putation is without the slightest foundation, and I now repeat
that I never was pecuniarily interested in any question, bill or
matter before Congress; that I never received anything in money,
or property, or promise, directly or indirectly, for my vote or
influence in Congress or in the departments; that I have studiously
avoided engaging in any business depending upon legislation in
Congress. The only enterprise in which I ever engaged, which rests
upon an act of Congress, is that in 1862, after the bill passed
authorizing the construction of a street railroad in this city, I,
with others, openly subscribed stock, and undertook to build it in
pursuance of the act of Congress.

"From the position assigned me here, I have had to deal with great
questions involving our financial system of currency, taxes and
debt, and I can appeal to all my associates in Congress, to each
of the eminent men with whom, as Secretaries of the Treasury, I
have been intimate, and to every man of the multitude with whom I
have been brought into contact, to say whether I have ever been
influenced in my course by pecuniary interest.

"But you say that the impression is that I am a very rich man,
whereas, before I was in public affairs, my circumstances were
decidedly moderate. This allegation contains two gross exaggerations.
When I entered public life, I was largely engaged in my profession
and other lucrative business. If I had not engaged in politics,
I might have been the rich man you suppose. I am not this day
relatively richer, considering the changed value of property, than
I was when I entered the Senate. Some time ago it was stated in
your paper that I was worth millions. A very small fraction,
indeed, of one million dollars will cover all I am worth. My
property consists mainly of real estate, palpable to the eye, and
the rest of it is chiefly in a railroad with which I was connected
before I entered public life.

"I have managed my business affairs with reasonable care, prudence,
economy and success. What I have is the result of this.

"You kindly offer me an opportunity to disprove to you these reports.
Well, how can I? What charge is made against me? How can I fight
shadows? How can a man prove himself innocent against an innuendo?

"But as you offer me the opportunity, I now invite Mr. Faran to
come to my home at Mansfield, and I will show him all I possess
there, and render him a full account of all I have elsewhe