The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-17
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
senator Quay Makes Explicit Denial Of
tho Charvaa A 0afnsf Him.

the Charges Against Him.
WASHINGTON Ciry, Feb. 16.--In the Sem
ate the credentials of Jones of Nevada,
and Mitchell of Oregon, for the term be-
ginning the 4th of March next, were fled
The conference report on the fortifica-
tions bill was agreed to.
Mcconnell addressed the Senate in adj
vocacy of his bill, desiring proceedings of
condemnation against the Union and Gen.
trail Pacific roads. Thesbill was referred.
The diplomatic and consular appropria-
ton bill was then taken up and several
committee amendments were agreed to.
Quay addressed the Senate in refutation
of charges circulated against him. He
said in part:
Never, probably, since Alexander Hamilton
was hunted to his death has one in public life
been pursued 80 persistenfly and Indignantly.
The field OF maign effort has been the entire
Union. The assaults were of such a character
so monstrous, rs largely to carry with them
their own refutation. We're it otherwise, 1
could not have remained, nor would my con-
stituents have permitted me to remain, q menl-
Der of this Senate. Now, when no heated politi-
cal conflict is raging, when neither hope nor
fear can be deemed the Inspiration of my utter
ance. choose briefly to confront my accusation
with the truth. 1t is not my purpose to weary
mass OF misrepresentation. Nevertheless,
avoiding publicity, will endeavor to make this
statement specific and so complete to be final.
The first assertion coDcerning my official acts
is that at one time or continuously between the
years of 1sS0 and 1882, alonc. or acting with
another, or Others. nsed the moneys of the state
Pennsylvania for speculative or private pur-
poses l denounce the statement as absolutely
false. In 1877 the Democratic party of Penn
sylvania elected the state treasurer and auditor
general, the financial officers of the common
wealth year or two later, pending their terms
OF office became engaged in stock operations
In some transactions / was associated, jointly
interested with gentleman who was at that
time the cashier of the late treasurer. These
transactions proved seriously disastrous, and
was compelled to paya portion of his losses as well
as OF my own. In doing this IL was necessary to
supply an alleged deficiency he had caused In
the treasury. As a portion OF the fund for this
purpose l borrowed 100000 from gentleman
who is at present my colleague in the Senate 1
gave my Judgment note therefor the amount of
which note paid to him dollar for dollar years
ago. Not until the beginning of the settlement
OF our losses was aware the deficiency existed,
and lad every assurance that my associate was
able to carry his share of the losses.
Regarding the charge that again used mon-
eys belonging to the commonwealth of Penn
sylvania to purchase bonds or stocks of Chi.
y,
money upon my own collateral from the Peo-
Piles bank, of Philadelphia The only negoti-
able securities held by the state of Pennsylvania
are registered bonds of the United States, trans
ferrable only in banks of the national treasury
by the auditor general, secretary of the COM
monwealth and state treasurer, acting co-joint-
ly. after having filed certificate with the gov
ernor in their official character.
The charge that defrauded or attempted to
defraud also is absolutely false. There breathes
not upon earth man or woman who can truth.
fully say ever defrauded or attempted to de-
fraud him or her of dollar. Upon this point
charity TO the dead and to the living forbids nv
making any personal explanation. Samuel
Cuisine Thompson, of Philadelphia, president
OF the Young Mems Democratic Association of
that city, is one of several thoroughly con-
versant with the facts, who can give them to the
public if they are proper
Referring to his action as member of
the board of pardons of Pennsylvania, in
voting for the pardon of certain members
of the Legislature and others upon whom
sentence was passed for bribery, Mr.. Quay
said the facts were thoroughly discussed
before his election as state treasurer. and
subsequently to the Senate. He had no
personal interest in the legislation in
volved. His vote was in accordance with
the law and with the action of his COL
leagues, and was compelled by the fact
that the sentence imposed by the court
was illegal. The attorney general filed
his opinion with their decision.
The charge that he ATTEMPTED
to procure the pardon of man
named Lynch, under sentence for
forgery, by threats delivered personally to
Mr.. Byers, of Pittsburg, is lie. Equally
false is the story of his escape from the
Pittsburgh rioters of 1877 under the tute-
lage of Dalzell
Quay said he would have to dive into
ancient history to dispose of the charge
of bribery and corruption as a member of
the Pennsylvania legislature nearly
twenty five years ago, in connection with
an action for libel against the then editor
of the Pittsburg Commercial
With characteristic malignity NV assaiIan.,
have been careful toemphasize the case al never
pushed for trial. They fail TO state that the
libel was retracted and the defendants paid the
costs oi the case and fees of counsel In the
preliminary hearing an effort was made to show
that Twas rich man, the innuendo being that
my wealth was unlawfuily acquired / had
been prothonotary Tor Beaver county from Isys
to 1861. when resigned 10 go into the Union
army; served as private secretary TO Governor
Curtin; was military agent of the state in this
city, chief of state department OF TRANSPORTATION
and telegraph. and for three terms have been
member OF the Pennsylvania legislature Nv
recollection is that the examination disclosed
the Tact ths. after nearly twelve years of iadnx-
try and opportunity my fortune was 5000. The
accusation that over twenty years ago at
tempted 10 brihe Alexander T. Tut,on. then
supervisor or internal reyeuns fnr the ...tcr,,