Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-06
BLOUNT AND BLAIR.
SOME VERY POINTED OUES-
T1ONS.
ShipheFd,s Attorney and RIaine,s
POlIcy-sOme Honest Assertions
with SkiIlfuI EVAsIOns.

WASHINGTON, May 5.-The examination
Of Senator Blair was resumed before the
Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative
Blount conducting the examination.
"What was thesamount of stock rendered
you by Mr.. Shipherd?"
''Dc you think that essential?"
Mr.. Blount-'I do"
Witness-'I must decline to answer that.
have stated all that l think essential of
my connection with the company and do
not care to go further in that direction. |
never received any money or anything other
than stock
Mr.. Blount then read from Mr.. Blaine's
evidence and asked: "Was Blaine correct
herd told the Sec etary that Senator Blair
was one OF the active counsel?'
81 cannot tell as to the expressions used
There was no misunderstanding about 1t. 1t
was well understood at the time. remem.
Der Messrs. Boutwell, and Cragln were men
toned at the time"
Witness replied to further questions:
'Baine understood that | appeared there
IS counsel. He knew that was desirous
OF aiding Shipherd. l asked the Secretary,
If, from his knowledge of the affair, there
could be any improperly of nv acting as
counsel, and he said he could see none
This was before this interview with Ship
herd. No one intimated to me that there
was any impropriety in my being connected
with the company until this investigation
began. L never concealed my connection. l
should do the same thing over with the
same light. ! have no apology to offer here
or elsewhere"
Mr.. Blount again asked how much stock
witness mad received as fee from Ship
herd. Mr.. Blair again refused to answer
Witness stated that he had not Influenced
any capitalists to enter the scheme.
"Did you ever use this language?" TOuo-
ting from Shepherds testimony the para
graph in which occurs the words you
should act as though ships of war were on
their way to the Pacific Coast can only
assure you that the United States will speak
In manner to mark an era In diplomacy,
etc.
II may have used such language, but the
questions are asked from different mental
view from that under which the letter was
written" Witness desired to explain Just
the view he took at that time. He believed
that at that time Chilli had changed her
mind and proposed to insist upon the dis
memherment Of Peruvian territory He
(Mr. Blair) looked upon 1t as an insult to this
government, and he believed that some
steps would be taken by our government,
dHN 1udt1 pOSSlOifs 6ulpS Oh war would be
sent there.
Mr.. Bount did not think long explana-
tion was necessary. What he wanted to
know was why he spoke in this manner to
his client OF the policy OF the United States,
II he did not thick that policy gave any
value to the claims.
Chairman Williams: "Did you regard ee-
curing the friendly offices of this govern
ment as the first important step to be taken
In the Shipherd enterprise ~
81 regarded persuading Chill to take any
indemnity instead of insisting upon the dis
memberment OF Peru's territory as an i'm
p0rtant step to take. | wanted the United
States to taxa position friendly to Peru.
| considered it additional aid IL the friendly
offices of the United States were secured.
l did not expect that the policy of the
United States would be at all changed on
account of these claims"
"Did you understand the government as
demanding from Chill that she should not
insist on the dismemberment of Pelu?'
Witness declined to discuss the mean
ing Of the dispatches. He had no other view
of the governments policy than that indi-
Gated in irs dispatches.
Mr.. B(ount Quoting from Shepherds tes-
timony) asked-'How did you learn Gen.
Grants opinion upon this matter?''
Witness objected to this line of inquiry,
but Mr.. Blount replied that elf the name of
General Grant and the influence of this
government has been brought to bear to In
duce the payment by Peru of $120 000. 900,
| think It pertinent that the names of ali
the parties interested should be known"
Witness said his knowledge of Grants
views was derived from Shipherd's S ate
ments to him exclusively, with the excep-
ton of General Grants endorsement on
draft of instructions to be sent to Minister
Hurlbut.
kbak
favored q formal demand by our govern
ment upon Peru for these claims?"
81 do not undeIt IKE to give the language,
but think it was in the form of dispatch,
indicating instructions to our Minister to
use its good Offices"
Mr.. Blount was about to ask a question
based on the words ''good Offices" when
witness interrupted with the remark that
he did not care to be questioned upon the
specific words, when he had distinctly
stated that he would not give the exact
words.
Mr.. Blount-I DO not propose to be lack
ing in my cOurtesies tow ard the gentleman,
but am not going to be stopped from ask
ing any questions unless by the decision of
the committee.
Witness simply desired to remove a mis-.
apprehension. He then restated his under
standing of the document alluded to, and
produced copy of draft of instructions
which Shipherd asked to to be sent to Min
lister Hurlbut about the middle of
October and remarked that he believed it
was upon the original draft of these instruc-
tions, but that Grant had made an endorse
ment. The document covered six pages of
letter paper. Witness then read the draft
of instructions, which Shipherd wished
to have sent to Fitzpatrick Il was much
briefer and informed fitzpatrick that the
instructions sent to Hurlbut were intended
likewise for him. Witness was
not sure upon which paper
Grants endorsement was made. Witness
did not know who prepared the paper.
Shipherd sent him (Blair) a copy, which he
(Blair) showed to Blaine. The latter de-
clined, however, to make any use of them,
or do more than he had indicated In his
instructions already given. Witness was
entirely noncommittal as to what
was to be thought of Shepherds testimony
regarding the part he had taken in the en-
terprise. He admitted that some parts of
Shepherds letter to Arizola, forwarded
through Hurlbut to Lima, stated the posi-
tion of our State Department more strongly
than was correct. He wasn't prepared,
however, to call Shepherds statements
"misrepresenJations.n
Mr.. Blount called witness attention to
the report of the law officer of the State De-
partment upon the Landreau claim. and
expect this government to recognize the va
idity of a claim bis right to which attached
before he became a citiZen?"
81 am not prepared to answer that wholly
in the negative. 1t is certainly whiting
down American citizenship pretty fine. If
a man becomes a citizen, and has property
at the time, and this government will not
protect him in that property because it was
acquired before he became an American
Citizen / WOuld not give much for American
citiEenshp."
Witness was asked as to an opinion he had
given that there was justice In Cochet's
claim, and replied that Cochet was the dis
coverer of valuable properties In guano, while
LAndreau discovered beds of guano where
none were previously known to exist, and
then continued: "As to the fact that some
compensation should be made for these dis
coveries, think any fair mind would as
sent. As to the amount, do not assume
to say"