Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-09-24

How Blaine Met Ms Aerasers-his
sutrtted Defease.
ICalifornia Spirit Of the Times-l

ADlrttEH ortEhSr-
lcalifornia Spirit Of the Times-l
References are frequently made 70
the Mulligan letters in papers hostile
Ia Mr.. Blaine, and these references
are made with coloring which the
facts as officially printed IN the Con-
pressional Record Of June AN, 100:
DO NOT appear 70 warrant. In April
or Nav preceding the Republican
Convention 10 Cincinnati, J. ID. Har-
rison. an implacsble enemy then as
now TO Mr.. Blaine, attacked Mr.
PLANES integrity. Harrison was
director of the Union Pacific Kali
road. His statement was that The
Union Pacific Railroad had charged
70 some one SG4, 600 Of the bonds OF
the Fort smith and Little Rock Raj
road of Arkansas aud that the real
beneficiary was James q. Blaine. An
investigation was ordered by the ~
dietary Committee, OF which Hon }.
p. Knott, OF Kentucky, was char
maR.
Nothing Of any special interest was
developed until one Warner flsner,
of Boston. and the now famous MI
Mulligan were summoned Fishef
was a speculator in railway secun
ties and MuIligan, was hisbOok keeper
lin 10 the time of the appearance oi
these two men before the committee,
blaine had met every accusation
against him, and the bent OF the IN
yestigating committee was 10 MAKE q
report Of exoneratioD. hulbgan :
abatement. however, made sensts-
ton. He said that Mr.. Blaine had
twice called upon him, that al the
first meeting Blaine had besoughi
him to give him the letters IN hts pos
sessieo. There was correspondence
between Blaine and Fisher, which
hulligan. the book keeper. had stolen
ont of Fishers safe. Mulligan was
persuaded to lend the letters TO Blaine
for few hours when they were re
turned. The next day Blaine, TO re.
fresh his memory on the contents oil
the letters. was allowed To reVie"
them, when be put them in his pocket
and refused 10 give them up.
Blaine justified his act on the
ground that the letters had been stol-
en- by Mulligan. who was no longer
in Fishers service. The letters be.
louged either TO himself or Fisher,
and the latter wished Blaine 10 hold
them.
The committee then demanded the
letters and Blaine after a DAVIS con,
sIderation refused TO give them up.
The committee thereupOn agreed to
report Blaine to the House as a recall
citrant witness.
Thus matters stood until the 4th OF
June. 1875, when Blaine made the
dramatic scene In the House OF Rep
resentatives which suggested to Bot
Ingersoll his term of Plumed
Knight" alterward applied to him in
bis famous speech at Cincinnati
Blaine arose in his seat To a question
OF privilege. He was the very EN-
bodiment of rage aud passion. Hi,
face was pale and bloodless. Nc
one who sat within his hearing
could have failed To surmise thai
something was coming. Thereupor
he reviewed succinctly what he deem
ed his persecution at the hands of Tia,
Judiciary Committee. his refusal un-
der legal advice TO give up the Null
gan letters, and said:
"When the famous witness. Null
gan, came here loaded with informa
ton in regard to the Fort Smith road
the gentleman from Virginia drew
out what be knew had no reference
whatever to the question Of investl
CATION. lie then and there insisted
ON all my private memoranda being
allowed TO be exhibited by that man
in reference 10 business that bad nC
more connection, DO more relation
no more 10 do with the investigation
than with the North Pole. And The
gentleman tried his best-also | be
lieve that has been abandoned-tO
capture and use and control my pri-
waite correspondence This man has
selected, out OF correspondence run
ming over great many years. letters
which be thought would be peculiar
ly damaging To me. He came here
loaded with them He came for q
sensation. He came here primed.
He came here on that particular er-
rand. was advised Of it, and oh
tanned these letters under circum-
stances which have been VIGOROUSLY
scattered throughout the United
States. and are known 10 everybody
Claim / have the right 10 those let.
tiers, not only by natural right. but
upon all precedents and principles OF
law, as the man who held these let.
tiers in possession held them wrongful.
ly. The committee that attempted
TO take those letters from that man 10
use againt me did wrongfully. They
proceeded In all boldness TO most
defiant violation of the ordinary pri
vate and personal rights which be-
long 10 every American citizen. and |
was willing to meet the Judiciary
Committee on this floor ! wanted
them TO introduce 1t. / wanted the
gentleman from Kentucky and the
gentleman from Virginia 10 introduce
that question upon this floor. but they
did not do it,"
Mr.. Knott lin his seat)-I know you
did.
Mr. Blaine-Very well.
Mr. Knott know you wanted Ia
be made martyr of. Laughter |
Mr.. Blaine-And you did not want
to. and there is the difference. ZAP.
plause and laughter | go a little
further; you did not dare TO.
Now, Mr.. Speaker" continued
Mr. Blaine, Il dare say | have defied
the power OF the House 20 compel me
10 produce these letters. speak with
all respect TO this House But say
this House has no more power TO or.
der what should be done, or not done.
with my private correspondence than
II has with what shall do in the ua.
ture and education of my children
not a particle. The right Is as sacred
In one case as the other. But, sir,
having indicated that right, stand
ing by IL, ready 10 make and sacrifice
In the defense, here and now, IL any
gentleman wants 10 take the issue
with me on behalf % this House,
am ready for an extremity of con.
test or conflict la behalf OF 80 sacred a
right. And while am 50. am not