Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-06-02

is any thing in the letters which bears, even re-
motely or otherwise upon the subject of these in
| terviews, those letters shall be delivered, but
shall wait to be guided BY their opinion to what
| | ought to do in the premises. As to the bulk of
those letters you might just as well send to my
house for any package from my files of cores
pondence for the last five years, and put it here as
evidence in the investigation. Many of them re-
late to business transactions which are passed and
settled up, and which | do not want revived. not
that there is anything in them which is, in any de-
gree, embarrassing. l have read them over freely
to those two friends, and as say will read them
over freely to the two counsel. There Is moth ing
in those letters that shall have occasion to blush
over. The result is that postpone my action I'M
til could have this conference in regard to IT.
There was another reason which made it peculiar
ly exasperating to me. That is that in the month
of September 1872, Mr.. Fisher and |, after very
long aid in the main very pleasant business re-
lation, extending back to period when was a
very young man, had final settlement in which
we exchanged receipts in fnN | think the pre-
else date was Sept. DIST, 1872. 1t was then said
that all letters either side and all papers and
scraps of papers should be given up, and sup
posed they were given up. These letters had been
written carelessly as business letters often are.
got great many letters from him and gave up
sll that l had. Mr.. Mugan claims that Mr..
Fisher gave these letters to him, that he has a
right to them and that he has the right to dispose
of that correspondence, all of which is private.
respondence, he said. "Why, public man has no
private correspondence" He says 'the letters of
public man is public That was the ground he
took in conversation and especially if letter was
not marked private" Some Of these letters,
however, are marked private" Some are mark
ed persona" and some confidential"
| insisted that it was the grossest possible out
rage; | said, "Iou take these letters before the
committee, without the committee designing me
any wrong, they go out to the world, and then
when it is seen that they have no possible rele-
vency, all that there is Objectionable in the pubi-
cation has been achieved aud accomplished. and it
will be too late for me to interpose objection then
in other words the very test of their admissibility
involves what myself protest against, which is the
use of entirely private letters which have rele-
vancy whatever to the case in hand"
l took that ground, and on that ground | stand
now. justify myself for not returning the let
tiers. 1t was he that was in unlawful possession
of those letters. take the ground distinctly that
there are but two men that can possess righttul
interest in private correspondence, the writer
and the person written to, and on that right |
stand now; shall produce the letter with great
freedom, on which Mr. Mulligan has based his
testimony that l acknowledged having received
the 1854 600 and l shall show you that it has no
relation whatever to that subject.
BY Mr.. Frye-Do not some Of these letters re-
late to matters tianspirng long before you be-
came a member of Congress.
Ayes. long before l became member Of
Cong, ess for the first time.
The Chairman-As understand you, and as |
especially understand from Mr.. Mulligan, you had
possession of these letters on two occasions.
NJ. Blaine-Yes.
Charman-On the first occasion you promised
| to return them.
| Mr.. Blaine-It did not assume 50 formal a shape
| as q promise.