances he had not been able to get the
two counsel together the preceding ight. We
gave him until twelve clock. Twelve o clock
arrived; and he still was not ready. At two
O'Clock he came before The sub committee with
the opinion Of Judge Black and Mr.. Carpenter
, stating that we had no right to demand these
letters; that they we're private property per
tanning to the private business OF Mr. Blaine
t and that we had no right to demand them, and
| Mr.. Blaine should resist the demand.
Now, the committee may have very high re-
, spect for the authority Of j udgc Black aud Mr.
Carpenter, but they were Investigating 4ucs
! ton for the House, and not according t" the
rules prescribed By MIR. Carpenter and Judge
Black. They did not choose that Mr.. Carpcu
ter and Judge Black should decide question
; which the House had ordered them to decide.
!: Mr. Frye viii the gentleman allow me q
question?
Mr. HuuoD. Yes, sir.
Mr.. Frye. Did not Mr.. Muligan on three
diff rent occasions testify that there Was not
more than one letter which touched however
r:moteIy any subi:ci under nvestlga w1,th
er the Union Pacific Railroad, the bonds sold
the company by Tom Scott, or The Northeru
Pacific, or the Central Pac tic. or all OF the rest
OF those roads named in that resolution? Did
he not testify 10 answer TO you lntcrrogatorics
at three different times that only one letter
however remotely touched any matter which
the subcommittee we're investigating
Mr.. Hunton. No, sir he did not ) testify.
according to my recollection. | will tell you
what he did testify.
MIR. Frye. Well, sir.
Mr.. Hunton. He testified 90 one or two or
perhaps 90 three occasions that he did not think
that there were but Two letters in the batch
which bore upon the subject matter OF inquiry
before the COMMITTEE, one in regard to the
N,rthcrn Pacific and the other in regard to the
Union 2 .cfc.
Mr.. Frye. Yes, sir.
IL