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About The Eugene City guard. (Eugene City, Or.) 1870-1899 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 1884)
"7 THE BLAINE LETTERS. James G. Ulaiiic was a iiiemhcrTof tlie Fortieth Con NOTES gross, (March lS(;7-) and Speaker of the House in tlie Forty-llrhtp Forty-second, and Forty-third Congresses (letJ ro-75),' iMr. Maine wan also eleeted4to the Forty-fourth Con fllilrflr cro mSTid'.T.ign'MH (1875), hut the House had heeonie Democratic, mm' n:-nU In tun Mi' .:t iikhi elected a Democratic iSiicnker. Certain charges liaving been made. Mr. Maine, April 21, 1870, made a "icronnl exjilan ation" in the House, in the course of which he Haul Sec BUInc'n let- I iictcr had anv transaction of any kind with TliumaN I.VV ' i ,iM A Hcott concerning bonds of tlie Little Kin k ami Jort hinitn roan VotWMi. r the bonds of any other railroad, or any business in any way con nectcd with railroads, directly or indirectly, itiimoilialoiy or re ini.ii-U'." See RImIiic' mi- " To give a Heoming corroboration or foundation to tlie story which tiioranduni ixxik, I dave disproved, tint alisur.l rumor lias lately appearon in cenain :'-Kvr"'',X! iicwH.mi.erH Unit I wan the owner of from $150,000 to $250,000 of the al.ohi.' letter Oi l! Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad bonds, winch I received without 4, Wl consideration, and that it wan from these bonds thatTlioniaH A.Scott received his $ 7.r,KHI. The statement is gratuitously anil imeriy wise. ... m.i,...'. " I" common with hundreds of other jH-ople in New L'ngland and other ii mill letter on 4. very large amount, paying for them at precisely the Haine rate I.", m Aiirii i Mini that othero paid. 1 never heard, mid do not l-clicvc, mat tlie utile ,,. " J?, 1 " it,. roiimniiv. which I know iM controlled hv buddy honorahle i " i ever nartcd with a bond to any person except at the '- rt"nil:ir m-icc lived lor tlielr Hale." see Hllno 1.1 " ii'i'otion to my inveHtment in the lionds I united with others ten Oct. 4, m- in raising some money for the coiniany when it met its lirst linancial "No one will ever troubles. Proceedings are now pending in tlie United States Circuit ,'t ft iwi - ;l ('",lrl of Arkansas, to which I am a party ot record, lor tne re-nn-iiote wiiat you liursemeiit of the money so advanced. All the lsinds which 1 ever knout iii import- purchased I continued to hold when thecoui)iiny was reorganized lice Ol IccplllK all :,. U7J I fivilni,irii I flic 111 for stock mid bondH ill the new concern. aim "" . . . . ..... ,Ln endeavor to which 1 still own. My whole connection with the road has no imt uiint you MM. HM 0H. aM (av. mere nau ncen anytning- 10 ?u - "K."n mi conceal about It, 1 should never have touched It. immi niiU-trAprfi Wherever concealment in desirable, avoidance is advls . W,i "Hum H,(.f an,i ,m ,lot know any belter test to apply to the h o w'i" ii ! , '' i'e ' 1 1 o i o r and fairness of a business transaction. As to the iUfNtiou of propriety involved in a member of Congress holding an investment of this kind, it must be remembered the lands were Thimt wBto ran ted to the State of Arkansas, and not to the rail-vt-ii.l tlio time roa, company, and that the company derived its life, franchise, ind For! small and value wholly from the State, and to the State the compuny is iiailroKicoiiipiuiy amenable and answerable, and not ill any sense to Congress, li'rui """tl,l','iU'ol s,l"'(' ' purchased the IhiiuIs but one act of Congress! lias passed j.iileo( .i'ld mad" in any way touching the subject, and t hut was merely to rectify -.od April is, a previous mistake In legislation." 'toll wl!,r;A' " ' rt'l,'"1' 11,0 ,'itllt' K,H'k roa,, derived all that it had from the jK-'n.n iw, p. r,l Slate of Arkansas, ami not from Congress. It was in the dis lidid not riNinim cretion of Congress to give or withhold from the State, but it was .'.'