Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-08-11

THE "MULLIGAN" LETTERS.

making claim that James G.. Blaine
once wrote a series of letters that
him dishonorable in an otffc-
ial position, speaker of the House,
we give them that our readers may
know what they were and
Judge for themselves. Mr. Blaine
had been accused of using his power
as speaker to further unjust legisla-
ton, and to have been engaged in a
dishonorable transaction. He took
the letters himself, read them in the
House before an investigation
committee, and the investigation
dropped at once. 1t turned out that
his ruling was made several months
before he bought stock in the new
railroad, that the ruling was correct
and that honorable railroad interest
was helped by his advice. Like 9th
er men in Washington he invested
money in real estate, in banking in
situations, and in railroads; but no one
claims anything dishonorable, except |
on the grounds mentioned. Inas-
much as nearly all the stock in trade |
against Mr.. Blaine, by democrats
and independents, is made out of
these letters, they ought to be in the
hands of every voter. Mr.. Blame
purchased some of the stock; he be-
lieved the road would be q paying
road; he encouraged friends to in
vest in it, as he had himself. The
stock was a poor investment bowev-
er. and he took it off the hands, OF
made up the losses of every man
whom he had advised to purchase-a
transaction which shows that instead
of being dishonest man he is, on
the contrary, a very honorable one.
The following are the letters:
AUGUSTA June 80, 1869.
Me- Dear Mr.. Fisher: thank you for
the article from Mr.. Lewis. 1t is good in
itself and will do good. He writes like
man OF large intelligence and comprehen-
sion. Your offer to admit me to a partic-
ipation in the new railroad enterprise is
in every respect as generous as l could
expect or desire. thank you very sin
cerely for it, and in this connection wish
to make suggestion of a somewhat self
ish character. 1t is this: You spoke of
Mr.. Caldwelrs offer to dispose of share
of his interest to me. If he really desires
to do so 1 wish he would make the prop
osition definite, so that 1 would know
| just what to depend on. Perhaps if he
waits till the full development Of the en-
| terprise he may grow reluctant to part
| with the share, and do not by this mean
| any 'distrust OF him. / do not feel that
shall prove a deadhead in the enterprise
| if 1 once embark in it. I see various
channels in which know I can be use
full. Very hastily and sincerely your
friend, JAMES G. BLAINE.
! AUGUSTA, Me-, July 3, 1869.
My Dear Mr.. Fisher: You ask me if l
am satisfied with the offer you made me
of share in your new railroad enter
prise? OF course am more than satisfied
with the terms of the offer; I think it a
most liberal proposition. If hesitate al
all it is from considerations in no way
connected with the character of the offer
Your liberal mode of dealing with me il
all our business transactions of the pas
eight years has not passed without my
full appreciation. What wrote you oil
the Goth was intended to bring Caldwell
to definite proposition. That was all
go to Boston by the same train tina
carries this letter, and will call at you
office tomorrow at II M. If you dom
: happen to be in, no matter; don't pu
t yourself to any trouble about it.
E Yours, j. G. B.
f Mr.. Fisher, Jr.
5 AUGUSTA, ME-, Oct. 4, 1869.
{ My Dear Sir: l spoke to you shoI
time ago about point of interest to you
. railroad company that occurred at til
last session of congress.
1t was on the last night of the session
q when the bill renewing the land grant
s | state of Arkansas for the Little Rock roa
n was reached, and Julian of Indians
chairman of the public lands committe
> and, by right entitled to the floor, a
/ tempted to put on the bill, as an amen
l. ment, the Fremont Ell Paso scheme
d scheme probably we'll known to Mr.. Cal
a well. The house was thin, and the lobt
in the Fremont interest had the thing {
set up, and Julian's amendment was lik
8 ly to prevail if brought to vote. Roo
III and other members from Arkansas, wi
d. were doing their best for their own b
f. Ito which there seemed to be no obje
i tion), were in despair, for it was w
known that the senate was hostile to t
. Fremont scheme, and If the Arkans
3 bill had gone back to the senate with j.
a. ian's amendment, the whole thing wou
d. have gone on the table and slept the sic
in of death.
- In this dilemma Roots came to me
know what on earth he could do unt
h' the rules, for he said it was vital to
lu constituents that the bill should pass.
n told him that Julian's amendment was
IT. tirely out of order, because not german
" but he had not sufficient confidence in
knowledge of the rules to make the poi
but he said Gen. Logan was opposed
20 the Fremont scheme, and would proba
III. make the point. I sent my page to G
by Logan with the suggestion, and he
er- once made the point. l could not do G
30 erwise than sustain it, and SO the
was freed from the mischievous anne
oN ment moved by Julian, and at once p;
lac ed without objection.
lrd At that time 1 had never seen
es- Caldwell, but you can tell him that, w
To- out knowing it, / did him great fay
Sincerely yours,
IL. J. G. BLAINI
~, W. FISHER, Jr., Esq, No. "a II
street, Boston.
- AUGUSTA, Oct. 4, II
ih' My Dear Mr. Fisher: Find enclo