The Indianapolis journal., 1884-05-01
TWO INTERESTING LETTERS.
Text of the Correspondence Between
Senator Edmunds and Mr.. Phelps.
The Vermont Senator Denies Doing Anything
Wrong and Invites the Fullest Scrutiny
of His Public Action.
EDNIUNDS-PHELPs.
TIE Senator's Response to the Charges Made
by MIR. Phelps.

TIE Senator's Response to the Charges Maue
by MIR. Phelps.
w,sprSeToN April 30-In his recent reply
In the charges against Blaine, printed in the
New York Tribune, William Walter Phelps as
serted that Senator Edmunds had been guilty
of doing in the Senate just what the charges
alluded to falsely laid to Mr.. Blaine's door while
in the House. Upon the appearance of the
Tribune article, the following correspondence
passed between Senator Edmunds and Mr..
Phelps; 200
WASHINGTON, April 28
Dear Sir-I have read your letter and also the ed
sorial of the Tribune thereon, in which you say
Senator Edmunds understood to have a block OF
Burlington & Missouri River railroad securities. Ed
munds and Grimes acquired their interests in the
Burlington s. Missouri road when they were in the
Senate. They both supported bill to restore the
land grant to their road. These statements taken in
connection with the rest of your letter, evidently
mean at the time Of the legislation referred to was
somewhat interested in that railroad or its securities
and the editorial in the Tribune states expressly as
being your statement, that thing Both yourself and
the Tribune are totally mistaken. have hunted up
what suppose to be the joint resolution to which you
refer being Senate joint resolution No 29, first ses
sion, Fortyfrst Congress, of which had no reeol-
lection whatever before. But see looking at the
Congressional Globe of that date that did make a
single remark on the subject of House amendment;
which remark | commend to your careful
consideration. I had not at that time and
had before any ownership or interest
IN any bond stock of that road, or
any other of the State of Vermont and never ex
pected to have and had more connection with the
passage of that joint resolution than you had, and
knew than you (Which assume was nothing
at alb excepting what may be inferred from my re-
mark the House amendment. More than three
months afterwards. and the 18th of July, 1869, l
found. looking at my old books that had sub
Scribed for hundred and nnety-ve shares OF the
stock and S6 900 of the bonds of the Burlington &
Missouri River Railroad Company in Nebraska which
assume, the road i'll way affected by the
legislation referred to. paid in cash the same price
that all other subscribers did and held the stock for
several years when l sold it the Boston market at
the market price, and more, and them after
wards, bought of the bonds of the same com
pany which still hold. This is the whole story and
give you authority to verify it by examination of
the books of the company in Boston, or an examina
tion of my books, or both.
1t is of some consequence among men who intend
to be truthful, | do not doubt you do to be
somewhat accurate in making statements about the
acts and doings Of other people If YOU, anybody
else. wish to know anything concerning my business
other transactions at any time, shall be happy to
put you in possession OF precise information you
viii be certain that what you say is true. am
neitherwilling desiring to be either candidate
president, which everybody who has spoken or
written t" the subject knows, but, as / natur-
ally like to stand well in the estimation of my fellow
citizens dislike to be accused of either corruption
bias, selhshness or acting public questions in
which have private interest when such accusa-
tions are untrue. Respectfully yours.
GEO. T. EDNUNDS.