Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-17
TConfdential.l

WASH'TN, ID. g., April 10, 1876.
MY DEAR MIR. FISHER; You can do
me very great favor, and know it will
give YOU pleasure to do so-just as 1
would do for you under similar circum-
stances. Certain persons and papers are
trying to throw mud at me to injure my
candidacy before the Cincinnati Con-
vention, and you may observe they are
trying it in connection with the Little
Rock and Fort Smith matter.
l want you to send me a letter such as
the inclOsed draft. You will receive this
tomorrow Monday evening, and it will
be favor I 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 will stop the mouths
of slanderers at once.
Regard this letter as strictly cOnflden-
tial. 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 letter written in season
for the O'Clock mail to New York, please
be sure to mail it during the night so that
it will start first mail Tuesday morning;
but If possible, pray yOu to get 1t IN the
8 O'Clock mail Monday eoentng. Kind re-
CARDS to Mrs. Fisher. Sincerely,
Burn this letter. j. G.. B.
Endorsed on the back)
Not knowing your exact address, l send
this to the Parker House, in order that it
may mot be subjected to any danger in
the hands of a carrier. j. G. B.
The WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH
COMPANY.
Dated WASHINGTON, d. O., 1876.
Received at 9:44, April 10th.
To WARREN FISHER, COMMONWEALTH
HoTEL,-Please 90 Parker House tO-mOr-
row, Monday evening; on arrival morning
mail from New York, find letter. Answer
by return mail. j. g. BLAINE.
10 d. Il.
DsDl.
The following is the Enclosure referred
to in the preceding letter:
THE WHITEwAsHING EPIsTLE.
Boston, April -, 1876.
Hon. James q. Blaine, Washington, ID. O..
DEAR SIR observe that certain news
papers are making, or rather insinuating,
the absurd charge that you own or had
owned $l50,000 of Little Rock and Fort
Smith Railroad bonds, and that you had
in some way obtained them as a gratuity.
The enterprise of building the Little
Rock and Fort Smith Railroad was under
taken in 1869 by a company of Boston
gentlemen, of whom l was myself one.
The bonds of the road were put upon the
very advantageous terms to the pur-
chaser. They were sold largely through
myself. You became the purchaser of
about 100000 Of the bonds on precisely
the same terms that every other buyer re-
ceived, paying for them in installments,
running over considerable period, just
as others did. The transaction was per-
fectly open, and there was no more Sc
crecy in regard to it than if you had been
Ruying flour or sugar. l am sure you
never owned bond of the road that you
did not pay for at the market rate. In
deed, l am sure that no one received bonds
on any other terms.
When the road got into financial diff
culties and loss fell upon you, you still
retained your bonds and you held them
clear through to the reorganization of the
company in 1874, exchanging them for
stock and bonds of the new 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 Ar
kansas, to which you are openly a
party of record. COncealment of the in
Yestment and everything connected
with it would have been very easy had
been desirable; but your
action in the whole matter was as open
and as fair as the day. When the Origi-
nal enterprise failed, l knew with what
severity the pecuniary 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
to meet a SANDER in a matter
where your conduct was in the highest
degree honorable and straightforward.
You may use this letter in any way that
will be Of service to you. Very sincerely
yours, W. f. JR.
The words "Indeed, am sure that no
one received bonds on any other terms"
were interlined in foregoing letter in Mr..
Blaine's own handwriting.
We hereby certify the foregoing to be
true and correct copies of the originals.
WARREN FISHER,
JAMES MULLIGAN.
Boston, Sept. u, 1884.