Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-02-27
A Statement from VAR. Cclfax's
Counsel.

The following statement regarding Mr..
Colfax is made upon the authority of his
counsel, Judge Hale:
When Mr.. Colfax went before the in
vestigating committee on the nth in
slant, it was for the purpose of showing
the source from which the 81, 200 depos-
tied by him June % was derived, an at
tempt having been made to connect that
with the alleged payment to him by
Oakes Ames. His testimony in that
connection related solely to the receipt
of 81, 900 from Mr.. Nesbitt of New
Ork between the 10Th and 22d of June,
1868, and to the sum of $500 paid him
by Mr. Matthews, his stepfather during
the same time. Mr. Colfax, in fact, re-
ceiyed from Mr.. Neshitt during the year
1868 four thousand dollars contributed
in part for personal, in part for political
purposes, in four remittances Of 81 900
each, sent respectively in April. June,
July and October. In giving his testi-
mony NIr. COlfax, acting under the ad-
vice of his counsel, who had fuli knowl-
edge of all the facts and to whom
belongs the entire responsibility of the
conduct of the case ia this regard, CON
fined himself to a statement in regard 10
the remittance of June, that being the
only one having any possible connection
with the subject of inquiry before the
committee which could be brought be
tore them without being deemed wholly
impertinent 10 the issue. After the
committee had closed its public sessions,
Mr. Colfax learned that inquiries were
being made privately by the committee
concerning his bank account during the
months of May and July. concerning
which no question had been until then
raised. He thereupOn Immediately noti-
fed the committee by letter of the above
remittanccs of April and July, stating
the reason why he had not referred to
them in his evidence as above given, and
saying to the committee that he would
be glad to appear before them, and sub
init in the first instance to their private
inspection the letters covering the remit
tances Of April and July, and if by such
inspection the committee should deem il
pertinent to the inquiry with which they
were charged. he wOnld then testify
publicly concerning them and submit the
letters for publication. This proposal
was again submitted By Mr.. Colfax's S
counsel to the committee in person. but
tIlC NRbiAlltitt ItlNt tlN Nt ~ N''lN NlN'A nv
further hearing to Mr. ColfaX. public or
private In the meantime. grossly per
verted statements, charging Mr. COlfaX
with having informed the committee
that when he testified concerning the
remittance of June he had forgotten the
check received in July, and also that he
had deliberately suppressed a part of the
truth material to the issue. have been
circulated and telcgraphcd to the press,
In fact, the remittanCeS of April and
July and the correspondence covering
them confirm instead Of weakening the
testimony of Mr.. ColfaX and the wit
nesses by whom he is sustained. The
following are the letters received by Mr..
Colfax from Mr.. Nesbitt in April and
July-those of April II and July IL
each enclosing check for one thousand
dollars:
New YoRK, April Is, 1868
Dear Sir-I beg your acceptance of
the enclosed to assist in defraying your
personal expenses during the present po-
litical campaign. | beg to say that
am ever ready to forward the interest of
a deserving member of the craft and ]
am pleased with you, though personally
unacquainted and knowing that to oc-
cupy a desirable position in politics is eX.
pensive, | have taken the liberty Of of.
/ fering my trifle with the assurance that