Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-08-14
gplitifal Miseellaug.
LETTERS To RE REMEMBERED.

| LETTERS TO BE kEMEMBEhED.
Among the so-called "Mulligan letters"
with which Mr.. Blaine's name has been 80
familiarly associated, says the Woonsocket,
R. l., Patriot, are the following, written in
1869 to Mr.. Warren Fisher, of Boston. They
have been reprinted from the Congressional
Record in several newspapers and have
never been explained by Mr.. Blaine or his
friends in way to relieve him of the record
upon his official character which their pub
licity made clear to all men at the time who
had t'heads on their shoulders that could
understand the English language" 1t does
not seem possible that man who, while
Speaker of the National House of Repre-
sentatives could write such letters as these,
could be elevated by the voters of the Unit
ed States to the highest office in the nation.
These four letters are not given to the pub
lie for the first time. They are part of
.trecord that defeated Mr.. Blaine's ambition
in Republican National Conventions until
the Star Route gang captured the conven--
tion of the party in 1884, and now demand
the support of Republicans on the ground
that the party must be saved. Isn't the real
question whether the party can live if it
cannot find within it's ranks men as candi-
dates for President who are not given to
letter-writing of such character as these four
letters exhibit
AUGUSTA, Me-, June %, 1869.
i MY DEAR Mr.. FISHER: I thank you
for the article from Mr.. Lewis. 1t is good
in itself, and will do good. He writes like
q man of large intelligence and comprehen-
sion. Your offer to admit me to partici-
patton in the new railroad enterprise is in
every respect as generous as I could expect
or desire. / thank you very sincerely TOR
it, and in this connection I wish to make
a suggestion of somewhat selfish character.
1t is this: You spoke of Mr.. CaldWelPs
offer to dispose of a share of his interest to
) me. If he really desires to do SO wish
he would make the proposition definite, SO
that could know just what to depend on.
Perhaps if he waits till the full develop
: nent of the enterprise he may grow reluc.
tant to part with the share, and do not
by this mean any distrust of him. 40
} not feel that shall prove deadhead in the
enterprise if once embark in it. l see
various channels in which I know can be
useful. Very hastily and sincerely your
/ friend, JAMES G. BLAINE.
} Mr.. FISHER, India street, Boston.
AUGUSTA, Me-, July 2, 1869.
MY DEAR Mr.. FISHER: You ask me II
I am satisfied with the offer you made ',.e
, of share in your new railroad enterprise
Of course am more than satisfied with the
terms of the offer; think it most liberal
proposition. If I hesitate at all, it isin con-
siderations in no way connected with the
character of the offer. Your liberal mode
, of dealing with me in all our business trans
actions of the past eight years has not pass
ed without my full appreciation. What
: wrote you on the 29th was intended to bring
Caldwell to definite proposition That
was all. 60 to Boston by the same tr@:a
that carries this letter, and will call at your
Office tomorrow at I'm If you don't hap
,, pen to be in, no matter; don't put yourself
Oh
= Mr.. FISHER, Jr.
AUGUSTA, Me-, Oct, 4, 1869.
MY DEAR SIR: spoke to you short
: time ago about point of interest to your
railroad company that occurred at the last
night of the session, when the bill renewing
. the land grant to the State Of Arkansas for
!. the Little Rock Road was reached, by Ju-
lian, of Indiana, Chairman of the Public
, Lands Committee, and by right entitled to
. the floor, attempting to put in the bill as an
amendment to the Fremont Ell Paso scheme,
) scheme probably we'll known to Mr.. Cald-
well. The House was thin, and the lobby
in the Fremont interest had the thing all
set up, and Julian's amendment was likely
to prevail if brought to a vote. Root ana
the other members from Arkansas, were 40
ing their best for their own bill, to which
there seemed to be no objection, and were in
, despair, for it was we'll known that the Sen
ate was hostile to the Fremont scheme, and
, if the Arkansas bill had gone back to the
} Senate with Julian's amendment the whole
thing would have gone on table and slept
| the sleep of death. In this dilemma Root
came to me to know what on earth he could
do under the rules, for, he said, it was vital
to his constituents that the bill should pass.
, 1 told him that Julian's amendment was
entirely out of order because not germane.
But he had not sufficient confidence in his
knowledge of the rules to make the point,
, but he said Gen. Logan was opposed to the
Fremont scheme and would probably make
the point. sent my page to Gen. Logan
with the suggestion that he at once make
the point. l could not do otherwise than
sustain it, and so the bill was freed from
the mischievous amendment moved by Ju-
, lian, and at once passed without objection.
At that time had never seen Mr.. Caldwell,
| but YOU can tell him that, without knowing
: it, I did him a great favor. Sincerely
yours, j. u. BLAINE.
| w. FISHER, JR., ESQ.,, No. "a 4India street,
Boston.
AUGUSTA, Me-, Oct., 4, 1862
MY DEAR Mr.. FISHER Find inclosed
contracts of the parties named in my letter
> of yesterday. The remaining contracts will
be completed as rapidly rs circumstances
, will permit. inclose you part of the Con-
gressional Globe of April 8, containing the
| point to which I referred at some length in
my previous letter of to-day. You will
find it of interest to read it over and see
what narrow escape your bill made on
that last night of the session. Of course,
it was my plain duty to make the ruling
when the point was once raised. If the Ar
kansas men had not, however, happened to
come to me when at their wits ends and in
despair, the bill would undoubtedly have
J been lost, or at least postponed for a year.
I thought the point would interest both you
and Caldwell though occurring before eth
er of YOU engage in the enterprise. [ beg
YOU to understand that thoroughly appre-
; ciate the courtesy with which you have
treated me in this railroad matter, but your
conduct toward me in business matters has
always been marked by unbounded liberali-
ty in past years, and of course l have nat
urally come to the conclusion to expect the
same of you now. You urge me to make as
much as I fairly can out of the arrangement
into which we have entered. 1t is natural
that should do my utmost to this end. [
am bothered by only one thing, and that is
definite and expressed arrangements with
Mr. Caldwell. am anxious to acquire the
interest he has promised me. But do not
get definite understanding with him as |
have with you. I shall be in Boston in a
few days, and shall then have an opportuni-
ty to talk matters over fully with you. [
am disposed to think that whatever l do
with Mr. Caldwell must really be done
through you. Kind regards to Mrs. Fisher.
Sincerely. J. G. BLAINE.
w. F., Jr., Esq.