Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-09-21
GENERAL.
THE "cREDIT MoBILIER' SCAN
DALS.

phia. Col. McComb sued to compel the delivery
to him Of $50 shares Of the Credit Mobilier
stock for which he claims to have subscribed
and for which he rendered payment, but which
were, as be alleges in his "bill" wrongfully with
held, having been, as he believes, appropriated
by the Directors Of the concern to persons who
had never paid valne for them, but who received
them IN the substantial form of gift. As
counsel for Col. McComb, at the time, there
were Samuel W. Thompson, Esq, Hon. VIM.
Strong, (snce appointed to the U, s. Supreme
bench and Hon. jeremiah s. Black.
OF the merits Of this case we say nothing,
since it is essentially matter OF business among
business men, and except for it's relation to pub
lie affairs, az hereafter explained, would not be
necessarily matter of public interest, at all. 1t
may be remarked, however, that Col. McComb's
claim see ms justified by some of his documen-
tary evidence, especially by letter from Mr..
Crane, Treasury of the c. NJ, detailing the cir
cnmstances which Col. McComb alleges gave him
title to the stock which he claims.
In the progress Of hearing the case before the
master in Chancery," to whom, by the Court,
the taking Of testimony was referred, the coun-
sci for the Credit Mobilier, Qncluding Mr.. oakes
Ames, } Mr.. McMurtrie, insisted upon the pro-
duction by the plaintiff of two original letters'
written by Cakes Ames (who appears to have
been the controlling spirit In the concern) to
to Col McComb, from Washington, under the
dates respectively, Of January 25th, and January
20, 1868, (before the commencement of the suit.)
These letters have been repeatedly published,
and with substantial correctness. They refer to
III sta asal
pclicy its dividends, &C., and to certain distri-
buttons of it's stock, made or proposed to be
made by Ames, for it's advantage. They were, from
their IMPRESSIONS part of continuous correspond
ence between Col. McComb and Mr. Ames. One
OF them mentions q statement in a letter from
Col McComb, that SENATORS Bayard and Fowler
have written about their stock but beyond this
they do not mention the name OF any member
of Congress- il connection with the stock, its
distribution or placing, as Mr.. Ames terms it.
The exolessions in these letters have been,
however, construed to mean that Mr.. Ames, at
the time Of this correspondence with Col Nc
Comb was systematically distributing the shares
Of the Credit Mobilier. among members Of Con-
gross as brbes, to influence them favoraby on
behalf of that concern, and of the Union Pacific
Railroad which was but its other self. Upon
this construction, the most bold, sweeping and
outrageous charges of corruption have been
made against number OF Senators and Repre-
eentatives bV various newspapers, headed by
that most infamous Of sheets, the New fork
Stn-a newspaper repeatedly convicted OF
groundess and malignant libels
These charges of corruption are supported,
the Sun insists, by the general expressions of
the letters, and by a certain pencil memo
random, on QUE OF them. This is found in the
letter of January 25th, upon the second page,
(the continuous letter itself being written on
pages 1 and 8, aud is headed thus'
"Oakes Amess list Of names as sto'on to me,
"to-tiay, for Credit MoJitier, is"
The list following the above has been frequent
ly printed and in most cases, in the same form
as it appears on the letter. 1t is as follows;
up,aina of Maine. 5000
Patterson of New Hampshire, 5,OUV
Wilson of Massachusetts,, 5,9u0
Painter, (ksP.) for Quigley 3uOO
S,oaald d Kallav Pa 1000
| Eliot Massachusetts oUuU
Dawes, Massachusetts, z,u0u
Fowler, Tennessee zUUO
BOutwell, Massachusetts 1uUu
Bingham and Garfield, o.. blahK J
This pencil list was placed upon the letter not
by Ames. (as appears from the heading and the
penmanship, and memorandum date,-Febru-
ary 1, 1868 But it is claimed by Col. McComb'
| (as appear from his testimony, on cross exam
iuation before the examiner that these mum
| hers represent distribution of money by Ames'
| for the Credit Mobilier, as brihes to the twelve
Senators and Representatives, and tho thir-
teenth party, who figures as Painter, Rep,
and who is understood to be Mr.. u Il. Painter
correspondent of the New York Sun. and Phila
delphia Inquirer. 1t Is denied, however, that
he got any money for Mr.. Philip Qugley, o
this CITY, who is presumably referred to in the
memorandum. and whether-if such a sum were
ever paid-it went to Painter, himself his two
| pewspapers. or either of them, does not ap
pearl
The point of public interest, however,is whoth
or the Senators and Representatives name
received such bribes. Most of them are among tn
most respected and most trusted public men
the nation None stand higherin any party in an
circle, or any pursuit, than such as Henry Wilson
? George s. Boutwell,, Schuyler Colfax. and other
To believe that any lobbyist whether it b
Oakes Ames, or some other person, on behalf c
the Credit Mober or any other corruptionit
. ring, systematically bribed these men, with
| paltry sum of money, is beyond belief. In say
y ing this we may assume that the pencil meme
Q randum was accurately recorded from Mr.. Ame
;; statement but it remains to be considere
!. whether the authority for the record is suh
r cent Presuming that the list is as he state
y y it, did he not lie
We have already had the satisfaction of seeu
Senator Wilson, on his part, authorize the mo
positive and sweeping denial Of the inferen
oi sougbt to be drawn against him. He states til
be never owned a bond or share in the Cree
NJ Mobler. or in the Pacific Railroad or in al
other railroad or corporation that has been b
ss fore Congress since he has been member
th that body. Like denials have been made
:; others of the gentlemen named in the list,
cludipg Speaker Blaine, General GARFIELD, Jud
R. schofold and Mr. Dawes. The last named
perhaps most specific, clear, and conclusive
m, his correction. He declares that; Neither Oal
v" Ames. nor any other man, dead or alive, eN
\. "gaye me, directly or indirectly, penny of t
he stocb of the Credit Mobilier or OF any oil
ia =, corporation in the world. l never ownet
''h dollar of any stock, or any property OF q
=, kind, that did not pay the full value OF, "
,en "my own money, earned NTH my o'cn labor
H. The denals of the other gentemon
atl 1,., foroiI,Iy axnraaaad and all