Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1876-06-06
Blainc-Yc entirely so,
The speaker, Cox in the chair
! fpt ttte chair ~, ,joo,1a

Blalne-l understand the judiciary
committee to have abandoned that
issue against me, but there has gone
forth the idea that because | would
not permit that man, or any other
man, when ! could prevent ii, from
holding. as menace over my head
my private correspondence, there
must be something in it most deadly
and destructive to my raputa,ion. |
would like any man on this floor, and
all of them are presumed To be men
of business, and whose intercourse has
been large, to stand up and say he is
willing to have his private corrcspon
dence Tor the last TO or IL years,
handed over aud male public.
Does it imply wrong doing? Does
1t imply guilt? Does it imply sense
OF weakness that man will protect
his private correspondence? No sir!
it is a mans first instinct To do it,and
il is an outrage on any man 10 violate
it. have deGed the power to take
these letters from me! ] do it still!
! speak with all respect for this house,
! know its powers aud trust that
respect them, but say that this house
has no more power 10 order what shah
be done or not done with my private
correspondence, than it has to order
what shall do with the nurture and
admonition Of my children--no, one
particle more; but ! am now to show
these letters,
(Holding them up in his hand) !
thank God Almighty that | am not
ashamed TO show them. There they
are! There is the very original pack
age. With some sense OF humility,
with modification which l do not
pretend to conceal; with sense of
outrage which think any man in my
position would feel, invite the con
hdence Of fourty four millions Of peo-
pie, and wifi read these letters
| Applause Many Of these letters
have not the remotest bearing On the.
subject, hut some of them will require
. little explanation. Some Of them
may possibly involve humiliation, but
j would rather take that than the evil,
surmises and still more evil differences
that might be drawn II | did not nc,
with this frankuess
Blaine thereupon proceeded toreads
and to make passing comments upon
and explanations Of various points in
the several letters. The first related
TO his connection as an attorney with
IA contract for 10000 Spencer rifles
which occurred two years before he
became member OF congress. Al
the conclusiou OF the reading Blaine
said, there are the 5 letters and Multi
gan's memorandum, which l kept as
a protection to show he identity Of
the letters"
BY Mr.. Glover--will you have that
memorandum read?
Blaine Certainly. The memoran.
dun was then sent tn the clerks desk
and read
After the memorandum was read,
Blaine said, "now | would be obliged
for any gentleman when lie reads
these letters, to see the obvious intcn-
tion for which that memorandum was
made up
These letters were picked out Of u
correspondence extending over fifteen
years, The man Mulligan did his
worst, his very worst. There is one
witness whom cannot have, but to
whom the Judiciary committee voted
TO send cable dispatch, Caldwell,
| ask it. that dispa,ch was sent.
knou-The gentleman from Vir-
ginis Hunton and have endeavored
to get Caldwel's, address, but have
not yet got it.
Blaine-Has the gentleman from
Kentucky received cable dispatch
from CALDWELL
Knott will explain that directly.
BIaine-I want categorical an
swer.-
Knott have received dispatch
purpofting to be fro,n Caldwell. How
did you know il.
Blaine (advancing down the aisle)
When did you get that dispatch?
Knott want you to answer my
question first.
blaine ! never heard Of it till
yesterday.
Knoft-How did you hear i,s
Blaine--l heard that you. got a
dispatch last Thursday morning from
Joseph Caldwell generating me oom-
pletefy and absolutely from this charge
and with great vehemence OF mannerl
you HAVE SUPPRESSED lr!
Loud sppiau.e and cheering on The
republican side,Taad in the galleries,
which caused the speaker tc direct
the doerkeeper to clear the hoot Of all
unauthorized persons.
After some time speut in having
order restored, Blaine again returned
to the charge, and deman.ed of Knott