New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-02
SENATOR BLAIR'S TESTIMONY

| HIS RELATIONS WITH J. r. SHIPHERD/
| THE CONSIDERATIONS OF PUBLIC POLICY THAT np
DUCED HIM TO DESIRE THE SUCCESS OF sHIP
HERDS sCnEME-THE UNITED STATES THROWING
AWAY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND MAKING TN
FUTURE DOUBTFUL.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSgI
WASHINGTON, May 1.--Senator Blair read stst~-
ment before the Foreign Affairs Committee this
morning, after which the committee adjourned to
give the members an opportunity to read the state
ment in print before examining the Senator. It waa
largely devoted recital of tho considerations Of
public policy which caused him to take an interest
in project such as Shepherds had appeared to him
to be for the advancement of American influence in
South America. On all points affecting his own re-
lations with Shipherd or his knowledge Of the re.
lations Of Shipherd with Mr.. Blaine, his statement
seemed entirely satisfactory. He repeated the
statement made IN hIs letter TO Mr.. Blaine that thu
$25O,OO0 offer was not mentioned in his pres
ence by Shpherd, and that ne (ths SenatorI knew
nothing of it until Mr. Blaine himself showed
him the $3.50 900 letter which General Rurlbut had
forwarded to the Department from Peru. Mr.
Blalr's explanation of his own connection with tho
alleged Peruvian Company showed that it had been
made with careful regard to his responsibilities as
Senator. lie agreed to act counsel upon the con-
dition that, if it seemed probable at any time that
there would be Congressional action affecting the
interests of the company he should be allowed to
sever his connection.
Shpherd sent him certificate for n certain amount
of the stock when issued, which Slr. Blair returned
to hm cancelled before the opening OF Congress, in
accordance with the stipulation he had made. Tho
explanation on this point seemed to be all that
could he desired. He said he knew nothing of rhe
membership of the Peruvian Company besides Ship
herd, and did not know that any person connected
with the Government had ever had any connection
with 1t and said that far as he know lie was tls
only member of Congress who had acted as counsel.
The point which was looked for with greatest in
terest was his explanation of the letters he was
said by Shipherd to have written him. telling hiIn,
in effect TO act if the American ships of war wers
already on their way to South America, ETC. Tho
persons who are carrying on this campaign of sus-
picion against Mr. Blaine have declared that these
statements must have been made in pursuance OK
assurances from the State Department that tho
Government TO be used to aid the claims OK
spectators Like every other charge that has been
made against Mr. Blaine in this matter, this dis
solves into thin air on examination Mr. Blair eI-
planned that these expressions used by him wero
based upon his ideas of what the Governments
ought to do and his expectations as to what it
would do. TO use his own words. he
thought the Government would recognize
kick and resent it," 1t was evident
that these expressions to which SO much
significance has been sscribed, grew out of his own
very strong feeling regarding the South American
complicatons-a feeling which, az his statemant
shows. he still has.
An interesting point the submission of let
fer from General Hurbnt To Senator Blair, in which
the former mentioned the fact of his receiving
MANY letters from Shpherd and his inability ~
make Shipherd understand that he could
do nothing unless the matter was referred
10 him by the State Department. This Jet.
ter was written December 2l-seven months AFTER
according TO Shipherd, Hurlbut said he had been
sent to tell hn that the President" considered his
case as strong a case could be.