New-York tribune., 1873-02-19

They dropped it in their tracks, and either by
themselves or friends denied utterly all
knowledge of it. And the people did
then what they can never do again
willie the world stands-took their word
for it. and denounced the story as
calumny How has this timid investigation
that fooled around all pertinent inquiry and
never asked hard, rough question that smote
lying witness IN the face, and that finally
has wreaked itself on two scapegoats instead
of furnishing half hundred-how has this In
yestigation left themi Read the evidence.
With varying degrees of guilt or guilty knowl-
edge, every man of them, with but one excep-
ton. has been obliged to confess that at some
time he had held this stock, and at some time
under stress of conscience-et us hope, though,
that is not fully prOved-got nd OF 1t.
Go slowly now over the list of illuminated
congressman.
James G.. Blaine The only exception in the
list. He was born under star as lucky as his
predecessors was unlucky. The TRIBUNE
made haste to say as early IN the investigation
as the fact appeared that the Speaker was ex-
Onerated.
John A. Bingham of Ohio received the stock
and the dividends; was not conscious OF
having been influenced by 1t, and was not
ashamed of the transaction. The only member
who held it and did not try to squirm out
of it,
James A. Garfield of Ohio had ten shares
never paid a dollar; received 1929, which, after
the investigation began, he was anxious to have
considered loan from Mr. 0akes Ames to him
self.
Glenni w. Scofeld of Pennsylvania had ten
shares, and received dividends thereon; be-
came dissatisfied and returned it to Ames, re-
ceiving back his money and interest.
VIM. ID. Kelley of Pennsylvania was very
much confused IN his memory; thought at
first it was very proper thing for Congress-
men TO hold, but denied that he had any of
il; thought he had borrowed $1,000 of Oakes
Ames, which Ames, on the contrary, said he
had paid him as dividends from Credit
Mobiler. Upon discovering that stock
actually stood in his name changed his mind
about the honesty of the transaction, and
turned it over to the United States Gov
ernmcnt.
Henry l.. Dawes of Massachusetts, who wrote
letter during the campaign dcnouncing the
statement that he held Credit Mobilier as
libel, had ten shares, which he paid for and
afterward sold back, getting the amount paid
and interest at ten per cent
Secretary Boutwell, had it offered him, turned
it over wistfully with a stick at arms length,
and decided to keep out.
Henry Wilson, who during the campaign
stood by consenting to the statement of Gen.
Hawley which conveyed to the people the
impression that he had no knowledge of the
speculation, is discovered to have held stock
in the name of his wife for a while, and
then, frightened, as he says, at prospect
of lawsuit, to have returned it to Oakes
Ames, getting back, like the others, his invest
ment and interest at ten per cent.
Senator Patterson Of New-llampshire-ah,
well! his case is known already. There is
nothing to be added.
And Schuyler COlfax -!
Wei. the wickedness of all of it is, not that
these men were bribed or cOuuptly Influenced.
but that they betrayed the trust of the peo
ple. deceived their constituents, and by their
eyasions and fasehOOds confessed the transac-
ton to be disgraceful. And now a whole Con-
gress of grown men is to deliberate seriously
upon a resolution that puts the sins OF all
these upon two. Partisanship has never stopped
so low as this before. We cannot believe the
resolution will pass. No, gentlemen of the
American Congress; this is no answer to the
people. Stop all this. Pass no resolution.
Drop it where it is. Remand the whole busl-
ness to the people. You have only scratched
the surface of the whole nquiry-leave it now.
Face outward. March