Year: 1879




MR. HENRY L. PIERCE, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
FOR THE eUBERNAToRIAL NOMINATION.,
ANSWERS THE CHARGE OF BLOCKADE RUN
MING DURING THE WAR.


tBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE HERALD


Boston. Sept. Z. 1s79


Mr.. Henry L. Pierce furnishes the following state
men regarding his alleged connection with blockade
running during the war;


The papers in the case OF Dunham against Presby
having been published. In which my name appears
III connection with business enterprise car
rled on in 1864. which the Court has found
to have been contrary to the laws and
that time. desire to state In the most emphatic
manner that l had no knowledge whatever OF any
transactions IN the prosecution OF that enterprise
which were not perfectly Legitimate and strictly in
accordance with the laws.


THE FACTS IN THE CASE.


Permit me to state briefly the facts in the case
far w my connection with the business con-
cerned: In the early part OF 1854 the Hon.
+. W. Bird; at that time member Of
the request that would advance small sum
OF money to assist q neighbor Of his in opening
opened to trade by the United States government.
On his representations ! advanced the amount
asked for ana an. h:, Mr. IL: W presby. who was ., to
amounts from Mr. Bird and Mr. Joseph Dunham.
proceeded to purchase goods and set up
sole management and control. and had
nothing to do with tie purchase of or
selling of the goods. subsequently the amount in
vested was raised originally agreed upon from
$1,000 to S2.625 heard nothing further in regard
to the matter until notified to meet the
making a settlement and closing up the
business. / attended the meeting, received
from Mr.. Presby general statement of expenses
and receipts and ut the suggestion of the others de-
termined the amount due to each The business
arrangement was made. as appears from the court
record. in March, 1854 and terminated in July OF the
amounted


LEGAL PRoCEEDINGs


..t Nc '1n years Ml. iearning M 1
his transactions brought bill in equity before the
Supreme Court to his share OF profits which.
at the time of settlement. Mr.. Bird and myself
fused to join In the suit. and made answer when
called upon that the settlement with Mr.. Presby in
1854 was full and hnal. The case was referred
by the Court to Master in Chancery.
and as had no interest in it knew not until Fri
what decision. IL any. had been reached by
the Court. When the report came into my
hands on Friday. learned for the arst time
on in an illegal way. The statement in the Masters
report. which is incorporated into the decision Of
arrangements to carry on an illegal traffic beyond
the lines OF the military forces of
the United States he came North in May and re-
ably only on the evidence OF the agent himself. II
had known that any evidence had been given by
which 1t made to appear that knew
pected that my money being used to carry.
traffic prohibited by the laws and regulations Of
tho United States should have contradicted it then
and there in the most positive terms. Had
known that the Masters report contained such
statement / should have taken measures to
never knowing to tho ilegalty of the transactions
which were brought to light by the court To those
who know me and know what did during the war
to strengthen the hands of the government in main
tanning the Union it IL hardly necessary to say that
had known suspected the character OF the traffic
which was being carried on should not have been
concerned in it, HENRY L. PIERCE.