Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-26
man did not bride hi. friends. A man ner.


interest to bribe him. Brides were offered
to men to convert them. They were offered
to those who we're disinclned to do what the
bride desired. Passing to the case of Mr..
! Farnsworth, he called attention to the fact
that the matter chargee against him took
place during time when Nr. Brooks was
not member Of Congress, and when he was
under no greater obligation of duty in regard
to the matter than were Messrs. Durant, Dill
Ion, or any one of those gentlemen who were
engaged in the enterprise. 1t was then that
Mr.. Brooks first made the negotiation of
credit mobilier stock. The subsequent trans
fer Of this stock by Mr.. Brooks to his son.in.
law, Mr.. Nelson, was only proof his ex-
treme delicacy in not wishing to be connected
personally with the matter while he was a
government director. Besides 1t was the
most natural thing in the world for man to
look after the interest of his own kith and
kind. The people had been told so very of.
ten within the past year, in respect to per-
sons higher in Office than Brooks. Iaugh-
ter.) If this transfer to Nelson had been an
attempt on the part Of Mr.. Brooks to cover
up bad transaction, he never would have
selected his son in law. No man, he was
going to say with sense enough to be mem-
Der of congress, that was not putting it very
high, Caughter) but with sense enough to be
a county justice of the peace, that was better
Qaughter) would ever have resorted to SO
timsey a dodge as to select his son in law to
cover up bad transaction. To his mind, on
the face of it, it was not badge of fraud but
a badge of fair dealings. and it would be so
regarded by every sensible judicial tribunal
in the land. He did not wish to be under
stood as approving Of this matter in all its
length and breadth. He thought that the
purchase of credit mobilier stock by members
OF Congress very impudent thing, but he
did not propose himself to cast a stone ct
those who did it. lie did not think that it
was precisely the right thing to continue that
sort of machine that might have been inqui-
tous, but if so the House should go back to
and punish the men who made the contri-
vance. Let the men who contrived the niq-
uity be taken up and expelled, if there were
such in the House, instead of evpelling one
man because he boughtit.
After passing eulogies on the character Of
Messrs. Ames and Brooks, he remarked that
it had been said that ISLANDER loves shin
ing mark" 1t was so in this case. Men who
had been chairmen Of committees of the
House, who had been regarded as leaders CT
the House, and whom he had always believed
and still believes o-day TO be among the best
men of the House, had been singled out in
this case. He was not as he was about to
leave the hall, going to throw stones at those
men. 1t was most deplorable that such men
should be singled out for these shafts. He
reminded the House some men compound
the sins they are inclined to, By daming those
they have no mind to-" and 80 the vicious
people, men not half so good as those they
condemn, would compound for sins ten times
worse, and would justify in their conscience
the sins they commit, if they could but drag
down to their own level bright and shining
mark This question, after all, resolved it.
self into single question: Whether the
stock of the Credit Mobilier was contraband
property?
The House was permitted to take it for
granted that that property, as property, did
not corrupt or faint the holder, and they were
then driven to examine the conclusion of the
committee to wit: Whether there was brib.
cry? Ga that question he would say no more.
After few further remarks, the hammer
fell, and Mr.. Merrick, one of the Democratic
members Of the select committee, took the
floor. He expressed regret at finding himself
in the painful position of defending the re-
port OF the committee, particularly that part
IN which the committee was supposed to
have whtewashed other members who had
received Credit Mobilicr stock.
The Speaker laid before the House the
Presidents message in reference to Louis
ana.
The message having been read Mr.. Mercy
of Louisiana, moved its reference to the Ju-
dietary Committee.
MIR. Cox of New York, moved to lay the
message on the table, so as to take it up at
any time.
Mr.. Potter Of New York. member Of the
Judiciary Committe, said the committee had
four cases of impeachment before it, One of
them involved this very question, and he as
sured the House. as his conviction thatif hia
message was sent to that committee, there
would be no action on it daring this Congress.
MIR. Cox's motion was rejected.
The message was thea referred to the Jul
dietary Commute, with leave to sit during the
session of the House and report at any time.
Mr.. Poland then moved a recess till : 80
O'Clock, with the statement that he would not
call for vote tonight, but that the session
should be for debate only, on the pending
resolution.
Amid good deal of confusion and yari-
ETY. of propositions and suggestions, the
House at o'clock took recess till 80
o'clock.
The evening session will be for debate
only. No business whatever will be trans
acted.