The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-03-01
gnblit Affairs.
CREDIT MoBILIER CORRUPTION.
Comments Of the Press.

to be almost unanimous in expressions Of
dissatisfaction with the report of Judge
Poland's committee in reference to the
Credit Mobilier scandals submitted to the
House of Representatives The objection
generally urged against the report is that
all of the guilty participants in the corrup-
ton, instead of only two, were not recon-
mended for punishment, while many of the
journals press the point that the committee
have stultifed themselves in failing to make
some report upon the case of Vice -Presi-
dent Colfax. We make the following ex-
tracts
From he Nelc York Herald.
1t is singular document and one which
will be read with equal surprise and disap-
pointment by the honest portion of the
community. A single fact sweeps away in |
an instant the whole mass Of false reason |
ing and fraudulent pleading in regard to
the exculpated Congressman. The stock
was taken by some of the members in De- |
cember, 1867, and by Others in January |
and February, 1868. In some instances
at the very moment of purchase, and in all
cases within two or three weeks after pur-
chase, these whitewashed Congressman re-
ceived eighty per cent. dividend on their
shares in the first mortage bonds and stock
Of the Union Pacific railroad If they
did not know that they were bribed at the
instant they completed the transaction, the
guilty knowledge must have come to them
very soon afterwards.
Judge Poland and his associates stultify
themselves when they argue that the
knowledge of the amount and character Of
the dividends would be proof Of guilt, and
yet justify the men who held the stock and
received the dividends in some cases for
months and in others fory years The COM
mittee stultify themselves further when
they suppress the evidence against Vice
President Colfax and shrink from the re-
sponsibility Of making an allusion to his
case. Their excuse is that Mr.. Colfax il
the presiding officer of the Senate, and Ms
such is beyond their Jurisdiction. Yet the
Keen and subtly-reasoning lawyers of the
committee must be familiar with the con.
stitution of the United States; they must
know that the Viee-P President can be i'm
peached and removed from Office on con-
viction of treason, bribery or other high
crimes and misdemeanors, and that in the
House of Representatives rests the ssole
power of impeachment.
From the Nep FORK Tribune
The committee has finished its work and
made its report, and resolution pends
containing the conclusion of its labors. II
is a resolution which illustrates at once
the feebleness of the inquiry and the tre-
mendous force Of the political organization
that controlled and directed-yes, and
emasculated it. 1t is fitting resolution
very proper issue of an inquiry that had
but one object, to wit, to complement the
presidential campaign of 1872 with yer.
ification and Endorsement Of the method
by which it was carried. II fits the case
admirably; it is entirely in keeping with
history. 1t insults the honesty and intel.
ligence of Congress, ns the honesty and
intelligence of the people were insultcd
during the canvass. It IS just such a sham
and cheat as the denials that were not de. |
mails, and the disclaimers that were not
disclaimers were during the heat of the !
campaign
The Tribune here recapitulates the
names of all who participated in the Cred. !
it Mobilier stock transactions, with sum. |
mary of the circumstances in each case
and concludes as follows:
"Well, the wickedness of all of Il il not |
that these men were bribed or corruptIy |
influenced, but that they betrayed the
trust Of the people, deceived their constitu-
ents, and by their evasions aud falsehoods
confessed the transaction te be disgraceful. |
And now whole Congress of grown men
is to deliberate seriously upon resolution
that puts the sins of all these upon two.
Partisanship has never stopped SO low as
this before. We cannot believe the reso-
luton viii pass. No, gentlemen Of the
American Congress, this is no answer to
the people. Stop all this. Pass no reso-
luton. Drop it where it is. Remand the
whole business to the people.
From the Nep FORK World.
We do not deny that Brooks has COM
mitted breach of trust and Ames has
prostitutcd his place. But what are of.
lenses of either of these men, in the eyes
of tribunal which is not court of law
but court of honor, compared with the
eyasions of Garfield and Kelley and Dawes,
the mendacity of Patterson, the quibbling
Of Wilson, the ineffable and shameful
meanness of Colfax in taking to one re.
fuge of lies after another. 1t is dramatic.
ally appropriate that he should be hunted
out Of his last hole, as he was yesterday,
just when the committee before which he
had been twisting and turning aud evading
and palliating for so many weeks was pre-
pairing to bring him in guiltless The re-
port of the committee is a mockery Of
justice, and a disgrace to the men who drew
il and the body which has not the spirit to
rejectit. Ineverything which Oakes Ames
did for which il is proposed to expel him
some republican Congressman was par
taker Of the crime. For everything which