Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-18
Contunnaeio,ss Shipherd

WARRINGTON, May 17.-Shipherd appeared
before the foreign relations committee this
morning with hand bag said to contain
numerous documents and prepared state
ment, covering fifty pages or more, and was
addressed by the chairman as follows;
The committee of foreign affairs is directed
by the house to demand from you copies OF
all correspondence between yourself and any
persons whomsoever, and all papers and other
evidence in your possession tending to show
what you did or attempted to do to enforce the
claim of the Peruvian company, or to induce
the United States to enforce this claim against
Peru. Are you now prepared to urnish the
documents here called for?
Shepherd replied: am not.
Chairman-Are you prepared 10 furnish and
will YOU furnish all papers and other evidences
in your possession tending to show what you
did, or attempted to do, to enforce the Peruvi-
an claim, or to induce the United States to
enforce this claim against Peru
Shepherd-I will not. positively decline
10 produce the papers and evidence called for.
The committee went into executive session.
After being about ten minutes out, the door
was re-opened and it was learned that the COM
mittee had agreed to inform the sergeant-st-
arms that it had no further need for the at
'endance of Shipherd and he might be dis
No time was fixed for any future meeting Of
the committee in regard to the Gillian: Peruvian
matter, but if was learned the committee had
decided to summon ex-Assistant Secretary Of
State Robert r. Hit as witness. a secret
session will be held tomorrow.
AUGUST SHEPHERDS EXPLANATION.
WASHINGTON, May 17.-shipherd has ad-
dressed the following letter to Williams,
chairman of the foreign affairs committee,
and adds this is all he has TO say at present on
the subject.
Washington, D. C.--Sir; On the 18th of
April last l was notified by you officially in
presence of the committee that my exami-
nation would be temporarily suspended with an
intimation of recall which ] connected with
the instructions given me during the progress
of my former examination with reference to
the production upon my return from New
York of sundry documents and correspond
encs aud with the general demand then pend
ing for omnibus disclosures. Directly there
after James g. Blaine, volunteer witness, was
heard for several days, and later Senator
Blair.
Blaine occupied the entire session in ad-
dressing the committee and devoted con-
siderable portion of that address to the crea-
ton of cloud of apparent issues all new and
supported by prima facia evidence intend
ed to discredit me as witness and to destroy
the force of such testimony as had already
given. Senator Blaine's recollection differed
from mine on point which Blaine and his
friends deem important. The whole of Blaines
testimony, so far as 1t tended TO contradict
and discredlJ me, was grossly lncom Detent
and much of it irrelevant as well, but by per-
mission of the committee IL has gone into the
official record aud gone out to the country
as proper evidence and an Infinite wrong has
been done in consequence, not only to me per-
sonally but to the very large interests rep
resent
On the 18th inst. was regularly subpG naed
TO appear before the committee at II O'Clock
IN the forenoon of that day, and to bring with
me copies of all correspondence between my
self and any person or persons whatsoever
and all papers and other evidence in my pos
session tending to show what l did or at
tempted to do to enforce the claim OF the Pc
ruvian company or induce the United States
government to enforce this claim. In obedi-
ence to that subpoena and to the proper in
structions alluded to, 1 presented myself at
the appointed hour at the place appointed and
was asked by you whether l was now pre-
pared to comply literally with the total de-
mand above recited. I had no choice but to
answer in the negative. was then peremp-
torily discharged, being asked no other cues
lions and being allowed to make no statement
and no explanation.
Il,
you that am prepared, and have ut all times
since the subpoena has been served upon me
been prepared, to supply in substance, al
though | can not literally recall the evidence
called for. l further state that this evidence
includes an important letter from the presi-
dent OF the United States, recently discovered
correspondence with official and unofficial
representatives of Peru and with the depart
ment of state through my counsel. Whether
this evidence may or may not be of value to
the committee, it is neither my province nor
my care to inquire. | have completed my
dutyin the premises in bringing it as command
ed. This documentary evidence, with much
more which l need not here specify, enables me
TO absolutely disprove every impeachment
upon my veracity and the consequent value
of my testimony which by assertion or sug-
gestion has been put into record since was
last heard and l respectfully submit that in
the premises my personal right as an assailed
witness is entitled to consideration.
To allow volunteer witnesses in public
harangue, telegraphed TO all parts OF the
country; to charge me with false swearing and
to support those charges by improper, yet
prima facie proofs, imposes, il / am rightly
advised, upon the committee assuming SO
grave responsibility, an absolute duty of
hearing reply as explicit as the premises
may warrant.
l ask no favor, make no suggestion as
TO testimony to be taken or rejected, but do
submit that committee which has allowed
its sessions to be made a vehicle of personal
assault in the hearing of the whole country
has used license to which is annexed an
unquestionable duty. In answering Blaine
and in correcting Senator Blair, shall confine
myself within toe same limits as if addressing
court of judicature. No such Limitation so
narrow as this has been used by the commit
tee heretofore. wait only to know whether
l am to be heard at all. Will you be so kind
IS to lay this note before the committee and
advise me of their decision without delay
| am, sir, your obedient servant,
Signed JACOB r. SHIPHERp.
TO Hon. Chas. &. Williams, Chairman, etc
MaIriIe,S Prom nfinrl RafiIaed