("the sute'ol'Ar m,MJ. wi,lim discretion of the Stale to give or withhold from k'n,u. the Little Itis k Railroad Company." TI1I1 act n- "Instead of receiving bonds of the Little Rock and Fort Smith pealed the follow- road as a gratuity, I never had one exeent at the regular lux prnvino aiiii't' market price, and instead of making a large fortune of that llon'i. UaiiuHHty compuny, 1 have incurred a severe pecuniary loss from my invest or iiiaini': J'rZ I it in its securities, which I still retain ; and out of such a Hairs as riiinl. That tlio this grows the popular gossip of large fortunes amassed in Congress." the ! ti'h "reby tl " ' '1UVH never done anything in my public career for w hich I vlved ball Iw m.M could Ik put to the faiiitest'blush in any' presence, or for w hich I can to actual ii'itiora not answer to niv constituents, inv conscience, and the (treat; t.nlylii iiiiitiiic K I f I, ,1 not greater than Mri r 01 wilouXroiie'ii 'r' ""'khig t'1'" statement su.posed that all rhaner, and'f'tr letters which had passed between him and Mr. Warren Fisher, Jun., jni' 1i SI "'am-' ' H'wtoii, a partner of Mr Blaine's brother-in-law Mr. Stanwood, jk70. ' "There is another reason which made it particularly exasperating to me, that is, that in the month of September, 18"'-, Mr. Fisher and 1 had a lliuil settlement, iu which we exchanged receipts in full. I think the preei.se date was September 21, 172. It was then said that all letters on either side, and all papers and scraps of papers, should be given up, and I supposed they were given up." (Afi'moii. n Mr, IHtiiiti' Injur? Jiitlicinry t'uuimittre. In May, H7II, however, the Judiciary Committee was conducting an investigation into cci'tu'm railroad matters, and subpienaed Mr. Tidier and Mr. James Mulligan, his book-keeper. Mr. Mulligan brought with him a number of letters, memoranda, etc., w hich Mr. Hlitiue procured from him in the famous interview, and from which, under pressure from the press and his political friends, Mr. Blaine read in his second " personal explanation " of June o, ISTii. The following comprise the letters reud by Mr. Blaine, that of November 25, ls70, made public through the New York N101 by Mr. Aipiila Adams, and the others since furnished to the public by Mr. Fisher . and Mr Mulligan, chronologically arranged. (In June 12, 187H, Mr. Blaine had his sunstroke, and the investigation was postponed, and il was never completed, Mr. Blaine having meanwhile been ap pointed to Secretary Morrill's vacant place in the Senate. fc nolo lo next Wier, Washington, Mav 2(i, 1SI.4. My 1k.h Shi, Your favor received. 1 am very glad, ail things con hidered, that the tioveiunient has accepted your proposition to take all your manufacture till l.-t September, ISiio II gives a straight Mud steady business for the company for a good stretch of time. In reitard to the tax provision you can judge for yourself, as I acini herewith a copy of the bill as reported from the rinance Committee of the Senate and now pending in that body see pages US-1 111, where 1 have marked In lis.king over the bill you will please olmerve that all words in italic letters are amendments proposed by the Senate finance Committee, while all words juchpL'd in brackets are proposed to bo struck out by same committee. The provision which you inipiiie about, was not in the original bill, but was an amendment moved from tlie Ways and Means Committee by Mr. KasM.n, of Iowa, to vt horn I suggested it. It is just and oroper iu every sense, and w ill cll'cet a good many interests, includ 1 11 u jour company. I am glad to hear such good accounts of your piogrcx in the all'airs of the company, of which 1 have always been proud to he a member. Tell Mr. Welles that his brother has been nominated by the Senate for cominissaiy of subsistence, with rank of captain. He will un doubtedly bo confirmed as soon as his case can lie reached. 