These
charges were referred to the Committee of the Judiciary. The
House was then Democratic and the majority of the Committee
was made up of Mr. Blaine's political opponents. The investigation
was conducted in a spirit of bitter hostility to him. The
evidence was taken by a sub-committee of which I was not
a member. But as disputed questions of procedure and as
to the admission of evidence were constantly coming up which
were referred always to the full committee, which was considered
in session all the time for that purpose,--the members were
every day, sometimes several times a day, summoned from their
seats in the House to the meeting of the Committee. I was
familiar with the whole case as it went in. It was expected
that there would be a hostile report, and it was understood
that I should be charged with the duty of making a minority
report.
I studied that evidence as thoroughly and faithfully as I
could. I have gone over the matter very carefully since.
I was then satisfied, and am satisfied now, that the charges
against Mr. Blaine of any corruption or wrong-doing were
totally unsustained.
Pages:
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505