The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-03-29
TIE PERUVIAN INVESTIGATION.
Shipherd Produces the Letter 10 President
Garfield-The Testimony of the Celebra-
ted Individual.

ted Individual.
WASHINGTON, March 25-The examina
ton of Mr.. Shipherd was resumed thii
morning. Before any question bad beer
put, Shipherd desired to ada a word if il
would be in order, to the testimony given
Yesterday. He then stated that he would
waive the technical objection he Aad raised
and would state thSt the Senator to whom
he had alluded was Dir. Blair, of New
Hampshire. He further stated that. with
one exception, there was no other Senator OF
member of Congress who had in any way
been interested as counsel, or had been ap-
preached with a view to securing his ser.
vices. This gentleman, Shipherd said, was
asked to act as counsel, and declined, on
the ground that he might be called upon as
member of Congress to pass upon the
claims of the Peruvian Company. With
this exception, and that OF Senator Blaine,
there was, in no instance, any effort made
to secure the services of any member of
either house OF Congress.
Mr.. Blount inquired, What were your
reasons for employing Senator Blair as
counsel? Was it on account OF his relations
with the Secretary of State or simply in his
capacity as attorney
Witness replied that he would like to re-
serve his answer until the Committee shouId
decide whether this matter should be gone
into at the present time.
Blount then asked what was the induce
ment which impelled him to seek the ser
vices of the member of Congress who had
declined. Whether it was on account of
supposed influence with the Executive, or
for the purpose OF obtaining his advise as
lawyer
WitneSs-It was for reasons purely per-
sonal to the member himself, as 6istin-
guished from any aid he might render or
was expected TO render in any event as 8
member of Congress.
Witness declined to give the nalne at pres
ent, and demurred to stating the details OF
any purely personal transaction.
Some discussion on the part of Committee
ensued as TO. whether they should pursue
this branch of the inquiry at present The
Chairman stated that Shipherd desired to
be excused from further examination this
morning on account of the state of his
health, and perhaps 1T would be better TO
pass on this request before proceeding with
further Investigation. The question was
therefore waived.
The witness produced copy of mis- (wi5
ness letter 10 the President Of May q, and
explained that it had been sent to him by
his son, who had been requested 70 make a
copy from his letter book, and that he
(Shipherd), after q critical examination,
was prepared 10 say that it was correct
copy.
The letter was then read by the Clerk.
THE LETTER.
May q. 1851.
SIR-I inclose herewith the first copies given
out-irst the prospectus OF the Peruvian
Company; second, the draft of the memorandum
for the agreement with Peru: third, ditto on ac-
count of the sinking fund script; fourth ditto Of
the claim II title pursuant 10 the intimation in
my letter of the 25th ultimo.
The Peruvian Government, having now no
Diplomatic Agent in this country, have been in
free consultation with its senior representative,
T. f. Tracy, Consul in this city. Tracy is a son OF
an American merchant, formerly a resident of
Lima and married to Peruvian lazy, and was
born and bred in Peru. For something like
twenty-five years he had held his present post,
and seems to be very intelligent as to both Peru
vian and Chillan affairs. and certainly is keenly
alive To Peruvian inieIests- As to the Cochet
Claim he says there Is little known 70 the
present generation, having disappeared from
the contest III 1855. when Coehet returned
finally to France, and being almost
but that no disposition TO contest it Is probable
when presented y we are now ready TO present
it, since shall come TO the relief OF the pros
JTBte at the most critical moment. OF cOnrse. he
speaks for his own people only. Chsi, flushed
with victory, and destroying with vandal zest,
whatever she can not cep0Ci, viii scarcely sub
even when offered, as we offer her, liberal war
indemnity, but, if the issue is between CONNER
cial creditors with original rights and mere in
truder, i issnot doubted that the sOlgsiion how
ever dstasteful ID the yanquished or victor, will
he easy. Moreover, all Sdvices agree that Chilli
herself IS not wholly content with the present
outlook. All .neiehboTiDg Republics are now
jealous of her and If by at
tempted annexation, or prolectOrate, she
should seek the permanent enlargement OF her
power she would but enter upon long and peril
Gus contest II. on the other hand, she should
retire. having tasted all the legitimate fruits
of real victory and with her war indemnity in
snred, it would be fortunate ending for her, AZ
we'll rs for others.
The latest adyices indicate more than ordinary
anxiety in high quarters at SANTIAGO TO ana some
elephant. While the interests OF my client are
purely monetary. their protection involves at the
outset an international question OF such Inagni
tude that they see no other course so proper as
TO lay before the President all the facts and avail
themselves at every step OF SUCH formal or In
formal suggestions as he may think mt 70 favor
! them with. As far. however, as they have
planned for themselves, they have planned
to avoid all complications, and II supported
| by general assurances that the Executive will
project them, so far as he finds them to be right
| they anticipate no difficulty in peaceably mar
monizing oil interests by direct commercial nego
tations without other Governmental aid other
tnan that above indicated.
An examination of the papers herewith sub
mitted will show the situation to be this:
/. American citizens the legal representa-
tves Of the Indebtedness from Peru To the original
| discOverer OF guanO, amounting 10 something
like 81 OO0.OOO0 0O0.
2 Under the Peruvian law this claim Is en-
titled to the priority OF payment over any IN
debtedness contracted since lsi5.
! 5. The owners OF the claim organized into
proper corporation, propose to take possession o.
| the guanO and rich nitrate beds and to work ou
their money without complications,
| 4. At the same time they are ready to assume
$500 COO, 900 due foreign bOndholders and q fai
/ war indemnity 10 Chill. and pay these of from
the sinking fund.- s liberal amount OF the pay
ment 10 begin in 1858.
| The embarrassing features of the situation q
| this moment are the inmineuce OF decisive final
| iues at Lima, and uncertainty of the provisional
/ Peruvian Government. We hope TO be able 4
| send out representative by the steamer sai!iDi
on the 10th of June, but as Congress cOnyenes thi
week, he may only arrive after definite measure
have been already agreed upon. whether or no
| the communication between the Department o
| State and the Minister at Lima by caole clphe
! might stay the finalities, pending the trans
mission of full dispatches Of the President upol
due advice.
and General Fitzpatrick TO Chill will Afford ia
vorable opportunity for full discussion prior Z
their departure of all interests involved, AM
| o settlement of their instructions in a foEn
not likely 10 need further modification
| will attend at such conferences as the Presden
may think IL proper to appoint The executiv
organization of the Peruvian Company will prob
ably be determined within the next thirty o
forty days. My clients remain anonymous IL
the time being for ordinary business reasons.
may properly say to the President that the Pres
dency Of the Company viii probably be ohere
ex President Grant, and that the directlO
throughout will be c0nhded to hands not les
competent and to gentlemen scarcely less widel
known.
The MAGNITUDE OF interests involved in th
quasi National character of the corporation wi
| at time be forgotten. Meanwhile II Is nece