1 w ill advise as soon as it is done. In baste, yours trulv, Wakiikn Kisiikii, Jit., Kvt. ' J ti, Bl.AINK. ArursTA, June 2l, lSiiti. My Ii:r Ma. FisiiKit, I thank vou for the article from Mr. l,eis. It is good iu itself, and will do good. He writes like a man of large intelligence and comprehension. lour oner to a.imit me to a participation in the new railroad t turn "uiy S "I" enterprise Is in every respect as ircucroiisas I could cxpee - ' or desire. 1 thank vou very sincerely for it. and in this conneetio I wish to make n suggestion ot a somewhat kcIUMi char acter. It is this: You sHike of Mr. Caldwell disposing of a share of his interest to me. If ho really designs to do so, I wish he would make the proposition definite, so that 1 could know just what to depend on Perhaps if he waits till the fui I development of the enterprise he might grow reluctant to part with thu share; and I do not bv this mean anv distrust of him. I do not feel that 1 shall prove a dead-bead in the en terprise it 1 once embark in it. I see various channels 111 w nit 11 1 know l can he useful. Very hastily and sincerely, vour friend. J (i. Bl.AINK. "In caamoii wliii bund rvl, ol Aftit'STA. M IIXK. Jlllv 2. ISllO. My Dkwi Mr Fimikr, You ask me if am satisfied with the otter Mher people I n you make me of a share in vour new railroad enterprise Sther SJuTi iu3 ,(M ,,,1,TI.I ."!" ,U,,r', tUm thdltHl with the t JvJ r y . i think it u most liberal proposit ion. terms of the If I hesitate at all, it is from considerations no way connected w ith 1. I'll inl.'l..r ..f tl... ..,1.. 1II...U..I ...... t erylante amoii.il ; "' iiin-riu (If HI licailllg -iyiim lortht-in Witn me III all our luisiuess transactions of the mist oinht vears iraiiriT 1 11 iii.i l,,,3.s- llllllOIII I1IV Illll llllUr.Wlllfll.il W nil eta palil "-If.iiw'i lion it lit twit ( uitw.Twinia-n.nati,,. iharacicr of Inn I one cxieiit lit tlie ri'Kiil.ir market price." Minim' lirriuimtl fi!fli- 1S7II. JudiciaryCommittee (containing schedules of contract of .Septenibe 5, lSil'J), and which is labelled on the outer coyer: " Wan-en Fithrr, Jr., priralr." .ur. n ,., 1 Fint Mtge of infm.-!uk. ot sept. intt. Synopsis on next and following pages of the contracts made Kivenou ...litonai 1ir() r,( tJ (; jtt,m. ,,y 'nrrpii Fisher, .Jr., as assignee of the contract for building the Little It.s k & Fort Smith Itailroad , , Sn-ond and third lititjei 0 mem -hook. mor hat lately ai Contracts nutde by Warren Fisher, Jr., with the following-named KpailiVTha! person to deliver the shs k and bonds named, on their paying the 1 wa tne owner 01 ,,miiintH imiiied from IV.,0'0 to l,M",unlB ""- li'ill.rtW ol tlie I.lt- tie Kix k anil run T" UK' MX Kealilcnce To Pay. ' buk. bluvk. IIuiiiU. skowheiiaii t-VMHiOi' .'iO,ii $.".O.OW $."il).O.iO Auxuatu . W l'M'O HM" lil.lNKI Iteinllielil.. 10,.l' lO.iaSI 111,1)110 l,OU0 il.l fii.t . . t'lu.om il,IHi(l lo.iam lO.UKJ iTi.lKMI fi,l) fi.KW A.OtJU " . ,;,.ll fi.KMI '.,IH(D f..0l) ' , . Y.i.tMl S.IKO 5.UH0 .'i.OOO ... v'.'.,i !i,im fi.noo fi.oui ' ... I'.'..!) .'.( i'l.OW " ... i.Vnoii Alia 5.00IJ fi.ouo Aii(rnt .... ''.uoo r.,oi o.ikiO fi.uio .'.OH. .il 0 fi.UW " :.' ft.KK) 5.IX) Wliitlirt,i. . 6, 'VSK) 5,U) I tMMl l:t',li) I Smith Ktillroail ase Immla, wl. It'll I re eel veil without eoiiileriitlini.ai..l A A P. Cob.irn that It wan from Xl'elcr K. hunliorii thi'Me IsiihU that XAiim.ii 1'. Morrill. il.oinan A. Keott Xhallili ('. Joluimiii , rirt'lveil III I7."i,l) XP. It. Ilaletine ... The atateinent II XC. II ll.ilellne Krnt.llto.iBly a 11 il X.N. I'. Monroe utterly fuUe ...In XA.W. Johnnn (ileeeasedj eoininoiiw 0. mill' 'il. 11. JoniiHon. . lrel of other is-.e Xl'hllo Horsey ..... 1.. v..u. C...- vi j. 1 vi ... Fp.lt nr ill urn i-"K- .......... . iiinl ami other XA, II Kiirnell ... parts of the come Mom. II. U IIIIhiiim try. I boUKlit XC. M Ilulley . wuiie of the IhuhU not a very Incite aino.int jiaylin; foe them at preclM" ly the name lute nit otheri. paid. I never heard and do not hfllfvelhitt he l.....r.u...