Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-04-29


Mr.. Belmont (also rising angrily
and. striking the table J: "I will not
answer single question that you ask
IRON this time to the end of the exs
animation. You have stated
what I deem to be
entirely incorrect. You have ats
tempted to place me in false posi>
ton. In this you will not succeed.
| said that the quotation marks were
a mistake of the printer, and your
language bears the construction I
put upon it. The careful reader will
agree with me and the careless
reader may be influenced by your
speech"
Mr.. Blaine (interrupting): (Which
you are now trying to copy.
Mr.. Belmont: Il would not copy
you, or anything that I considered
improper. The commencement of
this examination this morning re-
heves me of all considera,
ton which I mentioned
yesterday, which I intended
to observe, to man, who
had held the Office of Secretary of
State. You have placed yourself on
a level with any other witness, and
I will examine you as such"
Mr.. Blaine (angrily): "What do you
mean, sir?"
Mr.. Belmont: Z" mean this: That
you have been before the commits
sion before this time. You have en-
deavored to threaten"
Mr.. Wilson Gnterrupting): Il sub
nit that this is not in order
Mr. Blaine: This is intoler able.
The insolence of this young man is
intolerable"
MIR. Belmont: ''You have brought
it on yourself."
Il have no more regard for your
! insolence," retorted Mr.. Blaine
than ] have for that of boy on the
street"
Mr.. Belmont: 'Mr. Blaine has had
due experience before COMMITTEES
aud he has endeavored TO threaten
them. He has done it for the last
time. He will not do it to me"
Mr.. B.aine: In a disgusted tone
''This is too tr,fing. [ hope that
the committee will protect itself. ]
have no power"
Chairman Williams finally restored
a measure Of quiet, when Mr.. Bel
mont preceded.
Question: Did not the resolution
of the House of Representatives, to
which you have been referred, SIM
ply autLorIze the State DepaFtmtnt
to exercise The kindly offices of thu
government in behalf OF this Lan'
dream claimant, this lobbyist whC
had been htnging around the ctpi
tol, who had trumped up claim,
At this ptint, Mr.. Dnnnel
with some veLemeoc', interrupt
ed with the protest As membel
of this committee, [ protest against
this style of putting stump speeche:
into body of questions.
Mr.. Belmont answered Mr. Dunnel
that stump speeches had been per-
mitted to be injected into witnesse!
replies and that the committed
should have the same enforced.
Mr.. Dunnells point at the start O
the rasping between Messrs. Bel
mont and Blaine continued through
out the examination.
Mr. Belmont's questions were di-
rected to inducing Mr.. Blaine to in
terpret his dispatches. Mr.. Blaine
answers were to read the dispatches
and stop there, saying he was unable
to add anything further. That's al
there was in 1t.
Mr.. Belmont asked what CLAIM
Landrean had upon the ''good offices
of this government.
MIR. Blaine answered: The claim
of an American citizen.
Mr.. Belmont said no evidence ex
listed of his naturalization.
Mr.. Blaine replied: The Senate
had passed upon that question il
confirming HIM as United States
consul.
To this Mr.. Belmont replied By
reading the names of several United
States consuls, who, he stated are
not citizens of the United States.
Mr.. Blaine said he was ignorant
of the matter stated by Mr.. Belmont
but if the facts We're as claimed, il
was matter to look into, as the law
is explicit that none but citizens cal
be United States consuls.
Representative Walker suggested
that another investigation seemed
imminent.
Mr.. Belmont then referred to tht
letter of instructions to Minister
Trescott, and Mr.. Blaine said:
II must confess that I was greatly
surprised at the publication of tina
dispatch. 1 thought had an IN
derstanding with the President tina
the dispatch should not be published
until Minister Trescott's return from
South America. When 1 hearc
that it had been sen
to the Senate I telegraphet
Immediately to the White House ant
urged that it might be withheld
from the Associated Press, stating
my reasons why it ought to be with
held. 1t was, however, publis he'd
and / believe there have been no NOR,
pernicious results from the impropel
publication of State Department
dispatches than have resulted from
this. Trescott considered his mis-
son in South America ended, ant
from that day there has been nj
earthly use Of keeping him there.
Belmont then stated that he hat
no more questions to ask.
At the close of Belmont's crosssex
animation of Blaine the most excitins
and unusual scene occurred in th