The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-29

The Clerk Who Tried to Ruin the Rel
utafion of James q. Blaine.


MAYsARp. Mass, July 2S.-James Null
lgan, OF Muiligan letter fame, died here
this morning.
In 1876 James @. Blaine. leader of the
Republicans of the house of representa-
uyes, became the object of bitter hatred by
tue Confederate congressman. Charges
we've circulated that he had received $64,-
90 from the Union Pacific Railroad Com
pAny for some underlined services. On
April q, 1876, he rose TO a personal ex-
PLANTATION in the house and made his an
swer. He produced letters from the off,
GERS OF the company and from the bankers
who were said TO have negotiated the
draft, in which they declared that there
never had been any such transaction and
that Mr.. Blaine had never received dol-
lar from the company. Mr.. Blaine pro-
ceeded TO add that the charge had reap
peared in the form of an assertion that he
had received bonds of the Little Rock 4
Fort Smith railroad as a gratuity and
that these bonds had been sold through
the Union Pacific company for his benefit.
To this he responded that he never had
any such bonds except at the market
price, and that. instead of deriving any
profit from them, he had incurred large
peeuniary loss. A few days later another
charge vas made to the effect that he had
received as gilt certain bonds
of the Kansas Pacific railroad.
and had been party 10 sui concerning
them in the courts of Kansas. To this he
answered by producing evidence that his
name had been COMPOUNDED with that of
brother. who was one of the early set
tiers OF Kansas, and who had bought stock
in the Kansas Pacific before Mr.. Blaine
had even been nominated for congress. On
May2 resolution was adopted in the
house 10 Investigate an alleged purchase
by the Union Paclhc Railroad Company
at an excessive price of certain bonds of
the Little Bock & Fort Smith railroad. 1t
soon became evident that the investiga-
ton was aimed at Mr.. Blaine An ex-
tended business correspondence on his
part with Warren Fisher. of Boston. run
ming through years and relating 10 various
transactions, had fallen into the hands of
a clerk named James Muliigan, and II was
alleged that the production OF this CORE
spondence would confirm the impufations
against Mr.. Blaine. When MuilIgau was
summoned TO Washington City Mr. Blaine
possessed himself OF the letters. together
VITA memorandum that contained q full
index and abstract. On June be rose to
a personal explanation, and, alter DENYING
the power OF The house 10 compel the pro-
duetion OF his private papers, and his will
iugaess 70 60 10 any extremity In defense
OF has rights, he declared has purpose 10
reserve nothing. Holding M the
I
not ashamed 90 show them. There is the
very original package, aud. with some
sense u humiliation. with a modification
do act atiemps 20 conceal, with sense
of outrage which | tnink any man ia nv
position would feel, Ia vile the confidence
~ 100000 Of ms c0untFymsn while I
{ real ghose letters from this desk.H The
demonstration closed with q dramatic
! scene John Caldwell, one of the origin
stoEs Of toe i.ittle RoeS q Fort smith rail-
road. who bad iuil Enow.eCge of the whole
Transaction. was travelling in E2Fope, and
I botn sides were seeking 10 Communicates
Z With him After finishing the reading Of
tie letters, Ny. Blaine turned 20 the chair
mas OF the COMMITTEES aud demanded 10
know whether ne had received any dis
patch from Mr.. Caldwell. Receiving an
evastve answer. Mr. blaine asserted. as
within hss own knoaledge. that the chair
man had received such dispatch. .tcom-
plete'y ana absolutely exoncFallBR me
igem this charge. and YOU have suppressed
L. profound sensation wAs created
and zen. Garfield said: - have been s
long time "a congress. and never saw suea
scene IA the house" Blaine soon altar
le3t the house 10 enter the senate Tue
Autllgan lntgeTs we're used without effect
ey tas Democrats IN tie campaign Of ISs4. i