- u .....I, I know ! ton-on the preceding page, 31 r. Fisher nfrrees to deliver to J. G. Iionorai. i'merl- "I"''"' a similar amount of land bonds and per cent. ever iiarted with a (il'Ht lllOl t L'll IfC bonds, VIZ. : bond to any per- , 1,1- a.,,, son except at the Land bond, , S $!..(), 000 reKinar price nxen r-,rMt mortgage bonds, (is 02,000 lor their sale . .. , ,., , , limteail of recelv- Ihe same ttj be delivered by Mr. r isher as booh as ready for dis- Iiik iK.ndi of the . .1 ., Mltle H.s k and ui.ihh.fh. Kurt Hinlth road a a Krutnlly, 1 never The name Jos II Williams ""i.Ono." 1 erased In pencil Fourth jMije of viemomndiiin-bool: . In addition to the common stock, preferred stock, and first mort '-""e lt,K;k gage bonds agreed to be delivered to the respective parties named Fiflfi jiuyr of memorandum-book. The other contracts on different bases are as follows : 1. With Joseph A. Puiiborn and CliiirleK M. ll.illcy. Mr. Fisher agrees to deliver ,. common hkh-k. All for 1'J.V). payable fill 1,700 j X k.im. iircferred stia k. s ua. land bonds. lo,iaj lirst nmrtgne bonds .;.if(i, November Si. Isid. i!,im, lieiemln-r IW '.'. '"l, .Inn nan- ". IS7U. s.), Fehrnafy "1. IS7U. fll, Miireli .i. 1H70. NJ, April lsTli. Ml. Mnv.'i, lsTU. Ml), June .', Kl The amounts iuclosetl 011 left-hand margin above, $000, $'-',200, 1 ,700, are payable by Mr. Fisher to Mr. Dial ne. The sixth and seventh pages of memorandum-book contained three contracts similar to the last, in w hich the amounts to be paid Mr. Blaine were respectively t'l'iOO, $1150, and f WOO. u i,i. ., ArucsTA, Me., October 4, lSii!) My whole eon- .... t. . n. . . 1 ... 11,' .. .. neciioii with the ' '.An iua. risiiEa, rinu enclosed if 10,000 cnecu in pay 1 01 Mad has been open A. & 1'. Coblirn's subscription. had'iM'enamihnilt presume you will receive by same mail the 20 per cent, due on all to conceal 'about "ie subscriptions ulready forwarded to you, and also on the follow- It, I should never lag : Halo I Jersey, , Bellast A. W. Johnson, " It -C. Johnson, " Nahum 1'. Munine, " C. li. llazeltine Iihvo touched It Wlierovereoii.'eitl mci.t la advlsul.le. avolilHi.ee Is desir able: mid 1 1I0 not know any better test to apply to the honor and fairness of a business trans action." lllniiie'$ 'iTsiumf ej'i.min- 0 .4iitl 'it, IN7II. oOlX) 5000 5000 50(X) 5000 This makes $125,(XX) in all I have disposed of. It is doubtful if I dispose of any more; but 1 shall know by to-morrow. So there will be no delay to embarrass vou in any way. Xo one w ill ever know from me that I have disposed of a single dollar In Maine So there need be no embarrassment in talking with Mr. The transaction Caldwell. I don't wish vou to settle flint nintt..r u-ifli Me f 'ulilu.'nll ! lKrSBy,n!, tMI "011 !l,,ir l"r,,M ".. l'l' "end receipt to A. !t 1 more swreev In re- Cobtirn, Skowhegan, Maine. Yours truly, J. ti. ISlaink. Kr.l to It O.aii if After I ree'd the letter in renanl to Mr. Adams's ruse I teleirrimlied Ciloi'ir InTaiiK-Br' n,f',il1- lH'llln, '"'d ret'd, and I think tlie suspension was at once Your action iii ordered by him. J ti. 11. the whole mutter 1'. 8. I send only SOtHI this niornin''. Will mii.1 i10 noiminitiiF was as open and ,,. .-,.,,,,. .,.,,:,; 0 ... ....Ml.lllji. as fair as tbed.iy." ((nine's lira ft of If tier .fur t'hh'rr In titjn tout rfturit. Personal. Al-OI STA, M.MXK, (li t 4, lKl. "As to the nuea- Mv Dkar Shi. I snokn to vmi n ulinrt tim.. no., nt 1 ..1' In".1. lved nanu.np ,u,VITst 5'ol,r ,'ailroml company that occurred at the last oer 01 l onitress session in oiiicsn. I am. tal.l...l Jt. 1 ..... ..'f.... ....,.... 1.111.. 1 ....v ...... nilltl.lll llll III, '-llll U'.IM lllt.'lt.l.'