The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-02-18
The Credit Mobilisr FslOns

The Credit MObilisr FelOns.
Judge Poland yesterday reported 10 the
House the testimony taken before the
Credit MOhiher Committee and the usual
orders "a print the same and transmit TO
the Senate 80 much thereof as inculpates
members Of that body were adopted. The
facilities Of the Public Printer for delaying
TO put undesirable matters in type are So
well known that we need hardly expect TO
see the testimony in book-tOrm before the
9Th Of next month. On that day the in
auguration of a new Administration aud
the coming in OF new Congress will work
an almost entire loss of Congressional juris-
diction. Mr. Coliax, for instance, ceases
o. be Vice President the moment the
Forty.third Congress succeeds the Forty
second, and it is out OF the question ttr
the new House 90 impeaeh him rs pri-
vntc citizen. On the 4th Of March the
Senate also undergoes great change. Its
attained members-Wilson, Patterson,
and llarlan-all 90 out The Senator
from Massachusetts, becomes Vice Presi-
dent aud as such the Senate cannot ar
raign him, no matter how corrupt il may
deem him to be. Nor, let the persuasion
Of his criminality be never 50 potent. can
the House proceed against him as Vice
President for offences committed while
Senator The same day which brings par
hamCntary immunity 10 the actual Vice
President confers like clean bill of health
on the Vice President elect A similar
happy issue out Of their tribulation awaits
Messrs Harlan and Patterson teasing
a. be- Senators, they cease To- be amenable
to Senatorial expulsion or reprimand In
the House Oakes Ames, Bingham, aud
Scohcld disappear, and by disappearing
are beyond punitory vote Messrs.
Dawes Brooks, Kelly, and Scutield re-
main, but the new House may and doubt
less will hold that each House stands by
itself and a member incriminated in one
Congress cannot be punished IN another
Let the 4th of March, then, be reached
without a vote, and in one way or another
the Credit MJbiler Congressman are, so
far as regards Congress, safe
There is, however, a companion piece 70
this picture The responsibility of these
congressman does not end with a termina-
ton or change OF their official capacity
As we pointed out some days since, the
offences charged are not political So much
"a personal and there are tribunals out
side of Congress having ample jurisdiction
in the premises Thus there Is Federal
statute which reads
The President 81 the senate the speaker Of the
House al Representatives, chairman OF a commit.
Tee ~ the whole, chairman Of select commit.
Tee Of either house, shall be empowered 10 admins.
t.- oaih- or anirtnaion- 20 witnesses, In any case
under their cyaminatun.'
III any person shall wilfuliv. absolutely. and
falsely swear or nfirm, touching any matter or
thing material 10 The point IN question. whereto he
or she shall b. nus examined, every person ~
offending and being thereof duly convicted shall
ne subject tn the pains, penalties, aud dHabilite.
the crime Of wiliul and corrupt perjury
Let US see how this fits the case of Mr.
Coliax. The point ut issue was in the
words OF the resolution under which the
Credit Mobiier Committee whethe,
any member Of this House was bribed by
Oakes Ames, or any person or corpora
ton, IN any matter touching his legisla
tive duty. With desperate persistence
Mr. Coltax swore he had never received
anything from Cakes Ames for which he
did not pay-or, in other words. that the
element OF bride was lacking in the trans.
action be had with Mr. Ames. Mr. Anne,
on the other hand swOre with equal deter
minati0n that Mr.. COlfax had received
valuable property for a small sum. an,
that even this sum was reimbursed by tn,
property itself The issue here was mos
material, the swearing most wilful. posi-
tive determined, and Numerically oppo
site. One or the other witness eommitte,
perjury and the circumstantial evidence i
such that no grand jury could avoid indict
ing Mr. Coltax. Congress may whitewasl
hun, but there are other instrumentalitie
yet left for his arraignment and trial
Similarly with Senator Patterson Tn,
4th Of March does not save him.
The statutes Of the United States fur
Their say:
Any member Of Congress who shall directly o.
indirectly take, receive or agree 20 receive an,
money, properly, or valuable consideration whafso
WI nlter h'- election a. such member, for his at
teuuou %, services, action vote or decision on any
Hu.,uuh. matter cause, or proceeding which NAV
ng thgn pending Or may by law or under the Con
sutuuon Of ne United states be brought beiorr
MIN IN ais official capacity, In HE place Of tras
OF profit a. such member nj Congress shall 10
every such ohense be- liable Ia indictment a
Tor misdemennor In any court " the United STATE
having Jurisdiction thereof and on convictioi
thereof, shall pay All ne Of not exceeding siO 0s
and sufer imprisonment IN the pcnitentiary not ex
trying the same
Fit this 10 the pleasing little case of Mr.
Kelley when he 50 tacetiously handed hi
check 70 Cakes Ames and that merry gen
tleman tore the paper in two and handed
II back, and it was 50 hilarious and agrea
bic all around Fit it to the case Of Mr.
Dawes and that of Mr.. Wilson, and tina
OF our hereinbefore mentioned forgetfu
gentlemen Colfax and Patterson. and lie
US see If buying 800 for 5 cents and then
having the cents returned as dividend i.
not e. up 70 the ordinary jury idea of bride
heae ielons try to carry it off by pre-
tending they have only committed, If any
q political offence that they gave il all
back and hence have not corruptlv pro-
hted that Congressman has a right n
traffic IN the stocks on which he leoislates
and 80 on and SO on but the politica
offence, pure and simple, is not cognizabl,
in the courts. Andrew Johnson's politica
offence was not bribery; no man ever nc
cused him Of staining his hands with dol
lar. 1t was not perjury, for his truth wa
never brought in question save in the ia
nous issue with General Grant and i,
that instance was overwhelmingly sus
tanned. Ii is no political offence that ha
been committed by these Credit Mobile
congressman, Felony in foul and miserabI,
transforms BETTING straw.bail an,
Tombs lawyers-is the charge, and wear
ing away the time from now till the 4th o
March will not repeal the laws which bea
On this. World.
From the Dixon Sun