Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-09-18

lContdentlal
81 WAsH'TN, d. c., 18th April 1876
:, MY DEAR Mr.. FIsHER.-You can do me q
very great favor, and 1 know it will give you
pleasure to do so--just as | would do for you
under similar circumstances Certain persons
and papers are trying to throw mud at me to
injure my candidacy before the Cincinnati
convention, and you may observe they are
trying it in come ction with the Little Rock
and Fort Smith matter
| want You to send me letter such as the
enclosed draft. You will receive this to-mof
row Monday evening, and it will be favor
shall never forget if you will at once write
me the letter and mail the same evening
The letter is strictly true, is honorable to
you and to me, and viii stop the mouths of
slanderers at once
Regard this letter as strictly confidential
Do not show it to any one. The draft is in
the hands of my clerk, who is as trustworthy
as any man can be. If you can't get the let
ter written in season for the o'clock mali TO
New York, please be sure to mail it during
the night SO that it will start first mail Tues
day morning; but if possible. I pray you to
get 1t in the o'clock mail Monday eUenf1tq,
Kind regards to Mrs. Fisher.
SiIicesElF, JIG B.
Burn this letter
= Endorsed on the back
Not knowing your exact address, Isend this
to the Parker House, in order that it may
[notl be subjected to any danger in the hands
Of a carrier
THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
Dated WASHINGTON, D. c., 1876
Received at 9:44, April 10!
70 WARREN FIsftEE, BonM0NwEALTH
HoTEL.-Please go Parker House tomorrow,
Monday evening; on arrival morning mail
from New York, find letter. Answer by re
turn mail
I9 D. H. J. G. BLAINE.
rSn
The following is the enclosure referred
to in the preceding letter;
BOSTON, April, 1876.
Hon. JAMES g. BLAINE,
WASHINGTON, u. C.
DEAR SI2--I observe that certain news
papers are making or rather insinuating the
absurd charges that you own or had owned
$l50,0)0 OF Little Rock and Fort Smith Rail-
road Bonds, and that you had in some way
obtained them as gTatuity.
The enterprise oil Building the Little Rock
and Fort Smith railroad was undertaken in
1869 by a company of Boston gentlemen, OF
whom L myself one. The bonds of the
road were put upon the market in this city on
what was deemed very advantageous terms to
thep purchaser. They were sold largely through
myself. You became the purchaser Of about
10000 OF the Bonds on precisely the same
pcIllc bntb tFtIf OftlcI Dult ItltlNtuf pdyltlE
Tor them in instalments, running over con-
siderable period, just as others did. The
transaction was perfectly open, and there was
no more secrecy in regard to it than if you
had been buying -four or sugar. l am sure
you never owned bond of the road that
you did not pay for at the market rate. In.
Iced, am sure that no one received bonds ON
any other terms.
When the road got into financial difficult
les, and loss fell upon you, you still retained
your bonds, and you id them clear through
q the organization of the company in 1874,
exchanging them for stock and bonds Of the
aew company.
You acquired also some demands against
the new company by reason of your having
Joined with others in raising some money
when the company was in pressing need. For
the recovery of that money proceedings are
now pending in the United States Circuit
court in Arkansas to which you are openly
a party of record. Concealment of the in
vestment and everything connected with it
would have been very easy had concealment
been desirable; but your action in the whole
matter was as open and as fair as the day.
When the original enterprise failed, | knew
with what severity the pecuniafy loss fell
upon you and with what integrity and nerve
you met it. Years having since elapsed, it
seems rather hard at this late day to be
compelled to meet a SANDER in matter
where your conduct was in the highest de
gree honorable and straightforward.
You may use this letter in any way that
will be of service to you. Very sincerely
yours. W. F., Jr.