The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-08-19
TIE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10. 1884.
The MuI|igan Letters.

The MuIIigan Letters
Extraet from Carl SchurH Brook.
@ lIn Speech.
Containing q History of Blaine's
Deal in Marketing His Official
Power for Private Gain.
In May and 5ane, 1876, an investiga-
sippSwas tmade BY a committee Of the
NaidnAt House .ot r representatives. into
The afflir osseertsin land grant railroads
The investigation brought out certain
letters which. Mr.. Rlaine. while Speaker
Of the House of -R.presentatives, had
written 10. Mr.. W. Fisher Of Boston, q
gentleman connected in business way
with one OF these f0sds. The one OF the
etters l want TO mention reads thus;
hs4,Q = AUGUSTA, June 20, 1869.
> kMYDEAR Nix FIsHE.: thank you
sor the artiels from Mr. Lewis 1t is
lsood in Itself and viii do good He
writes like, man Of large Intelligence
and comprehension. Your offer to ad-
nit me to participation in the new rail.
foad enterprise is in every respect as
generous as could expect or desire. /
thank you very sincerely for it, and in
this connection ! wish to make sugges-
tionSo o somewhat eelGsh character. It
b the You spoke of Mr., Caldwell's Of
fer 10 dispose of share OF his interest
to me. II he really desires to do so ]
yish be would make the proposition def
Unite, go that could know just what TO
depend on Perhaps II he waits till the
Sdll Development OF the enterprise be
may grow reluctant to part with the
share, and / do not BY this mean anv
disst1st Of him, 1 DO mol feel that ]
A6df prose q desdhead 10 the enterprise
II I once embark in it. see various
channels in which know can be use.
fui. Very hastily and sincerely your
friend, % - s'An JAMES G BLAINE.
Mr. F.sher, India street, Boston.
This Is what Puck calls the "lettsr OF
acceptance
EIhe second, dated three days later,
fesds as follows:
AUGUSTA. Me, July 1850
Ny DEAR Mr. FISHER: You ask me II
Etn satiSded wi,h the offer yot made.
me Of 4 share in your new failroad en- :,
ierprlsef or course, i am more than
estisded with the terms OF the offer; !
thlDk 1t. a most liberal proposition. II ]
hesitate at all II is from consideration in
no way connected with the offer. Your
liberal mode Of dealing with me in all
our business transactions OF the past
eight years has not passed without mv
full appreciation. What wrote you on
the 29.h was. to bring CaldW veil to def
mite propositlpns That was all. Igo to
Boston by the same train that carries this
letter, and will call al your Office at IL
nj II ypq don't happen to- be in, no
natter .don'tput yourself to any trouble
ABOUT II. Yours, j 6. B.
Mr.. Fisher, Jr.
ltT6 Lev uo VouSO . w Nv
we're Mr.. Fisher and Mr. Caldwell? ? Bu-
siness men occasionally engaged in rail-
road affairs, In this case Interested in the
huilding OF the Little R Jck and Fort
Smith Railroad 10 Arkansas, and in The
financial operations connected Herewith.
i, should be remembered that this Little
Rock railroad had received from the Ma
4i0Bal kGfWernment a valuable grant OF
land, and that its interests could 0cca-
sionalIy he promoted or injured, as the
case might be, by the legislative action
Of Congress
And Who vas Mr.. Blainep He was at
the time Speaker OF the National House
OF Representatives. Aud what is the
speaker OF the House OF Representa-
tives7 He is, without question, by far
the most powerful man in the govern.
ment next 10 the President of the United
yates. He appoints the ,m mittees o.
che House,sin which all legislation is pre-
pared-aye, in which, it might almost be
said, the principal business of.the House
is done. He can, Il he pleases, compose
those committees in a way favorable or
pnfavofsble TO certain lines of policy, OF
measures or interests. He can make The
Committee on banking and Currency o
protector or an enemy to the national
hanks. He can give the Committee on
Pacific Railroads or on Public Lands 6
has friendly or hostile to the land grant
sSoads. And so on. He can reward and
exak, or punish and humiliate members
whom he likes or dislkes, or whom he
wants to strengthen or weaken, hv CIV.
ing them desirable or undesirable places
on The committees. Moreover he pre-
sldes over the Deliberations and admiEis
ters the rules of the House. 1t is in 9
great measure 10 his power to recognize
o. mot TO recognize members who wan'
70 ..ca,ch his eye" in order to speak OF
make rnniions He decides points of or
der-to be sure, subject TO appeal bu
his bare decision goes, OF course, fol
much And during those days of hurry
land confusion which sometimes occur
especially toward the close Of the ses
6lOD, RTtdt many tuihSS inoF NC Pu
through the House By bis rapid action
OF which only be and those especially in
terested and katchfu keep the run. II
short, 10 is currently raid that bill tt
which lhe Speaker is seriously opposed
has but slim chance, and that meas
ure.he, desires to pass will frequently fiDt
unexpected and powerful help.
y
Well Mr.. Blaine had for eight years
been ia various business transactions
with Mr.. Fisher, 10 which he says MIR
Fisher treated him very handsomely
Now, he was thaakiul to Mr.. Fisher fo
his generous offer to admit him 9TH
Speaker) .:te participate in the new rail
road enlerprise"-that railroad being I
land grant road The 'terms" offered BY
Mr., Fisher, whatever they may hav'
been, pleased Speaker Blaine greatly
But be wanted more. He wished very
much that Mr. Caldwell, the business
friend OF. Mr.. Fisher, should "dispose o
q share OF his interest" TO him, (tb'
u