Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-12-27

WAsHNGroN, d. C., Dec. l6.
Judge Poland's committee To investigate
the Credit Mobilier chargeS, out Of which
the Democrats endeayored to make So much
political capital during the recent campaign.
held its fourth meeting to-day and to most
Washington correspondents it- proceedings
remain sealed books There j. one great
mistake in the conduct OF the examination,
and that Is the holding it with closed doors
The average American, whose ideas ought
certainly to be respected, will hardly be-
satisfied with sIch an arrangement. There
| Is but one argument that viii De used and
/ that Is if no one Is guilty no one Will he IN
| jured by holding the determinations in public.
and if any one is gailty the sooner he is
| known and punished the better for the in
tereSts Of general and political morality.
There Is of course great curiosity To know
what the investigatigation is developing
Was there any truth in the charges pre-
/ ferred last fall?' i constantly recurring
/ question. Having obtained n considerable
insight into the workings of the committee
| | am enabled to express an opinion that
Will not be wide of the mark
The examination has shown a most alarm
/ ing state of affairs in Congressional legisla-
[ ton. Ii has shown c0nclusivey that Credit
| Mohiier stock Of great value was paid TO
members of Congress for their efforts in
| curing certain Congressional action. II
has shown corruption in places where il
was little expected bat its immediate re
suit has been the full acquittal of some of
/ the men named in the list to whom it was
[ charged that stock had been given. Speaker
how
been as innocent as Henry Ward Beecher,
| and. what Is better the counsel of McCOmb.
/ and McC0mb himself, cheerfully acknOwl-
] edge a. much. wish | could say the same
with regard To all the parties. There are
[ two on the list who Will have hard work 10
/ clear themselves of the impItati0ns east
/ upon them The interests Of fairness and
| the keeping of good faith prevent my Civ
ing their names to-day. Both OakeS Ames
and John b. Alley account for the letters
which We're published during the campaign
in a reasonable manner. and their testimony
has undoubtedly had considerable weight
with the committee
\ great many have alleged that the com
mittee viii whitewaSh " the matters be
fore them.
-' Your Republican members Of the House
don want this thing to come ont, said
prominent Democratic politician TO Judge
Poland the other day
You are mistaken, sir rctortcl the
Judge The boot Is on the other leg.
This Is indeed the fact The time is past
for termins this political movement. The
testimony introduced by Col. McComb i'm
plicate~ as many Democratic congressman
a. Republican, and they are not Repubh-
| cans who seek To cover up what corrup-
tion there may be- The Republicans impli-
Gated are serene. Quite the contrary l. the
case with the Democrats.
The committee l. formed of five gentle
men. two Republicans, two Democrats, and
one Liberal Certainly. in general sen-s.
no committee could have been chosen whose
verdict would be more impartial.
| give You the premises for forming an
opinion. As for the committee it Will prob
ably expose all it thinks it ought TO-
There should be no whitewashing. The
time has not Yet come, it Is to be hoped,
when because a man belongs To any politi
! cal organization he Is TO be shielded By that
organization. For my part, as Henry Viii
| son said To me a day or two ago, If there
( Is anybody guilty hope be will hc pun
/ ished." 1t Will iniure the Republican party
I more to retain dishonest men than to expel
/ them and let people know they were diShon
/ est. 1t never yet imperilled the church to
| ex-communicate frail ecclesastic. There
/ ought to be a universal demand for an open
Investigation and a fair Judgment, and the
| expulsion of every member Of Congress, Re
| publican or Democrat, who may Be found
| guilty.
A. the Investigation proceeds more will
| doubtless be developed. What the result
/ will be, of course no man can say with
certainty So far as | am at present ena-
/ bled to judge, the report Of the committee
viii first exoncrate Oakes Ames from any
wrong intent; second. call for the expul-
/ sion or at least an explanation from at least
| two members Of the House third, pro-
| claim the innocence of the majority Of the
| parties charged with having taken brides :;
and lastly, leave the rest to be inferred.
WEST