The sun., 1873-02-19
The Report Of the Poland Committee,

woods Musesrs-Mo.. M.unss.
The Report Of the Poland Committee.
The POLAND committee, I'm recommend
ing the expulsion from Congress of OAKEs
AMEs and JAMES BROOKS and then white
washing their accomphces, have COM
mitted grave offence against official
purity, orderly government, ,publio morals,
and common decency, which every mem
ber of the committee will live long enough
10 bitterly regret All rlght-ni nded per-
Sons, of whatever political party, will in
aignantly resent the partial, unwise, un-
just, and illogical conclusion TO which the
committee have arrived, and will be sure
30 attribute this strange result of their
deliberations TO something quite aside from
q firm purpose TO perform an imperative
duty without fear or favor.
The case of MIR. Brooks stands by itself.
And however painful IL may be to his
party associates and his many friends TO
see this stigma put upon him, every good
citizen, who calmly considers the evidence,
will regard IL as only due measure OF
retrbution for very unworthy deeds.
The case of Mr.. ANEs occupies totally diff
ferent ground. If he is guilty OF q misde-
meanor, as he certainly is, and, therefore,
deserves to be expelled from the House. as
he undoubtedly does, he ought not to go out
with Mr. Brooks alone. Nosuch Judgment
as this will be accepted as fair, impartial or
just.
The committee seem 10 take as the basis
of their action law of the United States
which makes II misdemeanor for any
person to bribe or attempt to bribe mem
Der of Congress or other Federal officer,
and for any member or officer TO accept such
brtbe. The commi ttee then go on to show
that AMEs, by bestowing Credit Mobilier
shares aud Pacific Railroad bonds upon
members of Congress in the manner he
did was guilty Of the offence specified in
this law.
In this the committee are doubtless
right. But prav, IL AMEs was guilty in be-
slowing the shares and bonds, were not the
members of Congress who accepted them
in the manner and under the circum-
stances disclosed by the testimony like
wise guiltyf The five members of the
POLAND committee are lawyers. and at
least two Of them have presided on the
bench, and the Chairman was for many
years O Judge Of the Supreme Court
Of Vermont. Now, do these gentlemen
imagine that there is a tyro in the profcs-
sion so stupid as not to see that IL AMEs Is
guilty OF misdemeanor his accomplccs
are equally guilty? Nay. more, do they
not perceive that the law which they take
as the guide for their action is aimed cspe-
cially at members OF Congress and other
Federal officers who accept the gifts which
the other party TO the transaction oGcrsH
Do MessIs. POLAND and NIBLACK and
BANKS and MERRIcK and McCRARY so un-
derrate the intelligence OF the American
people as to believe that with one indig-
nant touch they win not rub off the thin
and bungling coat of whitewash with which
they have endeavored TO cover Messrs.
DAWES and GARFIELD and KELLEY aud
BINGHAM and SCoFIELDl Do they sup
pose that men who love fair play VIII
look on approvingly while this cowardly
committee attempt 10 bring the whole
power of the House 10 crush OAKEs AMEs
Tor offences which he committed in COM
mon with, aye, and for the special benefit
of, a dozen OF the most distinguished
Senators and Representatives in Congress,
while all who participated in his gifts and
pocketed his money, and then went on the
stump and on the stand and lied about it,
are allowed to walk out of the Capitol
with certificates OF good characterf
The honest masses of the people loN
square, manly dealing. They will look
with kindling eyes and burning cheeks
upon this sneaking, skulking, despicablt
effort TO seize an old man like OAKEs AMEs
who has reached the verge OF three-scor,
years and ten, and bind upon his shoulders
all the infamies of his fellow-participant'
I'm bribery and venality. Why, during
this long investigation, AMEs has proved
himself the only truth-tellng man in thi
whole band OF conspirators against law
honesty, official purity, and public deco
rum Ire has shown that there Is n redeem
Ing clause in his character. He has shrunl
from going very deep into perjury. Blu
where, in this particular, stands his fellow
corruptionistsi
What course Mr. AMEs will deem il prop
or to pursue we have no means of ever
conjecturing. He is man OF a good dea
Of shrewdness and flrmness, and he has il
his possession Il mass of ugly facts and tale
telling memoranda. Whether the SANso'
pf tho Credit Mobilicr will cit stil whil
The Philistines make sport of him mex
Tuesday remains 10 be seen.
However it may pc with him, we trus
there is honor and courage enough in tn
House to meet the righteous demands o
public opinion by so amending the repor
Of the committee as to sink the brand o
condemnation into the forehcads of nj
who have offended in like manner witt
AMEs and Brooks.
The Old Story.
ln.x... . - A, 4.