Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-06
7HE PERUVIAN COMPANY.
Examination Of Senator Blair Before the
Foreign Affairs Committee.


Gettlug At the kernel OF the Peruvian
WAsHINGroS. May 5.
The examination of Senator Blair was re-
sumed this morning, before the foreign at
fairs committee. Blount conducted the ex
animation.
The witness did not remember whether or
not ANYTHING was said at his first interview
With Shiplerd about fee. The second in
terview was about the 22d of July. There
was proposition at that time that the wit
ness should serve the company as paid attor-
ney. Some time in August the witness
agreed to act as counsel. Ii was understood
that the witness should serve for year, but
As to the amount or kind of compensation, no
agreement was made at that time.
| Blount then read from Blaine's evidence,
and asked Was Blaine correct in saying that
at that first interview Shipherd told the Sec
rotary that Senator Blair was one of the ac-
tive counsel!
! cannot tell as to the expressions used,
There was no Misunderstanding about It.
| 1t was veil understood a, the time. l re-
member Boutwell, and Craein were men,
ttioned at the time.
Blount asked as to the amount of stock
offered him by Shipherd. and the witness de-
clined TO state the amount.
Mr. Blount continued You notified Ship
herd after having the stock about three weeks,
that you would give it up:
| Yes, after reading Mr.. Blaine's letter to
| Shipherd of Nov. 26th.
Blount inquired Did you intend by that
letter to convey the impression that you never
regarded that scrip OF any value?
never regarded il as of any value, unless
the agreement with Peru had been carried
out; that is to say. if the company had been
organized and money raised. it would have
been a wealthy and powerful company.
Chairman Williams-If the gentleman will
allow me to ask one question Did you re-
gard the securing of the friendly offices Of
this government as the first important step to
be taken in the Shipherd enterprise?
| regarded the persuading of Chilli to take
an indemnity instead of insisting upon the
dismemberment of her territory an impOr-
tant step to take. l wanted the United
States to take position friendly to Peru.
considered it additional aid if the friendly
offices of the United were secured. 1 did
not expect the policy of the United States
would be at all changed on account of the
claims.
The witness stated that he had a personal
communication from Shipherd, and docu-
mentary evidence relative to Grants views.
The witness acknowledged Grants views
were derived from Shepherds statements to
him exclusively, with the one exception of
Grants endorsement upon draft of in
structions to be sent to Minister Hurlbut.
Did you understand that Grant favored
formal demand by our government, upon
Peru for these claims?
Answer-I do not intend to give the Ian
guage, but think it was in the form of a
dispatch indicating the instructions to our
ministers to use their good offices.
The witness produced copy Of draft of
instructions which Shipherd asked to be sent
to Minister Hurlbut about the middle of
October, and remarked he believed it was
upon the original draft of these instructions
that Grant had made an endorsement. The
document covered six pages of letter paper.
;, The witness then read draft of the in
structions which Shipherd wished to have
sent TO Fitzpatrick. 1t was much briefer, and
informed Fitzpatrick that the instructions
sent to Hurlbut were intended likewise for
him.
The witness was not sure upon which paper
the endorsement was made
The witness did not know who prepared
the papers. Shipherd sent him (Blair) a
copy which he (Blair) showed to Blaine. The
latter declined, however, to make any use of
them, or do more than he had indicated in
his instructions already given.
The witness did not care to say that Ship
herd had wilfully misrepresented him. The
committee had seen more of Shipherd than
he (Blair) had, and could judge of him and
the character Of his mind
So far as his (Blair's) expressions were
| concerned he had NOT hepu misrer souto1
He (witness) had never put things in so
strong a light as Shepherds very hopeful
nature had probably conjured.
Blount then quoted from Shepherds testi-
mony that the subject of bribing Hurlbut
had been mentioned in Blaine's presence, and
the remark of Blaine, Il don't think that
will fetch him."
The witness did not hear any such CONVEX
sation.
The witness further stated that at the time
he supposed the letter. which is now spoken
OF as having been written by Cammacho. was
written by Mr.. Tracy, the Peruvian counsel
in New York, who looked upon this plan of
raising the required indemnity as the only
way to save his country.
Representative Blount read at some length
from letter to Mr.. Arizola, and in reply to
the question whether it stated correctly the
attitude OF this country at that time, the wit
ness replied that some portions of the letter
stated the case much more strongly than was
correct. If he (Shipherd) meant by the
highest authority the state department. wit
ness thought it misrepresentation. Witness
did not see the letter uutil after it was sent.
Had he seen that the state department was
being grossly misrepresented, he would have
thought it his duty to intervene. but inasmuch
as this letter passed through the hands of the
American minister, who was on the spot and
armed with his instructions, he did not see
how this could be the case.
In reply to the inquiry as to his belief in
the validity of Landreaus claims, Blair re-
piled that if a man becomes a citizen and has
property at the time, and this government
will not protect him in that property because
1t was acquired before he became an American
citizen. would not give much for American
citizenship. Witness believed in the justice
Of the Cochet claim, not as to the amount.
but that there was justice at the bottom
of it.
Adjourned.