.l ... ...... I. I I .!. '.. paid "-Hhiiiu1! - .. f , " i" i'i..i. iikihoii ui H Iicuillie rIFitwa.pF- FF"j-Fnin..n. That was all. 1 go to Boston by same train that carries this letter, and w ill 1 ui your otli. 0 to-morrow at 12 m. If you don't ham-en to bo in. .nm i. i-.iu 1 n,i yoiipeii to any trviume atxiut it. Vour, J. 0. IV can 110 holdliiK an Invest- It was on the last IllL'lit of the session, u lion tin. hill noiuuino il.o of this kind. 1 1 ... i... t...... ..t 1 . . .1. .'.., , i must be reincm- s""" " no t-iuie 01 .iiKausas tor tne i.ntie Ivock roail was bered that t h e reached, and .lulian of Indiana, chairman of the l'ublie Lands Com ment It hinds were ijrant-iiiittee, and by right entitled to the floor, attempted to put on the Arkansas anil not m"' '", 11,1 "meudinont, the Fremont Kl Paso scheme a scheme the railroad prol.al.lv well known to Mr. t aldwell. The House was thin, and the company, and that l,,y j t,t. Fremont interest had the thing all set up, and Julian's n've'l I u"Tfe? fr'i'ie iendment was likely to prevail if brought to a vote. Itoots and i-lits.-. nail 'value other members from Arkansas, who were doing their best for their w holly from t he own bill (to which there seemed to be no objection!, were in despair, stale the coi.Vpiiiiv for it was well known that the Senate w as hostile to the Fremont Is amenable mid scheme, and if the Arkansas bill had gone back to the Senate with T 'S-;,r 1 JL1"-.. "'l'1 J"''""'" amendment, the whole thim.' would have gone on the table nut in .iu) aeiise to ,,.i ui.,,,, .i,.. ui . , 1 .,1 1 C o 11 a r e s (" '. n" 1 1' v ' ' in. III. ....7. I It. tl.lu .Il ..,,.".. IF. ......... 4..1... 1... ...1 1 .1 tiiuim s f.tiniHii- .11 iiiipiniviiiiiui ini'ic 1 nun- to nil-10 Know w uat on eario tie coma fii.i. ot .I111 '.'I, do iiinlcr the roll's - fur lm .ni,l it ,i.iu,;..,l t l.i ... .....;i, ....... tl.... F 1 ....... .. 1 i 111.-1 mii.-'iiiiiL-iiin 111.1v is.tl i ... I. ..I I.I f ...l.l 1.:... .1 . . t . 1 ... 1 . 11. e ii.ii finmni im. t inni nun mm .imian s amennmeut was en tirely out of order, because not germane; but he had not sutlieient conli.lence in his knowledge of the rules to make the point, but he said (ieneral Logan was opposed to the Fremont scheme, and would probably make the point. I sent my page to ieneral Logan with the suggestion, and he at once made the point. I could not do other wise than sustain it ; and so tlie hill was freed from the mischievous amendment moved by Julian, and at once passed without objection. At that time I had never seen Mr. Caldwell, but you can tell him that without knowing it 1 did him a great favor. Sincerely vours. J. 0. Blaisk. W. Fisukr, Jr., Ksij., 24 India Street, Boston. AroesTA, October 4, IStW. MvDkak Mit FisiiKn. Find inclosed contracts of parties named in my letter of yesterday. The remaining contracts w ill be com pleted as rapidly as circumstances will permit. I inclose yoll part of the Culliirelminl (;iht of Anril l nnn tn in. bee to havhTa" i th? I,imit ,0 wlli,'h 1 referred at some length in my previous letter of the road until of to-day. loll will tin.l it of interest to read it over and see what rh!,'r.1J,u.V'lil'i,.!n """ow escape your hill made on that last night of the 11 ! ." In,, here foi T""?- 01 ,'ollrso U was "1V 1'1:'' ty to make the ruling when consideration. The the point was once raised If the Arkansas men had not, however, fonwYrwhom"'! 'iH'l'"''"' to coino to ino when at their wits' end and in despair, the tirnl rt iiltions "ti.i would im.loul .tcdly have been lost, or at least postponed for a not have anythinir year. 1 thought the point would interest both vou and Caldwell, to do with that tlliHIL'h occurrim? heforo .Mll,..r ,.f n. .,,.,...... 1 i .1,.. tlmi- or To u r ,v!" ,0 ""derstand that I thoroughly appreciate the courtesy immths after that "' witieli you have treated me in this railroad matter, but vour uI'MniVhat''! l'0,)duct toward me in business matters has always been marked by m. ni that I desire "'"S'un.ieu iioeraiity in past years, and of course I have naturally t h a t tatcment come to expect the same of you now . 