The Portland daily press., 1873-03-27

| EX-SENATOR PATTERSON'S CAsE.-Ex-Sena-
tor Patterson has prepared pamphlet of forty
| pages in which he reviews and criticises the
report of the Senate Committee to investigate
the Credit Moblier matter, so far as relates to
him. In conclusion he says:
eNever in the history of the United States or
OF Europe did it occur that causes so weak pro-
duced agitation so intense in the higher circles
of the government. If it were a great cata-
c.ysm of corruption and fraud which had over
whelmed us like the South Sea bubble in Eng
land, or the Mississippi bubble in France. there
might be something to contemplate with senti-
ments of respect for the public veal and of
consequent severity of inquiry into imputed or
suspected corruption ON the part of men in
| high stations; men of hitherto blameless lives,
| unstained honor, and some of them Represen-
| tatives of the semi-sovereign States of the I'm
| ion; but no, it is nothing of the kind. 1t is
| only bagatele of stock in the Credit Mobiler,
utterly insignificant as an inducement to vote
| adverse to the public interest, which was not
| purchased or owned with any such thought and
with no proof existing that the fact had preju-
dically affected any measure before Congress,
and yet for such a cause as this each house of
Congress has given itself up to the functions OF
tribunal of inquisition, exaggerating the most
innocent or Indifferent acts into crimes, disSem-
mating mutual dstrust and ill-will, severing
long cherished friendships, and laboring to find
in members subjects of inculpa9ion, which, if
found, would serve no purpose but discredit and
disgrace the institutions and people of the
United States say the people of the United
States, for the Senators and Representatives
are the elected agents of the people; their vir-
tues and their vices are the common stock of
the nation, and if the Senators and Represen-
tatives are higher than the people SO much the
more are the latter depressed in estimation by
the errors of the former.
AS to the present inquiry let the Senate look
the facts frankly in the face to see that the eff
feet OF the report, when considered alongside
OF the report made to the House, and of the ac-
ton OF the latter is to make me the single VIC
tim OF proceedings in Congress, instituted pro-
fessedly to meet accusations of the public press
emanating from an act of larceny or burglary.
and pursued under the whip and spur of that
same public press.
Congress, in the morbid state of mind produced
by these investigations, has seemed to SIM
pose that sensational paragraphs in the news
papers, which are pleasant reading TODAY and
are forgotten tomorrow constitute the iudg-
menu OF the people OF the United States, and
SO it seemed to have been thought that Con-
gress must undertake the great process of self
punncatlon in the ingenious form of suicidal
self-mm lation; but the excitement was here.
ana ana not among the people Of the United States
Inc moment Congress adjourns reaction COM
mences in favor of the martyrs to this snner-
fuous agitation in Congress.
Gentlemen-The most inculpated are received
with triumph when they return to their respec.
1--WE OJtttS 4uc ADMINISTRATION suffers
prejut ice, either from the panic terror of the
accused, or the equally panic terror of the sim
cere among the accusers. Thus we were told
that the Investigations regarding the Credit
Mobilier were to affect injuriousy and perhaps
defeat the Republican party in my own State of
New Hampshire, when the contrary effect is in
diCated by the electoral returns from that State,
and indications of similar reaction have occur
red in other States.
In conclusion, let me say that have re
viewed the report with anxious purpose to dis.
cipline myself to a candid examination of its
contents; discharging my mind of the natural
feeling of resentfulness, in view of the severe
conclusions of the Committee, penetrating into
the recesses of my own conscience to judge my
owe actions and motives, without reserve or
mercy; in word, discussing the case impar-
TALLY and without bias favor or affection, as
if it were question of history relating to some
third person of another age. of other foreign
country; and on such retrospect OF the facts,
do solemny appeal from the condemna tory
opinion of the Committee to the better judg-
ment itself, of my countrymen and of my God.