New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-16

have assigned, 80 Tar ~ nh'o SiNon, w
four from Massachusetts; one from Now
Hampshire; one, Delaware; one, Tennessee;
"one-half, Ohio; two, Pennsylvania one, lndi-
ana; one, Maine; and l have three to place
(which shall put where they will do most
GOOD to u.s." In tho second letter, dated
JAN 30, 1868, he says ' You must remember
"tbat il was nearly al placed ~ you saw on
"the list in New-YOrk, and there was but
"Or 8 NJ for me to place" Ana Oh
a letter from one3 King referring apparently
to threats of investigation at Washington, ne
saws: In view of Kings letter and Washbnrns
move here, go in for making one bond diyl-
"dend in fullr When these letters were
brought TO light last September, Senator Bay
ard published "A frank statement OF his con-
nection with The affair, from which it appears
that he did receive, from Ames through NC
Comb, an offer of one or two thousand dollars
of stock and did write for information about
it but he refused TO take it except on the
understanding that he should give no cquya-
lent for it in Congress, and should pay for 1t
in the regular way. Perhaps it is needless to
add that Senator Bayard did not get nny on
such terms.
Who did get it Col. McComb swears that
Ames gave him d list of members OF Con
gress to whom the bride had been. or was to
be. offered. and he wrote down the names,
from Ames's mouth, on Che back OF one OF
the letters already quoted. Tho list was rs
follows: ....
Blame Of Maine - 5000 scoaed and Kelley.
Patterson of New Penn, each . 700
w%0 5 SO P PTsi
Painter (RepJ for Boutwell,, Massadhn-
4 fnlfaS. Speaker.. 2O)0I Bingham and Garfield,
Eliot Massachusetts, 5000 Obo' each HoOo
There are some men in that catalogue whom
it is almost impossible to suspect OF dishon-
esty, Ntarly all have made more or less ex-
plcit dcnials. But what are the ascertaned
facts9 NIr. Cakes Ames, Member of Congress,
processes in his own handwriting to have
bribed ms fellow legislators in the interest OF
the corporation with which he was connected
! Senator Bayard eoplirms the Ames letters IN
part Now we want to know whether the rest
is true. There are several theories on which
the story can be accounted for These are:
l. That the statements of AmeS and McCOmb
are strictly true this would implicate 30 many
gentlemen of the highest reputation for IN
tegrity that we are all unwilling to believe It,.
2. That Ames invented the whole story in
order 10 escape giving up the stock which
McComb wanted; the statement of Senator
Bayard renders this, however. extremely inn
probable, and the fact that after the date OF
these alleged transactions the company got
| from Congress Whatever it wanted viii also
| be thought significant.
! 8. That the stocis was really offered TO The
thirteen persons named in the list but not
accepted by all or any of them.
| 4. That Amcs purposely gave false list IN
order to- protect those with whom he had had
dealings.
). That McComb constructed the list him
self from the hints furnished by Amess let
ters-knOwing the States 10 which stock had
been allotted and guessing at most of the
names.
The present investigation ought not only to
give an answer TO these conjectures, but to
give it in such way that no doubt can re-
rnpin ~ the most prciudiccd mind. There ure
no party interests now to be served or to be
hurt by this inquiry. The honor of Congress
is involved in it, and cannot be satisfied with
an examination at which the most captiOus
critic can lind excuse for cavil. 1t is not
enough that the Committee shall do its work
honestly the work should be done openly. so
that everybody may see chat it is honest. If
suspicion is to remain after the investigation
is finished, the trouble will all have been
thrown away. Our representatives. at Wash
inStOn must see if they watch the course of
public opinion, that Committee sitting with
closed doors, on case of this nature, is al
ways distrusted. 1t may be said, indeed it is
said now, that some of the judges themselves
are none too pure, and fear to find out TOO
much. Let US have an end of secrecy. We
want to see the last remnant of suspicion re-
moved from the fame of men whom the
country has honored among its best citizens;
or if there are any rogues III high places. we
want to see their guilt exposed 40 publicly
that nobody hereafter can deny IT.
THE DEBATE ON DISSOLUTIOf