'ou urge tne to make as cto iaooi.a a. j,,,.? , ' taV out 01 uw "rrangemeut into which we have e X " " toted. It is natural that 1 should ,!, mv i,wt t.. ti.i. ...,.i t '.w. . Ill . ' tf nun v tut A iiui isnueroo oniy t.y one thing, and that is definite and expressed ar rangement with Mr. Caldwell, I am anxious to acquire the Interest he has promised me, but I do not get a definite under standing with him as 1 have with you. I shall be in Boston in a few days, and shall then have an oppor tunity to talk the matter over fully w ith vou. I am disposed to think that whatever I do with Mr. Caldwell must really be done through J. 0. Blaink. Kind regards to Mrs. Fisher. Sincerely, l, ., . AttifsTA, Mb. ,5th Oct., IStii). "Mv whole cm-, , v 1 K" Hmikr.-I ,close you two thousand dollar chock, iwtion with ti. oaianco ot A. & 1 . 1 oburn's installment ; two thousand dollars in o. .!!tSed,:'V!0V,iS;, .'!' M.',,rri11'' insUllinent; one thousand dollars in i? ila i Nvi, ?'ot : ?,,,r" ""tallmeiit. Lot M. Morrill'8 subscription anythinir to cm- t'S-oji is additional to those already advised, making in all $i:W, dd'nei'ec LI K'it Thm' ",a' W -'".OOO'nioi, but lirsj.OOO will be my touched it. Where- , ' . ... nr iniv.lni..iil I nVt'lVOll VOlirS lllcl.wi.n. V T? 1 1 ...U;.,..'o I....... t Tl .lt... .... .. . ----- f, - . .iMi;uiiivo ll-liui 1IU1U XMTUU.S1.. dJSrThiJ: i "VlW,J'n ?J" )'l" wi" receive Cashier Check for $1000, !7id.tou, with any of the Maine sub- and falrnesi of a biislnesi transae 1 1 o II." Utaiiic't trrnimil tt plana (inn of April l'l, 1.S70. "The transaction was 'rfectly open and there w as no more secrecy ill re gard lo It than If you had lieen liny hi Hour or auxar. Yi.ar action iu the whole matter wai as open and as fair as ihailny." Hlaine'i ilraft ttf li lti r fur Fithrr to sign ami return. I note what you say about the importance of my keep- . las' all quiet here. I fully appreciate y'r wisdom and y'rkind- . ness, and shall endeavor to do just as you desire in the premises. The letter enclosing the (ilobe by same mail with this can be read by you to Mr. Caldwell, if you think it expedient. I f. have in writing endeavored not to oe iiuiei irate. I shall see you in Boston Thursday noon. Don't send any receipts to Maine folk's till I come. Yours, . J. (i. Blaine.? "I have never done aiiylhinir iu my public career for which I could be put to the faint est blush la any presence, or f o r w hich 1 cannot an swer to niyconstit Dentil, mv eoi.scl- ence.aud the ..rent Searcher of Hearts "Htainr'n fi pi nun I inn oj .iprii n, lS7ti. Arot'sTA, Mk., lKth Nov.. 1ST.!). Mv dear Mb. Fisher, It is quite evident to my mind that at the ' approaching session of Congress there will be an expansion of the- currency to the amount ol lilty to seventy-live minions of dollars. The form it will take, I think, will be an addition to the Natiol ' Bank circulation West and South. j My object in writing is to ask in season if vour friends would desire, j to establish a Bank at Little Hock. It will he to some extent a matter of favoritism as to who gets the Banks in the several , localities, and it will he In iny power to "cast an Anchor to the Windward " in y'r behalf if vou. desire it. 1'lease think over the matter, and confer with Mr. Caldwell, and let me know your 1 desires as soon as you reach any conclusion. There is, of course, no ! special hurry; but I thought I would suggest the matter in order that you might mature your thoughts in good time. It would be well to 'determine the amount to which you might wish to go. I supoose it might be practicable to secure a foOO.lMiO ; bank ; but iu that locality you would hardly wish to go so deep. But , they are very profitable institutions say $2-30,0110. Yours very truly, J. G. Blaine. Washington, May 14, 1870. Mv dkaii Mit. Fisukr, I