The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-05-02


THE PLUKED KNIGHT IN A HIGH TENPER-N-
DTGNANT AT HIS CONDUCT BEING QURs-
TIoNED-How JOHN BULL GOBBLED TIE GU-
ANo BEDs-THE PROBING NOT COMPLETED.
WASHINGTON, April 26.-In Che Shipherd in
vestigation to-day Mr.. Blaine began by saying
that he desired to correct press report that he
had read q letter from ex-senator Eaton. He
had had no correspondence whatever with Mr.
Eaton upon the subject. Mr.. Blaine then de-
sired to make another statement, which appeared
to him very strong negative evidence against the
claim of Shipherd that he had an interview with
President Garfield on the subject of the Cochet
claim. He then added that he had examined
the diary of the late President, who had been in
the habit for years of keeping minute accounts
OF his daily transactions, and he found that
neither Shpherd, nor Huribut, nor the Cochet
claim, nor the Peruvian Company are mentioned.
Neither does his private secretary remember ever
TO have heard him mention them
In answer to an inquiry by Mr. Williams, wit
ness said none Of these South American dis
patches were prepared during the Presidents
sickness. am glad this question was put be-
cause the American press have widely stated
that l, as de fGctO President, had assumed GER
tain line of policy which might plunge this coun-
try into war" Mr.. Blaine IN illustration of the
point mentioned the fact of certain dispatches
which were blocked out before the President
was shot, but which remained in st0tu quo until
after the succession of President Arthur In ex-
PLANTATION of President Garfeld's views upon the
subject Mr. Blaine said " President Garfield.
in conversation with me, said President Lincoln
directed Secretary Seward to bring all foreign
matter to him and not to the Cabinet, unless he
directed, and" concluded Mr.. Blaine = from
that time forward l never submitted anything to
the Cabinet which involved q permanent policy
or change of policy, and no step which would
woIua ota Of 81 - cel.s-
government was ever taken by me without frst
submitting it TO the President and receiving his
entire approval and direction"
Mr. Blaine then produced the original draft
Of the instructions, which were given to Mr..
Trescott, which he read and pointed out q cor
rection which had been made by the President
some of them at his (Mr BIaine's) suggestion,
and commented upon The corrections and their
wants and demeriIs He added i do not by
any means find fault with the President for
changing his mind, but this is the original draft
of instruction to which President Arthur gave
his assent and which, following precedent,
kept l desire to state most solemnly that the
assumption that ever inierp0iated line or .
syllable in the dispatch alter it was agreed TO by
the President is as false as was the lie that was
circulated over the country that l was during
the Presidents illness, blocking out foreign
policy of my own"
Mr.. Belmont proceeded TO PROFOUND q series
Of prepared questions, which were mainly di-
rected 10 an inquiry into the policy OF the De-
partment in Chill, the Peruvian troubles and the
instructions which were given ~ Mr.. Trescott.
Witness stated that he had never made IN ex-
animation Of the merits Of the Cochet or the
Landreau claim. He had considered the Ian
dreau claim as res 0djudscGtG
Mr.. Belmont's questions were directed to es-
iablishing the point that the instructions to Hur
but to use bis good Offices in behalf of the Lam
dreau claim meant that his Official Intervention
was Contemplated to secure bearing OF the
claim in the Peruvian courts, cOntending that
the lack of the word unOficially" in the dis
patches of instruction implied that official action
was meant
Mr.. Blaine replied that q boy in diplomacy
would know better than to put that construction
upon the dispatches, that he meant just what
they said, neither more nor less
In the course of the examination considerable
feeling was shown, which was suddenly brought
TO climax by Mr.. Blaines remaTking, not with
out some emphasis hope, Mr.. Belmont. you
will be gentleman; shall be one, and shall
De o4dgered- must answer your questions in
my own way, and you must not undertake TO
correct me-"
Mr.. Belmont disclaimed any lack Of courtesy
or desire TO badger. He entertained the highest
respect for the witness, both on account Of his
age and the high position he had occupied but
his next question was:
Did you not in your Instructions to Hurlbut
ask him to bring to bear upon Peru the power Of
the government to force Peru to recognize that
claim Of Landreau p
Several explosions similar to the one just re-
corded occurred in the course of the examina-
ton, Mr.. Belmont persisiing in putting hh swn
construction upon the Instructions to Hurlbut
and Mr. Blaine persistently insisting upon lit
eral construction.
Mr. Belmont pursued his question relative to-
the Landreau claim, asking what status 1t held
ekaea AL-O
and how it was that Ar. Blaine could give the
instructions he did relative 70 the LAndreau claim
ETC.
Mr. Blaine explained at length that the Lam
dreau claim was owned by an American citizen,
who was an American citizen when he obtained
the title to the claim; that Huribut was in
structed IN regard 70 it that while this govern
ment would not undertake to construe the con-
tract between the Peruvian government and ].
C. LAndreau, he (Hurlbut) was TO call the atten-
ton OF the Peruvian government to the injustice
OF not according Landreau Q hearing In the
courts, and TO ask that ssme means be taken %
anord bin hearipg :" was not advsutuF0-
some enough" added Mr. Blaine, i" TO AK for
eign government to give an American . hearing
In its courts. You viii fnd further" be con-
tinued, that the instructions To Huribut say
that, In the event his Qandreau'O claim b fairly
asbiiraied in his favor, il ought to be treated q
lien On the properly Of Peru il The event Of q
settlement Of the dimculties with Chill involving
the poesession Of Peruvian territory. Wen, 4
was iAiFiy arhifrnfed The properly hag Rune
the way Of all the world. Eneiand has eo6hleA
up the guano, and enc million tons af Il are now
advertised 10 London, worth, prubahly, oo0.o00-
co." Mr Blaine contizued with much earnest
ness: The English b,ndholden puf up the 100
of war upon Peru, and IL was fbr boot md hootv
Just e Give and Hastings made var upon Endis.
An Eogiish heet was upon the cost of Bouth
America all the time ready 10 sWcep down
They make mistake who speak of this war q
Chilian VA. Il was an KsgIilh war o. PEN.
aDd take the responsibility % - pat II, and
b out oveF night, and ny ssgegn policy, % qposs
the expEeminn, Wssuld have dFfvan shm co1mfSy
Into war wifk Chill Lei ii Dst hese thMasteA