Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-03-05
The Credit llobHicr

scandal, and this week We give our reiicr
a sketch Of the speech Of Judge Poland ~
defense Of the report IL is safe to saJ
that no event, If we except the attempted
impeachment Of President johnson, bias oc'
casioucd So much excitement Zoo Washington
aud throughout the country os this, and Che
result Of the investigation has been 90 de-
throne in the hearts Of the people some o.
their most trusted and popular leaders.
The report of the committee recommend.
ed to the House the expulsion Of Mcs.rs
Amcs aud Brooks, hu, thc committee Odd
not feel at liberty, 10y ihe terms OF Che re2-
luton uudcr which taey were acting, tc
ceusure the other members implicated, all
/ though they stated iu debate taat iho cone
/ duct Of some Of these gentlemen wos very
I questionable, aud that they "o1N "iiinsy
vote for resolution oi cansur' 300 Their
cases.
1t VIII be observed ih't the report OF
the committee has not been "Aop''' on INC
part oil the House o"' was mo''oel or
toned down to vote Cd censure Tor Ame'
aud Brooks which WILL oe i'und in our
proceedings Oh Congress ana The virtual
acqnltiaI OF The o'Acis inpicltel'
We deeply regret Tins action ca the part
OF the House. 1t is CONSIDERABLY uc''er
'han no'h'oe' Out not os wen as noy should
nave done NO one VINO uas reau inc re-
port OF The committee of 'u' evidence s'',"
o'iore H. can iAi' to be sa'''n-d OF nc
criminal intent OF Amos or inc criminal
conduct oil brooNs' IL le1'' no'u'os Du'
Their own evidence ana record To convict
them. There can be 10 DOUBT al the
character oil tocr conduct ana 'hey should
have been expelled
lhe guilty intent OF Amos 10 eh'ang'ing
members 90 nus scheme is eFo'nt' for
years be has been tne mohled man 10 Com
gress' to whom poorer members nave op-
Piled Tor pecunafy "'o'7 "nd ADVICE as to
investments. IL does not appear mat he
ever told eny Oh the pst'''s upon whom be
urged tais credit Moblier stock, OF its true
value, or the amount OF dividends to which
they would nc culli'ed. lie sold o. to'
them tor whatever sum be chose, surlng
them that 1t would be % good Investment
paying at least ten per 'eui' and That %
was "all right aud they locked at The
matter as at on ordinary Investment rely
ing upon his word as implicitly os any of
our readers VINO had money TO invest, would
rely upon the word OF wealthy aud suc'
cessiol hnanc'er I'e sum winch be de-
manded OF these gentlemen Tor this stock
was less than one'hali OF ITS selling value
aud about one'tenih ITS real value. In
view OF Mr.. Ames' remarkable conduct in
selling this stock to these favored lndIyid.
ua's his letters to Col. McCJnb on the sub
Ject have peculiar significance lie says
" intend to place the stock where it viii
do the most good Again, We want
more friends in Congress;' aud subse-
queuty' Il find 10 difficulty in getting
men to look after their own property
No sane man doubts for moment that he
was actuated by motive to bride these
members from investigating this scheme by
which more than thirty millions Of dollars
were stolen from the United States Treas
ury, aud divided among the members Of
this ring Can there be any doubt but
this man should be expelled from Congress ?
Tho case Of Brooks is different in terms,
but certainly not as to the amount Of moral
turpitade involved. Mr. Brooks at this
time held the Office Of Government director
Of the road, aud was bound to look after
the interests Of the Government. How did
he do this Housed disposition to extort
from the officers of the Credit Mobiier,
first one hundred shares Of its stock. and
subsequently fifty more, to neither Of which
was he entitled. Aware Of the fact that he
had no right to hold this stock, on account
of his position as Government director, he