Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-02-13
vice-prcsident Co,fax's Defense.


Mobilier investigation committee Judge
Poland's), as given Tuesday, but receiv-
ed by telegraph too late for insertion in
yesterdays HERALD.
Vice-President Colfax read a letter
from John NJ. Barclay, the journal clerk
of the House, whom he declared to be
the best parliamentarian in the United
States, stating that he had examined
the proceedings of the House, commenc-
ing on December, 1867, and ending on
July, 1868, and he found no unparlia-
mentary rulings.
He then quoted from his speech at
South Bend last fall denying that any
Credit Mobilier stock had been given
him and claiming his willingness to buy
of the stock if he could do so without
buying into litigation. He said what
he then said, that neither Cakes Ames
nor any other person ever gave or offer
ed to give him any of this stock. 1t has,
said Mr.. ColfaX, been repeatedly printed
during this session with the essential
word give omitted, entirely changing
the sense.
Concerning the 200 check alleged to
have been given HIM by Ames he said he
had not the slightest knowledge or re-
collection or belief that he ever saw this
check or any other check of Ames' till
AmeS presented it before this commit
tee, nor that he had ever been paid or
proffered by Ames directly or indirectly
in a check, stock, or bonds, 81, 200, or
s 100, or 81, on any amount whatever.
He had not the slightest knowledge, re-
collection or belief he had ever heard
there was or could be any cash dividends
on Credit Mobiicr till the discussion of
last fall and he was positive Amcs never
spoke to him of this last dividend and
never paid or proffcred to him in person
or through any other channel any check,
or money, or bonds, on that or any 9th
er account. Until to-day he never heard
Of the certificate for 81, 800 of United
States bonds, or the $50 interest which
Ames said he paid him in January, 1869.
He would not have been more astOunded
if he had been charged with the assassin
alton of one of Ames family than he
was by the charges. Ames paid him
neither 81 200, or $50, or any other sum
whatever on account of stock He had
spoken in his family of this transaction
for over four years as he described it in
his testimony of January 18th, namely,
che had contract to purchase; had
paid but $500; he had heard of threat
ened and enormous ltigations and had
abandoned it without receiving any divi-
dend or certificate, but at loss of all
the money he had paid upon it.
He then explained where all the money
came from deposited in the First Ma
tional Bank from June %, 1868. The
total deposit, he said, was 81 1868. 63, and
there being no previous deposits later
than June /. il shows this amount was
the accumulation of monies paid to him
curing the intervening three weeks This
also was proven by the dates of the
checks deposited. one check was for
S1S.63. dated June 18th, and signed by
]. n. Seymour. since deceased; one for
$3.50 was dated June -, and signed hy
L. G. Cordin, and one was for $500,
dated June II, signed by T. Denny &
Co. ; none of them having the slightest
connection with the subject under in
vestigation before this committee.
or the deposit, as nearly as he could
remember, his father-in-law paid him
$500 on account of a debt owing him,
about the middle of June, 1868. He was
very confident that this 5000 formed
part of the ST, 200 deposit. Soon after
receiving this payment, near the middle
of the same month he received a letter
from General F. Nesbit congratulating
him on his nomination to the Vice
Presidency and enclosing a thousand
dollar greenback or bank note to aid him
in the heavy expense of the campaign.
lie called the attention of his family to
the bill and it was remarked that it came
IN good time, referring to the appeal
OF Mr.. Conner, chairman of the Indiana
Republican committee for money to aid
in arranging for the canvass. The bill /
was then passed around from hand to
hand and examined. | am sure, said
Mr.. Colfax, l deposited it with the $500 /
L had received f1om my father-in-aw
and purchased on the very same dav,
as the bank books show, draft for Ia"
exact amount. This amount in exact /
accordance with the donors wish and
exactly as discussed at my table at the
time, l sent at once to the chairman Of
the Republican committee at Iadial-
apolis
Fortunately said Mr. Colfax, Ills does
not rest on my own testimony alone I
Living witnesses will tell the committee
that they remember the recept of this /
bill and the contents of the letter IL
which it was enclosed, and that ii Sas AT
once discussed how it could be used Ia
carry out Nesbitts desires, and the draft
presented and sworn to by the cashier
of the bank proves that the very day
deposited the $1,000 in bills | bought
and RENTED out of my deposit draft
for 1000 to the chairman of the Indi-
ana State committee; that draft endors-
ed by Mr.. Conner was found in the hank
here and laid before the committee the
next day after the bank deposit was tes-
.iied to. My family at this time con-
sisted of nay mother, since deceased. nv
stepfather, Mr.. Matthews, and nv half
sister, Mrs. HOLSTER, whose residence ia
n distant territory beyond the Rocky