277
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1859
The most glaring contradictions appear in this man's (League's) testimony as taken from day to day before the com- mittee, exposing his desire not so much to develop the truth as to shield Judge Watrous, the great head and director of the conspiracy. In further contradiction of the statement he had made of conferences held exclusively with Hughes, it appears not only that Hughes could not have been a party to such conferences, but that League did actually converse and consult at the time named, personally, fully, and intimately, with Judge Watrous himself, on the subject of the depositions taken in Mexico. The fact is drawn out of him, on an examination some days sub- sequent to that on which he denied having conferred with the judge on the subject, that he, the judge, advised that he should go and consult the Alabama parties relative thereto. With respect to this advice, I may make a single suggestion. There is not one course that is probable that honest men would have adopted, in an alleged discovery, such as was communi- cated to Judge Watrous and his confederates in the depositions taken to Saltillo. Supposing that these parties had no previous knowledge of the fact of the forgery of this power of attorney; would they not naturally and immediately have sought the ar- chives for information and evidence, where the original must be, if any such existed? This would have shown an honesty of pur- pose. It is now to be seen what course they do adopt, other than that which was natural for innocent men to take; and I beg the especial attention of honorable Senators to this point, that they may determine whether the course of the parties evidenced or not an honest desire to arrive at the truth. League goes to see the Alabama gentlemen at the suggestion of Judge Watrous. He sees Lapsley at Selma; tells him of the discovery made in the depositions taken at Saltillo; and the consequence is, that Lapsley gives him $2,500 to enable him to go to Mexico and "procure" testimony to sustain the alleged power of attorney. Now, it is evident that Lapsley, who professes to be very care- ful in his negotiations, had exacted from League a warranty of title against the particular risk of the validity of this power. League was reputed to be worth some seventy-five or one hundred thousand dollars; and his wa_rranty was the only security- the_ parties had by which to save themselves. He goes to Lapsley, and tells him, in substance, "News has reached us that I am liable to you on the warranty." What does Lapsley say? Does he say:
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