The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-11-15
The Mulligan Letters.

case, that they have dropped out of the
public mind
The letters are those written by James
G. Blaine to Warren Fisher. of Boston,
and which were com mitted TO the Gus
tody OF James Mulligan, a confidential
employe of Warren Fisher. At the
time of the writing of the letters,
Blaine was Speaker and Fisher was
railroad speculator. The letters were
received from Mulligan by Blaine on
his word of honor to return them. He
violated that promise and kept them,
but, fortunately, he did not get the cop
les. The first letter is as follows:s
AUGUSTA, June %. 1862.
My Dear Mr.. Fisher-I thank you for the ar
ticie from Mr.. Lewis. It's good in itself and
VIII DO good He writes like man of large
intelligence and comprehension. Your offer
10 Admit me TO pan tlcipation in the new rail-
road enterprise is IN every respect as gener-
Gus as could expect or desire l thank You
very sincerely forfr, aud. in this connection,
wish TO make u suggestion of somewhat
selfish character, II is this: You speak of Mr..
Caldwells offer to dispose of a share of his
interest to me. If he really desires to do so
wish he woulo make the proposition definite,
so that could know just what TO depend on.
Perhaps If he waits till the full development
OF the enterprise he may grow reluctant 10
part with the share, and do not by this mean
any distrust of him. do not feel that shalt
prove deadhead in the enterprise if once
embark in it. / see various channels in which
know | can be useful.
Very hastily and sincerely your friend.
Mr.. Fisher. India street. Boston.
1t will be seen that this letter ac-
knowledges an offer by Fisher to let
Blaine into "the new ENTERPRISE" 1t
w no Al.
Railroad Company. Mr. Blaine ac-
eepted the offer thankfully. Mr..
Blaine peddled the bonds of this COM
pany to Maine citizens. They turned
ont to be worthless bonds-and had to
be taken back under threat of putting
their vendors in prison. In this letter
he also asks for longer and larger in
terest in the company. which is to
come out of Caldwelrs share. To i'm
press Caldwell, he used the famous
words: Il do not feel that / shall
prove a deadhead in the enterprise if
i once embark in it. / see various
channels in which know eau be USE
full" How he could be useful a sub
sequent letter explains. The second
letter is as follows:
AUGUSTA, Me-, July 2. 1869.
Ny Dear Mr.. Fisher-You ask me if am
satisfied with the otter you male me of a
share in your new railroad enterprise? o.
course, | am more than satisfied with the
terms of the offer. i think it most liberal
proposition. If 4 hesitate at all, il is from
considerations In no way connected with the
cnsraoter or the ofer; Your LIBERAL mode OF
tons OF the past G ght years has not passed
without my full appreciation; What l wrote
you on the 18th was intended to bring Cald-
well to definite proposition. That was all.
j 90 to Boston by the same train that carries
this letter, and will call at your Office to-
morrow at twelve m. II you don't happen to
trouble about it
Yours.. ]. G. B.
Mr.. Fisher, Jr. -..
In this letter it will be seen he, it
being but three days later, reiterates
his acceptance of Fishers offer-he is
''more than satisfied" -considers it "a
most liberal proposition" He adds.
"What wrote you ON the 29th first
letter. was intended to bring Caldwell
to definite proposition. That was
all. He was anxious for more Little
Rock bonds. The third letter is as fol-
lows:
AUGUSTA, Me-, Oct 4, 1s69.-Nv Dear Sir:
spoke TO you short time ago about point
OF interest TO your railroad company that oc-
Cured at the last session of Congress. ft was
on the last night of the session. when the bill
renewing the land graft to the State of Ar
kansas for the Little Rock Road was reached.
by Julian, of Indiana, Chairman of the Public
Lands Committee. and by right entitled to the
floor. attempting to put in the bill as an
amendment 10 the Fremont Ell Paso scheme
q scheme probably well known TO Mr.. Cald-
well. The house was thin, and the lobby in
the Fremont interest had the thing all set up.
and Julians amendment was likely to prevail
IL brought tn a vote. Root and the other
members from Arkansas who were doing
their best for their own BILL to which there
seemed to be no objection, were in despair
for 1t was well known that the Senate was
hostile TO the Fremont scheme. and If the Ar
kansas bill had gone back TO the Senate with
Julian's amendment the whole thing would
have gone on the table and slept the slcep of
death. In this dilemma Root came to me to
know what on earth he could do under the
rules tor, he said. ii vital TO his con stit,-
ents that the bill should pass. / told him
that Julians amen iment was entirely out of
order because not germane. But he had not
sufficient confidence in his knowledge of the
rules to make keith, the point, but he san General
and would probably make the point. sent
my page to General Logan and he at once
made the point. l could not do otherwise
than sustain 1t. and so the bill was freed from
the miscnicyous amendment moved by Julian
and at once passed without objection. At
that time had never seen Mr.. Caldwell. but
III
did him great favor. Sincerely yours, ~
JAMES q. BLAINE.
w. Fisher. Jr., Esq, No. "a India St. Boston.
The letter explains what was brought
out in the first letter, how Blaine, as
Speaker, was, indeed, mo dcadhead'
in getting the Immigrant for the road,
and to put up its bonds above par, if
possible. 1t is the most direct and de-
testable way of marketing an Office and
jo5bing its powers ever known. In
the plain and strong words of Mr..
Beecher. it is ''revolting case" 1t is
a violation of honor and honesty. 1t is
a violation of his official oath. A man
should let his arm rot to the shoulder
before he would do or record deed
like that. 1t shows Mr.. Blaine as one
has well said, "a statesman for revenue,
tempered by occasional alterations of
honesty other words, thrifty, I'M
principied greed the rule, honesty, ex-
cept.onal and only occasional. Place