Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-01-01
Our Washington Letter.

THE BLAINE INVESTIGATION,
and this has been temporarily suspended for
want Of funds. The officials OF the Treasury have
decided that the twenty thousand dollars appro-
priated by the Senate at its last session for ode.
fraying the expenses Of such inquiries M have
already been or may hereafter be directed by the
Senate cannot be used for the expenses OF this
investigation; consequently probably nothing will
be done until Congress reassembles on January
Ith. The committee held meeting this after
noon at which but five members were present
The letter Of Senator Blaine In answer TO the
committees request for any information he might
have regarding the facts upon which the resou-
ton was based, was received and read As be-
ing Of Importance In showing 10 some extent the
future course of the committee, we give it here
Mr.. Blaine, afterquotng the resolution, continues:
at cannot, of course, be the purpose Of your
honorable committee to limit investigation to any
particular class of frauds, outrages, and VIC
lence committed in the recent elections that may
be specified by me. The resolution il the action
Of the Senate, speaking almost unanimously, and
II is not for me to say what your committee Is
expected to investigate beyond what is ex-
pressed in the resolution itself in very explicit
terms. 1t would be gross assumption in me to
specify where the Senate itself has directed.
But anxious to indicate any details that may
expedite the labors of the committee, will call
your attention specially TO the tissue ballot frauds
in South Carolina; to the laws of that state,
which made free voting impossible in certain
counties to the practice in that state of breaking
up all meetings held 10 oppose the democratic
party, unless democratic speakers were allowed
to take part in the discussions; and to all the
methods by which, in Sumter and other counties
full and free election was prevented
In Louisiana invite your attention to the
murders in Tensas parish on election day. and to
the frauds committed the same to the frauds
and outrages upon the ballot in the city of New
Orleans; and, even while write, to the alleged
assassination of two witnesses on their way to the
United States Court to testify against those who
had robbed them of their rights on the day of
election.
could make further specifications in these
two states and in other Southern States, but |
have not time. am just leaving for New Eng
land and am compelled to postpone fuller details
until after my return. Among the witnesses |
would name are James b. Campbell f. W. NJ
Mackey, and C. G. Memmnser Of South Caro-
lima, Governor Nichols his agent, Colonel Zach
airy, ex-Chef Justice Sudeing of Louisiana, Hon
Reuben Davis of Mississippi, j. Cole Davis of
Helena, Ark, and the editor of the Aralancte. a
democratic paper published in Memphis, Tenn.
But beg especially to refer you to a large mass
OF valuable information in the office Of the At
torney-General Of the United States already
called for by the Senate and soon, presume, to
be laid before your committee This is official in
Its character, and in many cases has the weight
and value of legal evidence not requiring further
examination of witnesses to authenticate and con-
firm it, In offering the resolution in the Senate
did not assume the part of public prosecutor
but especially declined any such service. The
invitation Of your honorable committee, however
is one which cannot disregard, and on the re-
assembling of Congress shall, from time to
time, lay such facts before you, and make such
suggestions, as may seem to constitute q full and
fair compliance with all the requirements of
your resolution"
The principal social event of the holiday week
was the celebration Of the cghtieth birthday Of
coRcoRAN, THE MILLIONAIRE,
at the Louise Home" last evening. The guests
included the president and Mrs. Hayes, Chief
Justice and Mrs. Drake, Justice and Mrs. Strong
and other distinguished residents Of the city
We have described in a previous letter. the
Louise Home and the object for which II was de-
signed 1t may be interesting in this connection
to give something OF history of the way in
which Mr. Corcoran achieved his immense for
tune, enabling him, as it does. to become so mu-
nhcent benefactor to the national capital
When young man he became clerk in the
Office OF the United States Bank in this city
where he remained for several years. and laid
the foundation of that profound knowledge of
banking and finance which enabled him in after
years to conduct, with such signal success, OPP
eratons of great magnitude in the face OF diff
culties that seemed almost nsurmountabe After
serving in this capacity for term of years, he
embarked in business as II broker on Pennsylva-
MIA Avenue, in the old building still standing
few doors above Wizards Hotel. In 1871 Mr.
Corcoran was the financial agent Of the State De-
partment Daniel Webster being Secretary of
state The government at this time was seriously
embarrassed in its finances The reaction from
the flush times of 1896 had produced universal
depression. The income of the government was
not sufficient for its expenses The Secretary of
the Treasury, Walter Forward of Pennsylvania,
after several vain attempts to raise money by
loan at home, went abroad and returned without
eifecting the object Of his mission In this crisis
Mr. Corcoran, who had acquired the moderate
capital of fifty thousand dollars by his business,
resolved to do what no other banker dared to do |
lie formed a co-partnership with Mr. Riggs and |
offered to take government loan of five mil |
lions at one hundred and one The offer was |
accepted, and the loan from the start sue
cess. Had it proved otherwise Mr. Corcoran's |
whole capital would have been absorbed by the |
expenses of the negotiation. His audacity was |
richly rewarded. The profits on the loan and |
other resulting receipts, enabled Corcoran & |
Riggs to establish a credit ut home and abroad /
which was never shaken In the most calamitous |
times, and prestige which still continues, twenty
four years after the retirement of Mr. Corcoran.
to invest the surviving partners with fame which
IN the old world, attends the Barings and the
All the loans required by the gov
srnment in the conduct OF the Mexican war were
aiken by Corcoran 4 Riggs, by whose wise man
'gement the credit Of the United States was sus-
aimed throughout the contest without the slight
sst abatement
In 1877, Mr. Corcoran went to England with the
Intention Of placing a large United States loan on
he London market. 1t was hazardous expert
nent at tina. time, AS the reputation of their
iooes w seNeIal states was yet fresh IN the recOl
ecton OF capitalists. Mr.. CoIcoran was warmly
welcomed by his old friend and school-fellow
George Peabody, while the Barngs, to use his
'wn language, treated him like "a brother Through
heir friendship, and the prestige Of his own char
'cter Mr.. Corcoran was eminently successful in
he object OF his mission. On his return to New
fork he received a perfect ovation from the mer-
hants and bankers Of that metropolis, and was
JAILED as the Fortress of American credit on
he London exchange and on the financial CEN
ers of the continent of Europe"
his BESEFAcTIoNs,
PARTICULARLY to Washington city, have been worthy
II note on other accounts than that of their money
alue. In 1851 Mr.. Corcoran presented his native
own OF Georgetown the beautiful spot known as
jakhill Cemetery. This is one OF the most beau
iful resting-places for the dead in this country,
nd probably unequaled anywhere for artistic and
Elective landscape gardening. His whole outlay
1 this point is not less than one hundred and
hirty thousand dollars. In 1857 he began the
rection of the Cocoran Art Gallery, which was
coupled by the War Department for eight years
rom 1861, and opened to the public in 1872. His
riyate collection which had been literally opened
D citizens and strangers for twenty years, was
transferred TO the Art Gallery as a nucleus for