The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-06
Blaine and Logan in 1859.


the package obtained from Mulligan' S
possession by Mr.. Blaine, on the pledge
of his word of honor that he would give
them Immediately back, and they are
all important. We suppose, however,
that our correspondent refers particular
ly to the letters in which Mr.. Blaine
urges Mr.. Warren Fisher, Jr., to let him
into the Little Rock and Fort Smith
Railroad enterprise, and recounts his
services as Speaker of the House in pre-
venting the forfeiture of the land grant
to that railroad. There are four letters
which are essential to the proper
development of this episode in the
career of the Maine statesman.
, The letters were all written while Mr..
Blaine was Speaker of the FOrty-First
House of Representatives. In the
earliest of these interesting epistles the
third officer of the Government of the
United States goes down on his knees
to the Boston capitalists and tells them
that he knows how to make himself
useful:
AUGUSTA, June 30, 1869.
"MY DEAR Mr.. FISHER: l thank you
for the article from Mr.. Lewis 1t is good
in itself and will do good. He writes like
a man of large intelligence and compre-
hension.
"Your offer to admit me to a participa-
ton in the new railroad enterprise is in
every respect as generous as | could ex-
pect or desire. thank you very sincerely
Tor it, and in this connection | wish to
make a suggestion of somewhat selfish
character.
"You spoke of Mr.. Caldwell disposing
of share of his interest to me. If he
really designs to do so, | wish he would
make the proposition definite, so that l
could know just what to depend on. Per
haps If he waits till the full development
of the enterprise, he might grow reluctant
to part with his share; and do not by
this mean any distrust of him.
al do not feel that shall prove dead
head in the enterprise if l once embark in
it. | see various channels in which ]
know can be useful.
Very hastily and sincerely, your friend,
J. G. BLAINE.
'Mr. Fisher, India street, Boston,"
In his second letter on the subject
the Speaker and statesman expresses his
appreciation of Mr.. Fishers "liberal
mode of dealing" with him, but init
mates that the other Boston capitalist,
Mr.. Josiah Caldwell, may need little
prodding:
AUGUSTA, July ., 1859.
any DEAR Mr. FISHER You ask me
if am satisfied with the offer you made
of share in your new railroad enterprise
"Of course, l am more than satisfied
with the terms of the offer. | think it a
most liberal proposition.
"If ! hesitated at all, it is from consider
alton in no way connected with the char
acter of the offer Your liberal mode of
dealing with me in all our business trans
actions of the past eight years has not
passed without my full appreciation
What wrote You on the 10Th was intend
ed to bring Caldwell to definite PROPOSE
ton, that was all.
81 go to Boston by the same train that
carries this letter, and will call at your
Office tomorrow at II NJ. II you don't
happen to be in, no matter. Don't put
yourself to any trouble about it.
Yours, j. G. B.
"W. Fisher, Jr."
1t appears from the third letter that
Caldwell did need to be reminded how
useful the Speaker had been to the Lit |
tie Rock and Fort Smith people, at |
time when their land grant was in inn
minent danger of forfeiture:
CPERsoNAL.l
AUGUSTA, Me-, Oct. A, 1869.
Ny DEAR SIR: spoke to you short
time ago about point of interest to your
railroad company that occurred at the last
session of Congress.
sit was on 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, and Julian, OF Indiana.
Chairman of the Public Lands Committee
and, by right entitled to the floor, attempted
to put on the bill, as an amendment, the
Fremont FL Paso scheme-a scheme prob
ably we'll known to Mr. Caldwell. The
House was thin, and the lobby in the Ere
mont interest had the thing all set up. and
ulians amendment was likely to prevail
If brought to vote. Roots and the other
members from Arkansas, who were doing |
their best for their own bill Ito which there !
seemed to be no objecuon), were In
despair, for it was we'll known that !,
the Senate was hostile to the Fremont
scheme, and if the Arkansas bill had gone /
back to the Senate with Julian's amend Il
nent, the whole thug would have gone on /
-
ain this dilemma Roots came to me IN Ii
now what on earth he could do under the Ct
ules, for he said it was vital to his con- >
tltuents that the bill should pass told
i'm that Julian's amendment was entirely
ut OF order, because not germane: but he Z
ad not sufficient confidence in his know
edge OF the rules to make the point. but
ald ten. Logan was opposed to the Ere
iont scheme, and would probably make
ne point l sent my page to Gen. Logan
18th the suggestion, and he at once made y
ne point. ! could not do otherwise than
lstain-it and so the bill was freed from 81
ne mischeiYious amendment moved bv m
ulian, and at once passed without obiec- 81
on. te
" At that time had never seen Mr.. CaId- of
ell, but you can tell him that, without vi
moving it, did him a great favor. yo
Sincerely yours, J. g. BLAINE. as
W FISHER, JR., Esq, "a India street Ia
oston." @
On the same day Mr.. Blaine took an. III
her letter to his generous patron M.
Isher, which completes the story: Ri
AUGUSTA, Oct. 4, 1869 IN
Ny DEAR Mr.. FISHER: Find enclosed ",
ntracts OF parties named in nv letter ~ ~ ~
sterday. The remaining contracts will an
! completed a. rapidly as circumstance =,
u permit. n
enclose You part Of the Congressional - -
cbe Of April 8, containing the point 10 VA
lich referred ct some length in INV
eVlous letter Of to-day. You will find 4
interest," % read It over and see what 4
TOW 4 escape your bill made on that last
ght OF the session. OF course Il vas ~, -,
ain duty 10 make the rqflino Wien ~
int was once raised the 4rLsns.s
u had not, however, hanpened IN come To
me when at their wits end and ~ A.
Y, the bill would undoubtedly have
q lost, or at least postponed for ! vaar the
nougnt the point would interest botb
! ana caldwell, though occurring befora mil
aer Of you engaged in the enternrisa Blu
J Deg You 70 understand that / tboron,,l,- din
appreciate The courtesy with which w, Loo
Fe treated me ia this railroad rnatssr den
your conduct toward me n bu.iress but
tiers have always been marked ur;fb ~ ord
lnded hberality in past years. ana ~ But
re have naturally come to exua,f M ''wc
e g you now. You urge me 70 InaIe - thrs
g. e fairly can out Of the arranea- q
d INTO which we have entered Tti. T..
urll that should do my utmost ~ tb;s folk
an bothered BY only one thino lO0l
that Is the indefinite arranosn,e,,ssI 70 &
z ~. Caldwell. am anxious ~ -. Of {
g ne interest he has promised me hnt he j
not set definite understanding wifb 3.
e have with you. / shah b IN Der
,on y lev days. and shall then have 1or
'ppoltunlly to talk matters over fnIlv n.
you. I am disposed 3 think tbef
lever d. with M. Caldwell mrrf Al
Y ns done through you. Kind teT,fds
- Fisher Sincerely. 80 m
II. F,srrn - r Y. pAAiNh tors
= interesting q remark that it was s{,'
ne and Logan not Blaine nlonn. 49,