The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-05-07
The Phelps. Edmunds Charges.

The Washington correspondent of the New
York Herald reports the following interview
with Mr.. Edmunds: "After the publication of
the Edmunds-Phelps letters to-day Herald
man called upon Mr.. Edmunds for further de-
tails as to the corruption of which he was &C.
cused. He said, blandly, that he was not on the
witness stand in his own defense, but was will
ing to be cross-examined. He was accused of
voting for a resolution which passed the senate
on the 7th of April, 1869. Until he read Mr..
Phelps charges against him in the New York
Irtbune'he was not aware that any such reso-
luton was passed or that he voted for it, but as
it was passed unanimously he must have done
so, or at least assented to it by his silence. In
1864 congress granted a tract OF land in the
then Territory of Nebraska to the Burlington
Missouri railroad, an Iowa corporation.
Nothing was done with it until after Nebraska
was admitted to the Union as q state, when the
same company recognized under new char
ter granted by the State Of Nebraska, and was
known as the Burlington & Missouri railroad
in Nebraska According to the Congressional
Globe, to which Mr.. Edmunds referred, it
appears that Senator Pomeroy of Kansas re-
ported resolution transferring to the Burlipg-
ton e. Missouri railroad in Nebraska the land
grant which had been given to the Burlington
& Missouri railroad of Iowa. Mr.. Conking
arose to any enquiry as to whether this resolu-
ton would render the government liable to any
claims upon 1t from the old corporation, to
which Senator Pomeroy and Senator Grimes
replied that it would not, whereupon the reso-
luton was passed unanimously. Il do not
know, said Senator Edmunds, whether was
in the senate at this time or not. In fact,
have no recollection whatever about it, 1t
appears from the Globe that the resolution was
sent over to the house, passed there with an
amendment, and returned to the senate. A
few days after Mr.. Grimes called it up and
asked that the senate concur in the house
amendment. | must have been there then, for
the Globe says that asked to have the amend
ment read; the clerk then read it, and it was
to strike out certain words. According to the
Globe, | then made the following remark: II
1t strikes out anything relating to the land
grant then 1t is better than 1t was before.
That is all that was said in debate. The
amendment was agreed to and the resolution
passed. Mr.. EdmInds was asked il he should
reply to Mr.. Phelps last letter. No, he said,
shall not enter into any controversy about
my own integrity. Mr.. Phelps is at liberty to
publish anything he pleases about me, and
should not have replied to 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 right. Mr.. Blaine's
letter. refer to it in that way as am familiar
with his writings and recognize his style-does
not require an answer from me, and shall take
no notice of it. AS stated in my reply to-day,
have tried to set him right as to the facts, but
have nothing to say about his argument or
conclusions. am not candidate for the pres
dency, never have been and never will be;
but II any one can show that have ever voted
on any measure in which have had pecu-
mary interest in any shape or form, existing or
expectant, remote or contingent, direct or in
direct, he is welcome to make the exposure as
soon and as often as he likes Has any one
any letters from you that you would care to
choke out of him p Not to my knowledge.
but if there be any, whoever holds them is at
liberty to publish them as soon as he desires
The railroad friends of Mr.. Blaine know very
well what my position has always been ON
legislation 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 railroad lawyer? Il
have argued number of cases for different
railroad companies in the United States SUI
preme court, but have never appeared in one
that involved the interests of the government
in any way. | have always made practice
when in doubt about this matter to consult
with the justices of the supreme court before
accepted retainer to ascertain IT, In their opin-
ion, there was any moral impeachment in the
way OF my appearing, or II my argument could
In any manner be construed to be against the
interest OF the government; aud will tell you
confidentialy that | have lost many good cases
on that account"