Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-03-19
Credit Mobiller-.I;s Lessons,


1t will be remembered that during the
last session Of Congress number Of in
vestgatious we're inaugurated--chieay on
tie demand Of the Opposition. The sale
Of arms; the New York custom.house the
United States Treasury the use Of Seneca
sandstone; the Chorpening claim and the
Navy Department were among the most
prominent subjects Of inquiry; and not
withstanding that these investigations were
instieated and pursued with much partizan
zeal ard rancor OF the eve Of a Presidon-
tial campaign no discreditable disclosures
were made But had any Of these charges
been sustained, the subsequent conduct Of
the Republican party, as well asits general
history, are guarantees that the offending
individual would have been promptly pun
shed Upon these reports most extensive
ly circulated in the press and campaign
pamphlets, the issues between the two great
political parties were made up, and the YER
diet. after an exhaustive discussion, was
"not guilty" by overwhelming majorities.
Among the most prominent complaints
urged BY the Opposition to break the force
Of the favorable results of these investigat-
log reports was the allegation that they
were necessarily unreliable, because the in
quirics we're conducted by committees com.
posed Of a majority Of the party in power.
But the fillacy Of these accusations was at
once exposed because the majority did not
limit in any manner the circumference Of
the inquiry, nor the examination and cross
examination Of the witnesses.
After the close of the campaign the dom
nant party might well have claimed, and
would have insisted had they been opposed
TO q thorough investigation and full cx.
posure Of corruption that the verdict Of
the people in the late canvass was sufI-
oient answer to these charges; but the Re-
publican party not merely granted all the
Investigations sought, but summoned on the
leading committee majority Of its politi-
cal foes to conduct the inquest.
The unanimous report Of the Credi, Mo.
biiier investigating committee is entitled to
more than ordinary consideration. The
committee was appointed, at the request Of
Speaker Blaine, by Hon. s. S. Cox, noted
New York politician, who was called to the
chair for that purpose, and was composed
Of Messrs, Poland, Of Vermont; McCreary,
Of Iowa Banks, Of Massachusetts Nib
lack, Of Indiana, and Merrick, Of Mary.
land
Mcssrs Poland and McCreary-the two
Republicans are gentlemen Of ability and
stlndinr, well known for their integrity,
moderation and impartiality. Gen Banks
was an earnest supporter Of Horace Gree.
ley, upon the alleged ground that the Re-
publican organization had become otfete aud
corrupt while Messrs. Niblack and Mer-
rick are among the ablest representatives
Of the Democratic party in fact, Mr.. Mer.
rick, although belonging to the extreme
Southern school Of political thought, is one
OF the ablest scholars Of the law in the
Union, and Of uuimpeachable personal iuteg-
rity.
Having patiently and carefully examined
aad silted the entire testimony Otter
painfully conflicting" as the committe,
might well say-thelr report ought to be
considered a judicial document command
ing universal approval. There has no
been a state paper submitted for many
years upon similar subject that carried
with il greater weight, or which bore upor
its face fuller realization Of the grave re
sponsibilities assumed.
While it is the first time in the poiti
cal history of the United States that at
all-important investigation has been entrust
ed by the dominant party to majority o
its political foes, it is highly gratifying t.
know that this trust was not abused Tn
regular and fierce opposition press, like tn
New York Tribune and World, are insan
with grief and anger that this opportunit,
was not used for a political onslaught. |
was demanded by them already in advauc
that the names Of all prominent Republ
cans, though ever so remotely connected
should be so mixed up with Brooks an
Ames as to convey the impression that tn
Republicans had been guilty of an organ
lied conspiracy to rob the Treasury aud IL
public, aud that bribe-taking was the no
nal condition Of our public men.
After full and pains-taking investig
ton, the committee unanimously repo
that only two members, one Democrat
great prominence, and the other Repu
lican Of only local political standing, ha'
been guilty Of corrupt knowledge in Il
Credit Mobilier transactions. 1t is n
within the realms of probability that m,
like Dawes, Garfield, Scho6eld, and Bin
ham would sell their vast political inAuen
for a sum so trifling that the least inaue
tial newspaper correspondent would SEQ
the bride.
The first and all-importaut lesson, viii
this investigation should convey, is that
discriminate and wholesale denunciati
should be abandoned, for this unjust ,reI
ment Of our public men is, in its effe
whether designed or not, one of the m,
effective shields Of rogues. If the r,
criminals can only-succeed in mixing the
selves up with honest men, they can pr
sue one or two lines Of defense, either
which, with promise Of success They G
affect perfect Indifference TO public op
ion that wildly aud blindly strikes at frier
and foes, or they can excite the sympat
Of the general public by quoting the sew,
denuneiations against those who do not
serve them. Besides, the public ear
comes dull by the constant repetition
accusatory epithets, until disgust leads
apathy instead of action.
No greater calamity could happen to
Republic than the obtainment of the o
viction in the public mind that the major
Of our public men in Congress and in St
Legislatures are utterly corrupt; that h
est men stand no chance and I
nothing that the public may after
will secure the punishment of the corr
tionists for ii this general apathy sho
prevail, the lobbyists would have il
their own way, and the depths Of puI
corruption would become uniathomable.
The second lesson which these iuyesti
tions convey, is the duty of the press
the people to uphold and encourage hor
men, where the correct discharge of d
mas led to assaults by corrupt monetary
teresis. The more honest and true .
lie officer may be, like President Grant
Secretary Boutwell,, the more numerous
INSCRIPTIONS will be his assaiants.
believe most truly that a character
truth and purity for many years can
be interposed against general charge
corruption, and that the public is bo
both by justice aud honor to withhold
eensure until guilt is proven. No grel
l.. H..