The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-03-23
THE SHEPHERD MATTER.
What Minister Morton Has to say About

WASHINGTON, March I7-MInistel
Morton, in reply 10 the announcement
| that the house committee on foreign at
fairs had the Shipherd matter under in
vestIgation, has communicated with the
secretary of the state what he has to say
| on the subject, and later today transmit
| ted the following communication to the
committee:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, ID. C., March IL, SO.
Hon. c. G. Williams, Chairman Commit
tee on Foreign AfdirS:
SIR-Adverting to the letter addressed
to me on the 4th inst, by the clerk of
your committee, expressing your wish
that the United States minister to France
should be informed of the resolution of
the house of representative of the 24th
ultimo respecting certain allegations of
improper transactions by ministers Plen-
ipotentIary of the United States, and
should at the same time invite Morton
to make such response as he saw fit,
have the honor to inform you that a
telegram in the desired sense was sent
to Morton on the 9th instant, and have
just received from him a reply by cable
to the following effect:
The minister states that he has never
at any time been associated with any
business transactions needing or expect
ing the Intervention of the United States
in the ordinary course Of their bust
ness.
Morton, Bliss & Co. had entered into
the contract simply for the receipt of
nitrates and guano sent to this country
aRd the United States thereof, and that
the transactions were of the same class
of business as has been carried on by
the firm for many years. All the pre-
liminaries of the agreement itself were
made by George Bliss during MOrton's
absence, and before his departure for
his present post. Bliss will be happy,
if desired by the committee, to furnish
all the details of the transactions as far
as Suarese or Randall, who are said to
have been agents of the Credit Industri-
ale, is concerned. Morton has had no
communication with either of them and
does not know them personally; neither
does he know anything of any deal
ings they or either of them may
have had with the governments
of the United States, Peru and Chilli, or
the Credit 1ndustriale before the con-
clusion of the agreement between Ran
dali and Bliss. Mr.. Morton had no init
nation of any personal or official action
being expected Of him, connected with
the affairs of Chilli or Peru or the rela-
lions of these countries with the govern
ment of the United States or of France.
Morton has never had any conversation
with any officer of the United States
government touching on business or po-
litical matters in Peru or Chilli or re-
latIons of either the United States of
French republic. He has had no official
or unofficial communication, either di-
arafI TnhT NIT
whatever having official connection with
or serving either the United States or
French governments in regard to the re-
lation of Chilli and Peru toward each
other, or toward the United States or
French governments, with the eXcep-
ton of u conversation with President
Grevy, which was sought by the latter,
and which interview was officially re-
ported to the department at the time,
and called for the reply from Blaine,
which was communicated TO Grevy and
the reply of the French president there
to was also reported by Morton in
official form. Morton concluded by
saying that it has never entered into
his mind that it would be possible to
use or attempt to use his official position
as minister to further objects of the
late contract, and that he has never
even contemplated any connection with
regard to affairs at Chilli and Peru ex-
cept to carry out in good faith such or
ders as this government may give him
in the premises. l have necessarily
communicated only the import of Nor
tons telegram, for the reason that the
original being in cipher the publica-
ton of the literal text would afford q
clue to the secret channel of Geographic
correspondence. | shall, however, be
happy to let you or any members of
your committee see the original dis
patch if you desire TO do so.
(Slgned) FRED. 7. FRELINGHUYsEN.
Arraigned for Trial.
DEADwooD, March 17.-Crow Dog
was arraigned in the United States court
today for the murder of the Sioux
chief, Spotted Tail, last August. He en-