Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-18
His Last Saw. for a Time, at Least.

WASHINGTON, May 17.-Shipherd has adj
dressed The following letter to Williams,
chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee,
and adds that it is all he has to say at pres
ent on the subject:
WASHINGTON, May Il, 1882.
SIR-On the 18th of April last was no.
tilted by you, officially, in presence OF the
committee, that my examination would be
temporarily suspended, with an intima-
ton of a recall, which l connected with the
instructions given me during former exam
ination with reference to the production,
upon my return from New York. of sundry
documents and correspondence, and with
general demand then pending from the om-
nibus disclosure. Directly thereafter james
G. Blaine, a volunteer witness, was heard for
several days, and later, Senator Blair. Blaine
occupied the entire session in addressing the
committee, and devoted considerable por-
ton of that address 10 the creation OF
cloud of issues, all new, and sup
ported sby prinlG:facie evidence, in
tended to discredit me as a witness and to
destroy the force Of such testimony as / had
already given. Senator Blair's recollection
of Shipherd from mine on the point which
Blaine and his friends deem important, and
the whole of BlaIne's testimony so far as it
tended 10 contradict and discredit me, was
grossly incompetent, and much of it irrele-
want as we'll. But by the permission of the
committee it has gone into the official record
and has gone out to the country as proper
evidence, and infinite wrong has been done
| in consequence-not only 10 me personally,
but TO the very large interests / represent.
On the y h instant L was regularly subpe-
| naed to appear before the committee at IL
| O'Clock in the forenoon, this day, and to bring
| with me copies of all correspondence be-
Tween myself and any person or persons
| whatsoever, and what papers and other evil
IL 5f~,r L
did or attempted to do to enforce the claim
of the Peruvian Company, or induce the
United States to enforce this claim. In
obedience to that subpoena and prior instruc-
tions alluded to, L presented myself at the
appointed hour and at the place appointed,
and was asked by you whether l was now
prepared TO comply literally with the total
dem and above recited. l had no choice but
to answer in the negative. l was then per-
| emptorily dismissed, being asked no other
questions and being allowed to make no
statement and no explanation. / now beg TO
notify the committee, through you, that am
| prepared, and have at all times since the
subpoena was served upon me been prepared,
to supply in effect, although lcsBnet liter
| ally, ali the evidence called for. further
state that this evidence includes an impor-
tant letter from the President of the United
States, recently discovered, and correspond
ence with the official and unofficial repre-
sentatives Of Peru and with the department
of state, through my counsel. Whether this
evidence may or may not be of value to the
committee 1t is neither my province nor my
care TO inquire. | have completed my duty
in thepremses in bringing it as ommanded.
But this documentary evidence, with much
more which need not here specify, enables me
absolutely to dispose of every iinputation
upon my,veracity and consequent value of my
! testimony, which by assertion or sugges-
ton 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 al
low a volunteer witness in public har-
angue, telegraphed to all parts of the coun-
try, to charge me with false swearing, and to
support those charges by improper yet prima-
fleie proofs, imposes, if l am rightly advised,
upon the committee assuming go grave a re-
sponsIbility, the absolute duty of hearing a
reply as explicit as the premises may war
rant. l ask no favors. l made no sugges-
tons as 10 the testimony to be taken or re-
jected, but do submit that the committee
which has allowed its sessions to be made a
vehicle of personal ASSAULT in the
hearing of the whole country, has
used license 20 which is annexed an
unquesiionable duty. In answering Blaine,
and in correcting Senator Blair shall con-
fine myself within the same limits as if ad-
dressing a court Of iudicature. No limita-
non SO narrow as this has been used Dy The
committee heretofore. want only 10 know
whether l am TO be heard at all. Will you
be so kind as to lay this note before the COM
mittee and advise me of their de cision?
am, sir, your obedient servant,
To the Hon. Charles g. Williams, Chairman, Etc.