Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-06
BLAIR'SBOLD STAND
He Explains His Connection with the
Peruvian Company, Says He Never
Concealed 1t,
And Has No Apology 10 Offer Before
the Committee or Elsewhere
Gen. Grant Implicated.

WASHINGTON, May 5.-The examination
of Senator Blair was resumed. Witness re-
fused to state the amount of stock rendered
him by Shipherd, and said: Blaine under
stood at the first interview that l was there
as counsel; he knew / was DESTROYS of aiding
Shipherd. / asked the secretary il, from
his knowledge of the affair, there could be
any improperly in my acting as counsel,
and he said he could see none. l never con-
cealed my connection with the company; l
should do the same thing over with the same
light. l have no apology to offer here or
elsewhere. j never regarded the scrip offered
me by Shipherd of any value unless the
agreement with him had been carried out;
that is to say, If the company had been or
ganized and the money raised il would have
been 4 wealthy and powerful company.
There were men Of wealth who were inter-
ested in the movement if the conditions Tor
its success we're possible. There was no COM
pany and no scrip, however, at that time.
Witness explained why he used the Ian
guage, "You should act as though ships OF
war were on the way" The explanation,
however, did not vary from the statement
heretofore published.
On being asked if he understood the gov
eminent as demanding from Chill that she
should not insist on the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF
Peru, witness declined to discuss the mean
ing OF the dispatches. He had no other view
of the policy than that indicated in the dis
patch.
Representative Blount asked: How did
you learn General Grants opinion on this
matter?
Witness said he bad thus far refrained as
far as possible from mentioning names, and
he hoped the committee would not insist
upon that line. He had heard OF General
Grants views from others, and he had seen
them over his own signature, but he did not
care TO be instrumental in bringing upon
others the criticism of the press. He had
Just seen comments upon himself, and could,
be- thought, stand up under them. As for
General Grant, he knew nothing OF his opin-
ions in this relation that he (Blair) did not
consider highly honorable to him. Witness
finally stated that he had a personal COM
munication from Shipherd and documentary
evidence relative to General Grants views.
Witnesses knowledge of General Grants
views was derived from Shepherds state.
ments to him exclusively, with one excep-
tion-General Grants Enforcement upon
the draft of instructions TO be sent to Minis
ter Hurlbut. Witness stated his understand
ing of the document alluded to, and pro-
duced a COPY of the draft of instructions
which Shipherd asked to be sent Minister
Hurlbut about the middle of October, and
remarked that he believed it was upon the
original draft of these Instructions that Gen.
then read the draft of instructions which
Shipherd wished to have sent TO Fitzpatrick
1t was much briefer, and informed Kill
| patrick that the instructions sent to Hurlbui
| were intended likewise for him.
Witness showed Blaine copy of the papers
| The latter declined. however, to make any
use of them or do more than he had indi
Gated in his instructions already given. The
| attitude of the state department was nevel
e
| strongly than in the instructions given il
+. June Witness said he did not care TO say
| that Shipherd had wofully misrepresentec
| him; the committee had seen more o
| Shipherd than he blair had, and coGlC
| Judge of him and the character of his mind
| so far as his (Blair's) expressions were con
| cerned, he had been misrepresented. Ill
| (witness) had never put things in SO strong
| light as Shepherds very hopeful nature ha
| probably conceived.
Representative Blount quoted from Ship
herds testimony, that the subject Of bribin
Hurlbut had been mentioned in Blaine
| presence; and remarked of Blaine, don
think that will fetch him.
Wituess-I did not hear any such CONVEX
sation.
Representative Blount asked-Did you nc
see the Arizona letter, and was it not sui
United TO you because you were counsel &c
Shipherd?
Answer had nothing whatever TO d
with its preparation, and did not know an
part of it until after it was sent. presume
of course, ii would not have been shown
me unless h Ad been counsel.
Question-Would you have continued {
counsel if you had seen the entire letts
before it was sent? Was it not gross mi
representation of the state department?
The witness replied that some portions {
| al "a rr,raf
ly than was correct. 1.-The (Shipherd) meal
by the highest authority, the state depar
ment, witness thought it a misrepresentation
Witness was not prepared to define it an on
rage, for he was not here to abuse the ma
who had once been his client.
The witness, in reply to another questio
said he would have considered it his highe
duty as a senator, if he had seen that the sta
department was being grossly misrepresente
to step in and intervene, but he could not 81
how, inasmuch as this letter passed throug
the hands of the American minister, who WI
on the spot and armed with his instruction
any harm could come of ii, or any misrepr
sentation of the state department could
made, no matter what Shipherd might writ
Witness said his information in regard
the Landreau claim was based on the repo
of the House of Representatives. He wou
, not give much for American citizenship
the government will not protect citizen
, property acquired before he became citize
, Rice-I want to know upon what you, as
| lawyer, base a favorable judgment upon Il
validity Of the Cochet claim?
: Answer-The guano of Peru was wort
; less TO her until throug h the efforts and di
coveries of Cochet guano become known as
fertilizer and a subject of commerce, and
source ofimmense wealth to Peru. Landrea
discovered beds OF guano where it was d
before known to exist. Cochet discovered
analysis the value of guano. As to the IA
that some compensation should be made Il
, these discoveries, think any fair mir
would assent. As to the amount i do M
, assume to say
, Adjourned.