The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-25

/
Three Checks Instead of One from
MIR. Ncsbitt.
dispatch to the New York TrIbune.l
WASHINGTON, February l6.
The last remaining prop which supported
the falling reputation OF Vice-Presldent Colfax
was knocked out to-dey.
The story of the Vice-President, related
with such apparent circumsta1tal detail, In
regard to the receipt of $1,000 note from
government contractor named Nesbltt, Of
New York, who was described by Mr.. Colfax
as an 'almost total stranger" was sufficient
to cause doubt In The minds oil his most
credulous friends about his guilt, and they
were quick TO give him The benefit OF The
| doubt.
Had the matter stopped here there would
have been very I'm III body OF people In the
country who would have regarded the Vice
President as an object of misfortune and Ill
luck, but not as continuously untrlthiul, dis
honest man. The developments just made
known seem 10 settle the point finally that Mr.
Coliax ls no longer worthy OF the afeclionate
regard and respect which have been laVlsned
upon him tor 30 many years.
The bank where his accounts were kept mas
been visited lately by member oil the Poland
committee, and the record OF two cheeks or
| drafts was discovered to the order OF Mt. Col
fax from Mr.. Nesbitt. The record shows that
one was dpposiie ed 10 April, and the other on
July l3. 1868. The deposit Of $1,000 In bills by
| MIR CuIfax on Jnly % was explained by him
In his at ,t-ment lately as being In part the re-
cept of $1,000 as present from Nesoltl, re-
ceived by mail.
While it looked little unusual for busi.
ness man of Mr.. NesbitCs experience and sa-
gacity to send one.thousand-dollar bill by
mail 10 q high official Without letting his
clerks, partner, banker, or some friend know
| of II. and while 1t was regarded as still more
| remarkable that o statesman OF Mr.. Colfa4s
| standing would accept present from ousi-
| ness man having dealings with the government
vet In The face of all this there were many
who regarded the Vlce-Presldent as guilt
| eas OF deliberate falsebood as OF bribery, not.
Withdrawing The absence of both the letter OF
| transmittal and the letter OF acknowledg.
mPnt.
Oakps Ames's check 10 "S. c." was dated
| July 20, was presented to and paid by the ser
geant-at-arms on July 81, and Mr. Colfax made
| a deposit OF twelve hundred dollars In bills on
July %.
Oakes Ames's memorandum book showed to
the committee that $1,000 was paid, and all the
circumstances sustained his statement yet
Mr.. Colfax testified he got $1,000 OF the $1,000
IRON Mr.. Nesbitt. It now appears that ln
April, three months previous. ne received
II.
that on July Is. or In less than lhree weeks
after the alleged receipt by Mr.. Coltax of $1,000
in money by letter, he received another
check for $1,000 from Mr.. Nesbilt.
This shows, II Mr. Collax's $1,000 bill story
| Ia believed, that he received from this con.
tractor, who was very largely engaged 10 sup.
plying stationery TO the government, and
who was an almost total stranger, In three
months time the sum OF $4,000 or $1,000
| month. ~
II also shows that Mr.. Nesbltt sent $1,000
draft to Mr.. Colfax on two occasions, and yet
| on q third he sent 1t recklessly by mall IN the
| form OF bill, the letter ACCOMPANYING it say
Vice-Presldent elect, but had great admira-
ton for him. This Is not The sort of letter
that would usually be written alter $1,000 had
already been sent 10 the same man.
In addition to all this, Mr.. Coiax addressed
letter last evening to The Poland committee,
stating tina. in his testimony on TUESDAY ne
had entirely forgotten 10 mention that ne re
ceiyed $1,000 draft from Mr.. NesbiIt on July
l3, In addition to his $1,000 contribution prevl-
ousy mentioned.
All this Is looked upon here even now,
when bad memo:y and evasion are having
carnival In the Capitol, with amazement. The
more 80 that Mr. Coliax, when the lnvestlga-
ton began, sald he was confident he did not
receive the $1,000 at The time noled. since such
an addition to his income could not fall to I'm.
press Itself upon his mind.
The Credit Mobilier Catastrophe-How
the Martyrs Wear their Glory.
dispatch to the Baltimore Sun
WASHINGTON, February 10.
Mr.. James Brooks did not make his appear
ance In The hall OF the House until late this
af; ernoon. He arrived at the Capitol at sn
early hour, but had scarcely assembled the
stairway when he tainted and had 10 be- carried
to the room Of the committee on ways and
means, OF which he ID member. When he
entered the House he at once lay down upon
q lounge, and was The recipient OF good
deal of attention from his friends. The late
Investigations have broken him down COM
pletely, although he has been assured by his
friends that no resolution OF his expulsion
could prevail against him.
Oakes Ames appears In remarkable contrast
TO Brooks He walks into the House as bold
ly as ever and seems perfectly unconcerDed.
The fact is that Judge POland's committee fell
so far short Of what was expected OF II, That
Ames and Brooks now appear somewhat 10
the light OF martyrs. aud will 6ud more ready
defenders than they could possibly have ex-
uected II the report of the committee had rec
commended even partial crnsure Of The other
parties alleged to have been implicated, and
case Of Mr.. Coltax. The House Is not willing
to accept scapegoats. There has been good
deal of discussion to-day of the resolutions re-
ported Yesterday, and 1t ls doubtful whether
there will be even majority 10 favor OF ex-
pulson, and wothirds are required. Amoug
others who will oppose the resolutions are
Messrs. Butler, FarnsWorth, Blair, Kerr, Beck,
Voorhees, aud Dlckey. The resolutions will
he supported by Al the members OF both the
Pola I'd aud Wilson committees, and by Others
The members who are implicated will Of
course refrain from any discussion, and will
not vote upon any Of the questions presented.
sGeneral Butler has stated within lew
hours that he Will not SEQ MIR. Ames sacrificed
without strong effort In his behalf. BE
argues that II there has been any briblng
done, there must necessarily have been q
bribe taken, and he cannuot understand how
Mr. Ames can be convicted of bribery If, ac-
cordipg to the report Of The committee, there
was NO one 10 accept his brioes. Besides,
there are number OF collateral issues which
will afford members au excuse ior voting
against expulsion, II one was wanting.
Among these Is the Theory which will be ad-
vanceI tnut this House has no power To pun
ish members for acts committed In former
Congress.
OIkes Ames himself has no fear Of expul-
sion. He informed Judge Pollands commit
Lee to day that he expected all the members
thereof 10 vote on his side, allhUus n they had
recommended his expulsion. He is at least
determined to keep up show OF good humor
throughout.
A Howl from the Herald.