The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-27
AGAIN ON THE STAND.
BLAINE AND THE PERUVIAN COMPANY
IL Pronounees the Chiii.reruvlan War Pat-up
Job 0! the EaSllsh Dondhoilsrs for Lout and
Dsoty-ils CruAhes the Young Arlsto.
erat, CongrtismAn belmont.

|
erat, Congressman belmont. s
WASHINGTON, April oG.-The Foreign Al
inirs committee resumed their examination
Of ex.Secrctary Blaine this morning. III
snid that he had examined the diary oil thu
latc President, who had been In the habi
for years Of keeping q minute account o
his daily transactions, aud found thai
neither Mr. Shipherd nor NJ, Uurlbpt MOI
the Cochct claim nor tho Peruvian Com
pany are mentioned; neither does his pri'
yale secretary remember ever to have
heard him mention them.
The Chairman-"l would inquire il any
OF the important dispatches pertaining to
South American affairs were prepared dur.
ing President Gartield's sicknessw
Mr.. Biaine-"No, sir. | am very much
obliged to you for asking tho question.
There has been no misapprchcnsion in the
press more widespread than that Ind Ms.
snmcd the right, acting rs President
defacto, to plunge this Government into
certain policies while the President was on
his back and unable to direct affairs. So
fur from that, the diplomatic correspond.
ence when fully published, will show, and
that which has been already published
does show, that there was no decisive nc.
tion Whatever taken during the I'rcsident's u
illness in regard to South American affairs,
nor in regard to any other field,
where the diplomacy OF the admins.
,ration was called into action.
There was possibly one exception, not n
gave and important one; that will be
forthcoming. The dispatches, although
written during the Presidents ill.,
ness, were entirely talked over
and turned over, several times, between
myself and the President before the assas.
sination and knew that in what did |
was carrying, out, with great explictness,
the views Of the President. In or,lcr to
illustrate this question l desire to make a
statement. On the 24th Of June. 1881, the
State department issued u circular letter 10
our Ministers in Europe, touching the
policy Of the United States in relation to
the lnter.occanic canal. That letter, being
addressed to all the governments Of Eur.
ope, did not afford scope for discussion
Of the obstacle which lay in the way of this
policy, namely the Cluyton-Bulwer treaty.
That related especially TO England, 50 it
wns not deemed wise or proper TO make
any alluslon TO it in the circular letter to
all other Powers as well US to England, but,
practically, both papers were prepared at
the snme time. The one relating 10 the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty was blocked out,
and so far blocked out, that the President
and myself had gone over the points TO be
presented and the notes were full upon II:
but that paper. when the Prcsipent was
shot, was laid aside and never was with.
drawn from its pigeon hole until
President Arthur had been thirty or
forty day in the exercise OF the Presidency,
and wns sent weeks afterwards, by reason
Of the Presidents authority to do il. give
That MS an illustration OF 4 very important
point, which is also true in regard to the
Peruvian and South American question,
and which is, that no important action
was taken upon any material point, what.
ever, without the direction and knowledge
OF one or the other Of the two Presidents.
| want to make that statement as broad AS
language can make it"
The Chairnan-"In that connection !
would be glad 10 have Mr.. Blaine to ex.
plain, as fully as he deems proper and ma.
telal, the pructicc OF the Secretary of State.
in reference to the President, in the pre-.
paration OF his instructions to any of our
South American Ministers, including Husl.
but and Tresco:t."
Mr.. Blaine-"The question is comprc.
henslve one and l may possibly give it n
comprehensive answer. In reference to
the preparation OF dispatches am OF course
always 10th to quote anything Of the dead,
and never would quote the controverte,i
point, but the President OF the United
States, now deceased, said to me, very
shortly after had brought the matter Of
this diplomacy before the Cabinet, Mr..
Lincoln directed Seward to bring all
his foreign mattes TO him and not
to Introduce them IL the Cabinet unless he
so directed or requested He said that the
+pollcy OF the United States is pecnliar and
entirely an executive matter, and, when the
advice Of the entire Cabinet is needed, It
is for the President 10 ask it, and not for
the Secretary Of State to bring it in. do
not mean that us any direction or reprj.
mand, blst us laying down Mr.. Gariiell's
policy. From that time forward l never
introduced anything into the Cabinet ex-
cept ut the request OF the President. At
the same time the habit OF the Depart.
ment OF State, under all administrations, I
think, 80. far rs hnve been able to gather
it, has been not to load the President down
by calling upon him for every petty detail,
but only for anything that involved u
permanent policy or II change Of policy,
or which concerned anything that would,
in my way, commit the Government to
any important sstep; it would never be
taken by the Secretary Of State except with
the consent and advice Of the President,
| nm very sure make statement Of great
moderation when l say that no step com.
mitting this Government 10 anything what.
ever OF Importance, no step outlining or
preiacing any policy that would
involve the Government in any
direction whatever, WIS ever taken by me
during the ten months that was Secretary
Of Stale, without the knowledge, consent,
cheerful willingness and advice either o!
President Garfield or President Arthur,
There have been attempts made OF which
!, OF course, acqnit President Arthur IN
tirely { am not now discussing him,) to
HHoH So!'e tl!at SlfAt +!ohplc HlS tTtClpIa'
ted III South America, or was about to be
precipitated by an alteration made by
me rs Secretary OF State in the instruc.
tions to Prescott. While I have TAX.
cn occasion to deny this in interviews
TINT were somewhat informal, l am very
glad to have m opportunity to do it official.
ly and under oath. I hold here in my
hand, exhibiting many pages OF manu-.
script the original dispatch which was sub.
states. As Secretary OF State took from
the Department the original drafts OF dis.
patches for which ! was responsible. o!
course all press copies and Official papers
are in charge OF the Department, but the
original drafts I have kept for myself; that
was according 10 precedent. This paper is
q draft OF the dispatch OF instructions ia
/ rrns rott nhnnt which thorn hnr Laa., =,