The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-05-06
THE PERUVIAN COMPANY.


Senator Blair was resumed this morning be-
fore the foreign affairs committee, Mr.. Blount
conducting the examination.
Question-What was the amount of stock
rendered you by Shipherd?
Witness-Do you think that essential?
Mr.. Blount-I do.
Witness-I must decline to answer that /
nave stated all that think essential OF my
connection with the company and do not care
to go further in that direction: never re-
ceived any money or any other than the stock.
The witness in reply to further questions did
not remember whether or not anything was
said at his first interview with Shipherd about
fee. The second interview was about the
I'D of July. There was proposition that
time that the witness should serve the COM
pany as feed attorney The witness did not
agree then to take fee. He wanted further
time to examine into the matter. Some time
IN August the witness agreed to act as counsel:
1t was understood that the witness should
serve for year, but as to the amount or kind
OF compensation no agreement was made at
that time.
Mr.. Blount then read from Mr. Blaine's evil
oence and asked, twas Mr.. Blaine correct in
saying that at that first interview Shipherd
told the secretary that Senator Blair was one
af the active counSel?"
Mr.. Blair-I cannot tell as to the expressions
used: There was no misunderstanding about
IL, lt was well understood at the time | re-
member Boutwell, and Cragin were mentioned
at the time.
The witness replied to further questions.
blaine understood that appeared there as
counsel. He knew that / was desrous of aid
ing Shipherd. asked the secretary if from
his knowledge of the affair there could be any
improperly in my acting as counsel. and he
said he could see none. This was before this
interview with Shipherd. No one intimsted
to me that there was any improperly in my
being connected with the company until this
investigation began. 1 never concealed my
connection. should do the same thing over
with the same light. have no apology to
offer here or elsewhere"
Mr.. Blount asked as to the amount of stock
offered him by Shipherd, and the witness again
declined to state the amount
The Chairman-H you desire, Mr.. Blount,
we can go into executive session if you deem it
essential to assist upon the question.
Mr.. Blount-I think the question essential,
but will pass it for the present.
Mr.. Blount continued, "You notified Ship
herd, after having the stock about three weeks,
that you would give it up?"
Mr.. Blair-Yes.
After reading Senator Blair's letter to Ship
herd of November Goth, Mr. Blount inquired,
'sDid you intend by that letter to convey the
impression that you never regarded that scrip
of any value?"
Al never regarded it as of amy value IN
less the agreement with Peru had been car
ried out, that is to say, had the company been
organized and money raised it would have
been wealthy and po owerful company
Q.-Did you not, in your opinion influence
capitalist to believe in and take stock in the
company?
Al did not influence any capitalists
Q.-Did not you believe that the eminent
capitalists mentioned by Shipherd at the inter-
view with the Secretary were interested in
that movement?
Al know that there men of wealth who
were interested in the movement if conditions
for its nnccihln Thnro NO
scrip, however, at that time.
Q.-Did you ever use this language, quoting
from Shepherds testimony the paragraph in
which occurs the words, "You should act as
though ships of war were on their way to the
Paeitic coast. can only assure you that the
United States will speak in a manner to mark
an era in diplomacy" &c.
Al may have used such language, but the
questions are asked from different mental
view from that under which the letter was
written.
The witness desired to explain just the view
he took at the time. He believed that at that
time Chill had changed its mind and proposed
to insist upon the dsmemberment of Peruvian
territory. He (Blair) looked upon it as an in
suit to this government, and he believed that
some steps would be taken by our government,
and that possibly ships of war would be sent
there.
Mr.. Blount did not think long explanation
was necessary. What he wanted to know was
the policy of the United States if he did not
think that policy gave any value to the claims.
Chairman Williams-If the gentleman will
allow me to ask one question. Did you regar d
the securing of the friendly offices of this gov
eminent as the first important step to be taken
IN the Shipherd enterprise?
Al regarded the persuading of Chill to
take an indemnity instead of insisting upon
the dismemberment of Peru's territory as an
important step to take. / wanted the United
faAA tr,f tab sks-.. f-s1 - r
considered it additional aid if the friendly Of
fees OF the United States were secered. 1
did not expect the policy of the United States
would be at all changed on account of the
claims.
Odd you understand the government as
demanding from Chilli that .she should not in
sist upon the dismemberment of Peru?
The witness declined to discuss the meaning
of the dispatches. He had no other view OF
the policy than that indicated in the dis
patches.
Mr.. Blount. quoting from Shepherds testi-
mony asked, How did you learn Gen. Grants
opinion upon the matter?"
The witness had thus far rsfrained as far as
possible from mentioning names and he hoped
the committee would insist upon that line. He
had heard OF Grants views from others and he
lad seen them over his own signature, but he
didn't care to be the instrumentality of bring
ing upon others the criticism of the press. He
had just seen the comments on himself and
could, he thought, stand up under it. As for
Grant, he knew nothing of his opinions in this
relation that he (Blair) did not consider high
ly honorable to him.
Mr.. Blount-If the name of Gen. Grant has
been used to bolster up these claims, want
the question answered or / want you to decline
to answer.
Mr.. Blair--If the committee think best
shall not decline, but / do not think it perth
nent.
Mr.. Blount-If the name of Grant and the
influence of this government has been brought
to bear to induce the payment by Chilli of
twelve hundred millions OF dollars, think it
pertinent that the names of all parties inter-
ested should be known.
The witness then stated that he had per-
sonal communl cetion from Shipherd and docu-
mentary evidence relative to Grants views.
Mr.. Rice desired to known just how far the
witness put himself on his privilege as counsel
in declining to answer the question.
The witness-I have not suggested anything
further than information coming to me
through the act of my client.
Mr.. BlounJ thought the committee had a
right to view of their own, and did not be-
lieve that scheme such as Snipherd s. which
might have involved this country in war
with South America should be covered up by
any such protection as the privileges of coun-
sell.
The witnesses knowledge of Grants views
was derived from Shepherds statements to
him exclusively, with the one exception of
Grants endorsement upon draft of instruc
tions to be sent to Minister Hurlbut.
Q.-Did you understand that Grant favored
a formal demand by our government upon
Peru for these claims?
Al do not undertake to give the language,
but think it was in the form of a dispatch in
dicating instructions to our ministers to use
theirlgood Offices
Mr.. Blount was about to ask question based
on the words 'good Offices when the witness
interrupted with the remark that he did not
care to be questioned upon specific words when
he had distinctly said that he could not give
the exact words.
The witness produced copy of the draft of
instructions which Shipherd asked to- be sent to
Minister Hurlbut about the middle of October
and remarked that he believed il was upon the
original draft of these instructions that Gran
had made an endorsement. The document
covered six pages of letter paper.
The witness then read q draft of instructions
which Shipherd wished to have sent to Kill
patrick. 1t was much briefer and informed
Fitzpatrick that the instructions sent to Hurl-
but were intended likewise for him.
The witness was not sure upon which paper
the endorsement was made. The witness did
BOT know who prepared the papers. Shipherd
sent him. (Blair) copy, which he (Blair)
showed to Blaine. The latter declined, how
ever, to make any use of them or do more than
he had indicated in his instructions already
given.