think on the whole I had better not in sist on the $40,000 additional bonds nt the same rate. My engage- nient was not absolute, and I can back out of it with honor. I would rather do this than seem to be exacting or indelicate. i Besides, I have always felt that Mr. Caldwell manifested the most gentlemanly spirit toward me, and designed to treat me handsomely in the end. On the w hole, therefore, I shall be better olf perhaps to . remain as they are. But 1 will follow your judgment in - let things this mutter if I can find what it is. Very hastily, J. G. Blaine. (Private.) Aidt sTA, Mk., Nov. 25, 1870. My 1kak Mr. Fisher, .1 year aao and more I snoke to vou about purchasing an interest in the Northern Pacific Railroad for yourself and any you might choose to associate with yourself. The matter passed by w ithout my being able to control it, and nothing more was said about it. Since then tlie Jay Cooke contract has been perfected, the additional legislation lias been obtained, and 2.'I0 miles of the road are well nigh completed, mid the whole line will be pushed forward rapidly. By a strange revolution of circumstances 1 mil aaiii able to control an interest, ami if you desire it you can have it. The whole road is divided into twenty-four shares, of which Jay Cooke & Co., have twelve. The interest I speak of is one-eighth of oiie-twenty-fourth, or one one-hundredth-and-ninety-second of the entire franchise, being that proportion of the eighty one millions of stock that are being divided as the road is built, and it like proportion of the Land Company stock that is formed to take and dispose of 52,000,000 acres of land covered by their grant as amended by the law of last session. The amount of stock which this 1-1H2 would have in the end would be about $425,000, and the number of acres of land it represents is nearly 275,000. The road is being built on the 7-30 bonds, $23,000 to the niile, w hich Jay Cooke takes at !K). Instead of mortgaging the land, they make" a stock company for its ownership, dividing it jiro rata among the holders of the franchise. The whole thing can be had for $25,000, which is less than one-third of what some other Kales of small interests have gone at. I do not suppose vou would care to invest the whole $23,000. 1 thought for a small flyer eight or ten of you in Boston might take it $2,500 each . For $23',000 thus invested you would get ultimately $42,000 stwk and the avails of some 27,000 acres of land. Five of you at $5,000 each would have a splendid thing of it. The chance is a very rare one. I can't touch it, but I obey my first and best impulse in offering it to you. ...... All such chances as this since Jav Cooke not the road have been cealment is advis" accompanied with the obligation to take a large amount of the bonds able, avoidance is at ninety, and hold them not less than three years. I will be m !!,'.?'.r"li1: !.''. Boston I'uesdav noon, and will call iinon vou.' Of course, if vou ter test to apply to don't want it, let it miss. You w ill receive an immediate issue of me minor a n a mock to a consuierai.ie amount, ami certnicates ol land stock also. nel"atran'iloiii'; 0f course, in conferring with others, keep my name quiet, men--Maint'i pnmn'al tioniiig to no one unless to Mr. Caldwell. 1 write under the presunip rj.f a ti a t i o h oj tion that vou have returned, but 1 have heard nothing. April il. 1S70. Yours trulv. .1. ti. TIi.aikh. Received of Warren Fisher, Jr., $23,000 in trust, in consideration of which I am to deliver to said Fisher properly authenticated certifi cates of an interest in the Northern Pacific Railway Company equiv alent to one-eighth j.art of one of the twenty-four principal shares in which the franchise stock of said company are divided ; certificates to be in the name of Flisha Atkins. Witness my hand, James G. Blaine. Foitrv-niisT Congress, U. S., Hocse ok Representatives, Washington, 