The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-04-06

uoiouoeFs OF w ash Ourne6 bribery. liz
Is not enough that Washburne should be
deprived OF his seat but that the wishes
OF the voters as legally expressed should
De regarded and indicated and they de-
mano that their chosen representatives.
should be seated. To send the matter
pack to the people now would be only to
invite the investment of large sum of
radical money to be expended there and
TINS would be done without stint. The
worst elements of the party would be put
20 work then and the result would be dis
aster TO Jus. The high character of the
members OF the subcommittee, too. would
seem to be impugned, should the report
Faii OF unanimous adoption by the Demo
Gratis, and trust that such is not to be the
case. Pardon what may seem like inter
ference In this matter. | still hold the clo-
sest and most confidential relations towards
those who are perhaps personally most to
be affected by your decision in this mat
ter, L speak in that capacity when /
write thus and urge upon your prompt
and decisive action in this vItal'matter and
may add that it reaches further even
than have lntimated and will both imme-
dlately and remotely affect us all, beyond
that which can now be apparent to the
House see. beg leave to add that il
stlll seems Incredible to me that any one
should doubt your intentions to carry out
the wishes OF our friends 10 this matter. l
am, with sincere respect, very truly yours.
HENRY Fl. FINLEY.
Finley Is supporter and friend of
Dounelly, who claims residence in the state
of Minnesota, He is Democrat in poll
tics and well known to some of the gentle
mon on this floor. Finley called on him
the morning he returned, but was coldly
received and was notified that Donnelly
would be held responsible for the publica-
ton of the fact of the existence of the
anonymous letter. Springer replied it
was written by Finley. the handwriting
being very similar, as all agreed who had
seen it. Donnelly thought Finley could
not have done it and attributed it to some
of Washburne's friends. Springer then
reasoned on the probability of Finley's
authorship. said to Donnelly, this
letter purports to speak in behalf of Tilden
and by bis authority to vote to seat you.
l do not believe Finley has any authority
to speak for Tilden. but if you insist he
has authority. want him to tell Tilden
that | am not his man and that propose
to decide this case on the law and facts as
| understand them, and will pot be dictat
ed to by any body" Applause on the
Republican side That conversation was
on he 10th of March, and on the next day
[ received letter from Finley stating that
if he had gone beyond bounds in the for
mer letter he begged to recall it. | paid
no attention to either of these letters.
This is the first time [ have made them
public.
Answering Manning, Springer said he
had requested Phister and Armfield to
vote to unseat Wash hburne, but denied
asking them to favor Donnelly. He had
held aloot until the last moment that his
Judgment might be unbiased except by
facts.
Speer corroborated Springer, aud Kei
fer, Republican member @: the commit |
tee. said he had always understood that
Springer would vote against Donneily. |
Messrs. Phister and Weaver also had
understood Springer's position in the same
way. Manning alone had not so under |
stood him. Springer then challenged any |
member to assert that he had practlced |
deception in the matter. No one respond |
ing. he declared that he would not ask an |
but if anybody wished such |
a committee he would testify on oath to
what he had said to-day. He had not
to deceive Manning Expressions |
of approval and sympathy greeted him as
he closed.
Manning said Springer had not denied
telling him time and again that he was
with the committee on both points. He
defended Donnelly. The discussion was