Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-03-12
Our Washington Letter.


wAsuNoroN, March 3, 1873
Nsssrs. Editors The scenes incident 4
the close Of session Of Congress have repro
duced themselves within the lust few days will
more than their usual intensity. This is ow
ing partly TO the fact that final action upoi
nearly all the appropriation bills, and many o
the most important measures OF legislation, hal
been crowded into the closing hours Of the SEES
sion, and partly 10 the fact that Congress hai
to divert its attention thereirom to receive anC
act upon the numerous reports OF its investiga
ting committees, The ioriy-second Congress
has been chiefly remarkable for the number
character and magnitude Of its Investigations
The most remarkable oil them all, in all its in
cidents and features, is the one that has rend
cred the unfamiliar and obscure term Credit
Mobiller' forever Infamous as a synonym ior
fraud and corruption. The unexpected result
oil Ibis famous trial furnishes striking Illus
tra'ion oil the old liable oil the Mountain labor
ing and bringing forth mouse. Under the
clear searching and exhaustive investigation OF
Judge Poland and his committee, all the facts
4
brought 70 light and exhibited in such man
ner Us TO startle ana astonlsh the people Prob
aD'y no SUBJECT oil congressional action was
ever more extensively discussed or better I'M
dcistood' IL the expressions oil the tens Of
thousands who are now Hooking here from all
parts OF the country may be taken as an index
oil popular sentiment, the verdict OF the peo'
pie VIII agree with the opinion OF nearly every
one here, that the blame rests, not so much
against the ownership Of lew shares OF the
maryelously productive stock 10y few mem
bcrs OF Congress, as against the c0wafdy and
dISgraceiul perjury by which its ownership
was denied.
For months, the press had been raising Il
nue ana cry against every one IN any way con-
nec'ed' or suspected OF connection with the
Moolller' and demanding their summary and
'angulnary execution when the committee
reported so lar snort oi ITS Demands 1t turned
with equal hercene's upon tie committee, whom
II denounced Tor not including more within
its Recommendation Tor punishment. The
justice, moderation ard wisdom OF the COIN
mlttee could have received no more triumphant
defence and yindication from this blind and
unreasonng assault than the action Of the
House upon their report. Every member Of
the House was thoroughly familiar with every
TACT and feature Of the case. After long and
able discussion by large majority it refused
to expel the two members who had been point
ed out by the committee as most culpabe
Instead therefore OF condemning the committee
Tor Its shortcomings, the House asserted that
theJ had gone hrther than It would follow in
defense oil It's purity and dignity.
II the truth lies between the two extremes,
the committee may well justify their position by
pointing to the fact that the extremes are equal
y distant from and upon either side Of them.
Although no one is directly hurt By tho inyes-
tlgatlon, its salutary influence will be felt 10
Congress for generation to come If it ex-
erts no other influence, at will vt least" ITO
quote terse remark Of Judge Poland, whose
epigramatic sayings are much quoted at the
Capltoi--"iearn men not lie when there is no
necessity for it, Although Congress has in
hicted and will intlict no penalty, there are two
men who VIII suffer from the effects Of the in.
yestigailon, all that their most yhidicliye enc
mics could desire. Vice President Collax and
Senator Patterson, both OF whom have wrecked
the reputation VI lifetime in their mistaken
Efforts to dlsprove-what might have been
more easily Justihed-their small participation
10 'be MOolller profits Whether Justly or un
Justly, they both rest under the implication Of
having attempted to avoid the truth by retreat
ING Dehind lalSehood' Both Of them will leave
'he senate Tomorrow with this dishonorablc
su'ih ooseurihs their otherwise uniarnished
recofus' lnat ooth OF them ieel the full
".isut Vi Tue ourueh resting upon them, Is
P"iniu'iy e'lneh'' Inc cares OF iull twenty
years seem u nave stamped themselves upon
N'eir iaces'
'o"ie i,'''e asu'e'nent Is occasloned here by
'ne 'ae' 'ha' Judge Poland hnds himself the
uneApee'cu possesSor oil a lew shares OF the IA
'"uu' doOi'ier sl'cA' "hich he can lind no one
"A.i"s 10 re'l"'m' IL VIII he recolIected that
u ~ '"o piosr'>N VI inc investigation, Hon
M ~ heiley demanded oil Ames that ii he
neiu any STOCK belonging to him. 1t be placed
=" Tue CUSTODY oil tue committee whereupon
1''''es nAnueu over zen shares to Judge Poland,
us ''e property oi helIey-helley, OF course,
aenS'"g Tue ownership. Alter the committee
n"u repor'tu' JUDGE Poland asked Ames what
TIC snou'u 10 Win the stock IN question. Ames
'eP''eu 'na' !. was innaterial to HIM, but sug-
s'>'eu' as II belonged 10 helley, 1t had better
NC StNcn u MN helley SWearS that II does not
o'ions 70 num- ana that he VIII have nothing
70 10 win II, Inc Judge says that he does
no' want 70 DC investigated Tor holding Mo
ollier stock' and 50 has deposited it with the
sergeant atarms OF the House. That officer
declares that IT some one does not call for it
sooh' he VIII investigation by turning it
over 10 the conscience fund OF the Treasury
lnere are dividends due and unpaid on the
s'lek 10 tue amount OF $4,000.
Inc other Investigations will be as unpro-
auc'ive oil victims as that of the Mobilier.
Inc special committee, who for year past
nave peen investigating Senator Clayton of
Arkansas, who was charged with various I'm.
ia"iul acts while Governor OF Arkansas, and
with having corrupIly secured his own cleo
ton as Senator, made report on Friday exon
Grating him from the charges and confirming
nis position ~ the Senate
IN the case oil oenator Caldwell Of Kansas,
tue committee reported to the effect that he was
not legally elected, and therefore not entitled
10 ms seat This would require only major
I'y vote 70 'aea'e the seat, while two thirds