Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-18
THE GUANO DEAL.
SHIPHERD ASKS A HEARING.
BIaine's and Blsif's Evidence Ex-
amined.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE House
Foreign Affairs Committee met again
to day to resume the investigation
OF the affairs of the Peruvian Company,
Jacob R. shipherd appeared in the commit.
tee room with good sized hand bag, which
was Immediately conjectured to be filed
with documents for the Information of the
committee, embracing among other papers q
statement prepared by Shipherd.
Chairman Williams asked Shipherd If he
was ready to furnish copies OF all corre-
spondence between himself and auv person
or persons whomsoever in regard TO the
original organization and object Of the Pc
ruvian Company.
Shipherd answered that he was not To
all variations of this question Shipherd gave
a blunt negative, without any qualification
of any Of his former statements.
The committee then went into private
consultation. After about ten minutes the
doors were reOpenea and IL was learned that
the committee had agreed to inform the
Sergeant al. Arms that It had no further
need for the attendance Of Shipherd, and
that.he might be discharged until further
notification. No time was fixed for any
future meeting of the committee in regard
to Chill Peruvian matters.
Mr.. Shlpherd, after the abrupt termina-
tion of his examination to-day, prepared a
long letter 10 Chai, man Williams, of the
Foreign Affairs Committee, which was
handed to Mr.. Williams tonight, in which
Shipherd says:
"On the 18th of April last was notified
by you officially In the presence of your
committee, that my examination would be
temporarily suspended with an intimation
of my recall which l connected with the
instructions given me during the progress
of my former examination with reference to
the production upon my next return from
New York of documents and correspond
ence, and with the general demand then
pending for an omnibus disclosure directly
therefore. Mr.. James G Blaine, volunteer
witness, was heard for several days, and
later Senator Blair. Mr. Blaine occupied
an entire session IN addressing the commit
tee, and devoted considerable portion OF
that address to the creation of cloud of
apparent issues all new, and supported by
pFinlG tdcie evidence intended to discredit
me as a witness, and to destroy the force of
such testimony as | had already given. Sena-
tor Blair's recollec ion differed from mine on
point, which Blame and his friends deem
important. The whole of Mr.. Blaine's tes-
tlmony, so far as it tended to contradict and
discredit mine, was grossly incompetent,
and much Of it irrelveant as well, but by the
permission of the committee 1t has gone
into the official record, and has gone out to
the country as proper evidence, and an inf
mite wrong has been done in consequence,
not only to me personally, but to the very
large interests which 1 represent.
"On the 18th, was regularly subpenaed
to appear before the committee at eleven
o'clock in the morning of this day, and to
bring with me copies of all the cCrrespon-
dence between myself and any person or
persons whatsoever, and all papers and
other evidence in my possession, tending to
show what l did or attempted to do to en-
force the claim Of the Peruvian Company,
to enforce this claim, In obedience to that
subpoena to the prior instruction alluded TO,
presented myself at the appointed hour ct
the place appointed, and was asked by you
whether | was now prepared to comply 1T
orally with the total demand above re-
cited. l had no choice but to answer in
the negative. | was then peremp6orlY dis
missed. being asked no other question, and
being allowed to make no statement and
no explanation. l now beg to say to your
committee, through you, that | am pre-
pared, and have at all times since the sub
pRna was served upon me, been prepared to
supply in effect, althought cannot literally,
all the evidence called for.
81 can further state that this evidence in
cludes an important letter from the Presi
dent of the United States, recently dscov-
cred, correspondence with official and unof
fetal representatives Of Peru, ard with the
Department of State through my counsel.
Whether this evidence may may or not be
OF value to the committee, 1t Is neither
| my province nor my care to in
uuire. 1 have completed my duty in
the premises in bringing it as commanded.
| But this documentary evidence, with much
more which need not here specify, enables
me to absolutely disprove every imputation
upon my veracity, and the consequent
value of my testimony, which,
| by assertion or suggestion has
been put into the record since l was
last heard, and respectfully submit that In
the premises my personal right as an as
| sailed witness Is entitled to consideration.
! To allow volunteer witness In public har-
angue, telegraphed to ali parts OF the coun-
try, to charge me with false swear
| ing and to support these charges by
improper yet prinG tGcie proof, imposes,
| II l am rightly advised, upon the committee
| assuming so grave responsibility the abso-
! Lutte duty of hearing a reply as explicit as
| the premises may warrant. l ask no favor
| | make no suggestion as to testimony TO be
taken or rejected, but l submit that the com
mittee which has allowed it's session 10 be
made the vehicle of a personal assault iu
the hearing Of the whole country, has used
licence to which is annexed an unques.
tionable duty. In answering Mr. Blaine
and in correcting Mr.. Blair shall confne
myself within the same limits as if address
ing a court of judication. No
! limition so narrow as this has
been used by a committee heretofore.
l await only to know whether l am to be
heard at all. VIII you be so kind as to lay
this note before the committee, and to ad-
wise me of their decision without delay.
liam, sir, your obedient servant,
| "JACoB +. SHIPHERD.
"1o Hon. CtGs. @. Williams. Chairman, etc.
Of the House Committee on Foreign affairs -