National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-03-05
DonnelIy, the Soat-Snatcher, Convicted Out
of His Own Mouth.

Mr.. Donnelly's attempt to deny his connec-
tion with the corrupt FL Paso scheme while
he was u Member of Cougross, by the state
ment that he never received a cent from the
FL Paso Company, Is, of course, thoroughly
understood by all who were posted in the
Legislature of 1869, the last year of DOnnelly's
service in the House. This charge against
Donnelly Is made upon the authority of the
records of the Ell Paso Company, that Dom
nelly received for his share in getting the bill
through Congress, and for other services, a
due bill from John C. Fremont and b. II.
Epperson for $4,000 in money and 100000
of stock in the road. This due bill was dated
in February, 1869, while Donnelly was still
in his seat, and tho action of w. Schmoele, the
treasurer of the company, in making this
munihcent reward for his services, was
approved by the executive committee of tho
company, in the following extract from the
records, copied verbatim:
e2OOOO0 stock made by W. SchmOele to Ignatius
Donnelly, and authorize said SchmOele TO pay said
Donnclly due bill of $4,000 out Of tho proceeds Of
"a loan in Paris as fast convenient said due be-
ing signed by J. C, Fremont and b. II. Epperson,
and dated February 1869, and to DO considered as
a retaining fee for the said Donnely as counsel for
this company
Donnelly, when these revelations wore
made, in speech in the Minnesota State
Senate explained his connection with this rot
ten transaction by stating that he had had
several conversations with Fremont in regard
to the E Paso scheme
| In which he desired me TO use my influence wit's
the Northern Pacific railroad 10 have both oOmpR-
MES act unitedly In obtaining a subsidy from Con.
| gress, and some conversation was had as to reim'
| bursting me for my services in stock OF the com
| pnny; but learned on inquiry that their stock was
not worth cent on the dollar, and that the com
pany had neither money nor credit and that the
friends Of the Northern Pacific would have nothing
to do with IT, and therefore took no further stepi
| in the matter.
DOnnelly subsequently, begged an expana
! tion from Schmoele himself that would relieve
him of this startling exposure and Schmoelt
wrote a letter, in which he denies that Don
nelly received a cent from tho company, eithel
| directly or indirectly, but states in exDlsna
| ton of this that Donnelly, 10 whom the stock
aud due bill were issued
soon after declined to hold the said stock aut
| agreement, and wished that they should be kept a
my disposition, at which they are at present
Now these facts appear very clearly; First
the III Paso bill passed the House, Of which
DOnuelly was member, and $500 OF stock
of the company, and n $4,000 due bill Tor casl
were voted Donuelly by the company In con
sideTatiOn Of his services Il. Q. voting for the
bill, etc. Second, the value Of the stock ant
due bill being dependent on the passage Of thu
bin In the Senate, Donnely therefore" tool
no further steps in tho matter, save to deposi
the same with his friend SchmOele, where the.
are at present, until he could realize there
upon,
Some day IN the future this notorious COZ
uptonist aud sent-snatcher will be cale
upon by the outraged people of Minnesota T.
, explain his connection with this iniamou
contest Of his. II the Democrats Of Congress
seeing what a political bunder the seating Q
! such a character as Donpely against MAYOR