1). C. Ilecomber 7, 1S70. My Dear Mv Fisher, You have ree'd Mr. Boutwell's answer. I presume you will deem it necessary to come on here ; if so, let me know of it a day or two in advane I have written Mr. Caldwell about the Bank, no trouble in secur ing a l'.'k of $."i00,000. Sec'y of War will not allow the use of the Arsenal at Little Uock says it is impossible. Yery hastily A truly, J. G. B. See aliofe. Tlie following are the contents ot a rutMllorAiiihim-lt.i.ilc in tlm hand writing of Mr. Blaine, produced by Mr. Mulligan before the Ip'JiuehoaS? bvexiwas U 111 came to ou in Cwhier Checks or mney direct Hocse of Representatives, Washington, 1. C. December!), 1S70. Mv Dear Mr. Fisher, 1 wrote very hastily, both to yourself and Mr. Caldwell, in regard to the Bank. 'A further conference with the Comptroller of the Currency gives some additional facts winch are of interest, and this letter is intended alike for yourself and Mr. Caldwell. Please show it to him. They are now allowing 90 per cent, circulation on 10-40 Bonds, instead of 80, and then 85 at dif ferent periods in the past. They give me the assurance that vou shall have full $450,000 circulation on a Bank of half a million capital. You can, of course, deposit 5-20's if you please; but you will get no more than !K) per cent, circulation. 'They will cost you more, of course; and though you get more interest, you will very like) v he disturbed in the quiet iossession of them very soon bv the operation ,.e i. i.- l: o..i - 1 in ine i uniting iscoeiiio. The opinion gains ground here quite rapidly, as vou might infer from Secretary Boutwell's Report, that the debt can not be funded at less than 5 per cent. By taking 10-4U Bonds, therefore, you would be undisturbed as long as tlie Banking Sytem lasts, or at least for thirty years and more. None of the 10-W's mature before a. d. 1!H)4, and tluit is quite long enough to embrace within the scope of anv financial opera tion. It might be well to have your formal application for y r in crease of capital, and th'en take s'uch time as vou mav wish for get ting your Stock subscribed. If you desire, I will confer with Senator Rice in regard to forms, Ac. It might bo better now ti let him take the load. Yours very truly, J. G. Blaink. AroesTA, Me., 2!) Dec, 1870. My Deab Mr. Fisher, I am in hopes now that I shall secure $25,000, or nearly that. I find money very tight and rates well up to ! per cent. stifl' at that . The most of it w ill lie for 5 and 6 months. If 1 had had more time and earlier notice I could have raised more, and at easier rates. 1 have seen most of the parties to whom bonds are due. I do not have much trouble alwut the January Coupon of the 1st Mortgage Bonds but they of course growl some on six of the Bonds. I would be glad to have the Coupon. I promised them individually to make it right in tlie future. 1 did not in any w av use tlie name of the Company nor commit you to anything only inynelf. On the Land Bonds I can not make them see the equity of remov ing the Aril Coupon, & I promised to try and adjust that matter w ith you after my return to Boston. Thev all agree with one voice that no liond shall lie exposed for sale. 1 wish vou could give me the benefit of that fraction making :2of the 1st Mortgage Bonds for the f 31, 500 due. I use the extra $500 in adjusting the interest matter, A it fits in completely' I will make it all right with vou. What I want, then is s- of. i W-.W0 1st Mortgage Bonds, f s-.ow 30 , ,an,i 15oml8i and also f'r collateral to the notes for $25,000 an additional $50,000 of Land Bonds. Please meet me at Mr. Calilm-pll'ii urivntA noVo nn fiatr.in., ot 12.15 sharp. 1 shall try to lie there precisely at noon, but allow 15 minutes for grace. It is very important that I have everything completed that day, as a man will come to Boston with me to take charge of the Bonds. Yours in g't haste, J. G. Blaini. t !