Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-05-09
EHELpS-E3NUN s'53AGs;.E-.
An Interview with senator Edtnund>.

Washington COR. Now YORK IIe.dl
After the publ c,tion Of the Eimuuds.
Phelps letters to-day UeraM man called
upon Mr.. Elmunds for further doull3 aslo
the Corruption OF which he vas accused. lie
said handy iGli he WAS not on the witness
stand in his own dcfcnc" but was willing {;
he cross-eXamiued. lie vas accused Of yut
ing for resolution which passed Tie Senate
on the 7h Of April, 1869. Until he read
Mr.. Phe'pss charges against hin in the Nov
York 7'riJUHe he was not aWnrc That any
such resolution was passed or that he voted
for it, but as it was passed unanimously he
must have done so, or ut least assented 10 it
by his silence.
In 1864 Congress granted tiaCl oi land
in the then Territory of Nebraska
to the Burlington and Missouri rail
road, an Iowa corporation. Moth
ing was done with it until after Ncbras-
ka was admitted to the Union as a State
when he same company recognized under
new charter granted by the State Of
Nebraska, and was known as the Burlington
and Miaouri railroad in Nebraska. Accord
ing to the Congressional Gl0je, to which Mr..
Edmunds referred it appreas that Senator
Pomeroy, of Kancas, reported u resolution
transferring to the Burlington aud Missouri
railroad in Nebraska the land grant which
had been gwen to the Burlington and
Missouri railroad of Iowa. Mr. Coukiine
arose to an inquiry as to whether this Iesp.
luton would render the government liable
to any claims upon 1t from the old corpora
ton, to which Senator PomeroY and Senator
Grimes replied that it would not whcrCu.Ou
the resolution was passed unanimously.
81 do not know said Senator Edmuuds
"whether was in the Senate at this time or
not. In fact, have no recollection what
ever about it. 1t appears from The Glojt
that the resolution was sent over 10 the
House, passed there with an amendment
and returned to the Senate. \ few DAYS
after Mr.. Grimes called il up and asked that
the Senate concur in the House Gmcrdmcnl
| must have been there then for the CT is
says that | asked to have the amendment
read the clerk then read it, and it was 10
strike out certain words According to the
Globe | then made the following remark -.
If it strik, s out anything relating to the land
grant then it is better than it was before
That is all that was said in debate. The
amendment was agreed to and the res sutton
passed"
Mr.. Edmunds was asked if he should re-
ply to Mr.. Phelps last letter. "No" he
said, 81 shall not enter into any controversy
about my own integrity. Mr.. Phelps is 40
liberty to publish anything he plesses about
NE, and should not have reOlied 10 him
this time but saw that he had been led into
error, and thought that he, like any Other
gentleman would be glad to be SET tight
Mr.. Blaines letter. refer 10 il in that way
as am familiar with his writings AID ycrpI-
niZe his style-does not require an sus r
from me and shall take no II ice OF IL ~
stated in my reply to-day l have uiud tu
set him right as to the facts, but have no;n-
ing to say about his argument or conclusions.
am no, candi late for the Presidency,
never have been, and never will be; but ii
any ore can show that | have ever voted on
any measure in which have had a pecunia-
ry interest in any shape or form, existing or
cxpectant, remote or contingent, direct or
indirect, ne is welcome to make the exposure
as soon and as often as he likes"
HAS any one any letters from you THAI
you would care to choke out OF himI'
mot to my knowledge, but if there be
any, whoever holds them is al liberty To pub
lsh them as soon as he desires. The rail |
road friends of Mr.. Blaine know very well
what my position has always been on legs
lation affecting their interests, and | have
reason to believe that many times they would !
have been glad to have it different"
You are CHARGED with being a railroad |
Ia Nyer p
II have argued number If cases for diff !
ferent railroad companlts IN the United |
States SupIemt courr, but have never ap
peated in one that involved the inieIts's of
the Government 10 any way. have always |
made 1t practice when in doubt about this |
matter to consult with the Justices OF the