Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-27
from the Chicago Tribune Dec. ISL
SPEAKER BLAINE As 4 WHIPPING
POST

accepting "back-pay" from all places of
influence on committees. We observe
that large portion of the Democratic
press, with here end there Republican
paper, keep up these criticisms since the
committees were announced.
The persons aimed at as Credit-Mo-
bilier Congressman are Messrs. Dawes,
Kelley, Garfield, and Scofield, generally
recognized as among the ablest men in
Congress. OF their actual guilt or in
nocence in the matter charged. we here
ayouch nothing. A committee of inves-
tigation, after three months labor, reported
nothing against any one of them. Some
individual members of the House, not sat
isfied with the conclusions of the Com
mittee, introduced resolutions Of censure,
and these were promptly and almost in
dignantly laid upon the table by vote so
overwhelming that we believe the ayes
and noes were not even asked for. Now,
under these circumstances, will any one
tell us on what ground speaker Blaine
could constitute himself a Judge and pro-
coed to administer sentence OF severe
punishment without verdict of guilty
being found-nay, more, after u verdict Of
acauittal and exoneration had been found
by the only tribunal, aside from their con-
stituencies, competent to try the alleged
offenders
But the exercise of such discretion on
the part Of the Speaker becomes still more
absurd when it is applied to the salary
grabbers. The same papers that demanded
the disranking Of the Credit Mobilierites
demanded. with still louder voice, the de-
capitation of all who took back-pay. Now,
if this policy had been followed by the
Speaker, it would have involved the dis
placement from all important committees
Of well nigh four-fifths OF all the old men,
bers who were reelected for of the
entire one hundred and twenty-five scarce
ly thirty refused to take the back-pay.
These wise gentlemen. who have so fully
instructed the Speaker as to his duty in
organizing the House, would have had
him pass judgment which belongs
wholly and solely to the constituency.
Speaker Blaine himself, promptly and
conclusively, and in advance, divorced
himself from all connection with back pay.
That for himself was we'll and wise, and it
would have been well and wise had others
followed his example. But for him to set
up as public consciencc-keeper and whip
ping-post to administer the punishment
which the back-pay men will in due time
get from their constituents, would have
been arrogant, presumptuous. and unpre-
cedented.
When the members were sworn in on
the first day of the session, it was found
that fifty-two Of them--nearly One-fifth of
the entire Housc-were compelled to take
the modified oath by reason of their partic-
ipation in the rebellion. Here were fifty
two men, headed by the Vice President of
the Rebel Confederacy, forgiven, amnes-
tied, and restored to civil rights. We
have observed in some papers sharp
cutlery against putting any of these men
on committees of importance, as though
the Speaker had the slightest right to go
back Of the amnesty and seek to punish
the individual crime-and certainly their
crime was in its essence the darkest and
deepest citizen can commit Some over
Jealous republicans feel very sore that AL
exander II. Stephens and J.. Q. c. Lamar
should be on prominent committees,
though we observe that some democratic
papers that ferociously assail Dawes and
Garfield welcome our Southern brethren
with open arms to places Of honor.
Thus, in looking over the whole field,
we find from one quarter cry that no
man whose name was even remotely as
ISOLATED with Credit Mobilier should have
any recognition on committees; from an
other quarter comes the demand with still
moro vehemencc that no man OF the han
dred or more who took the "back-pay"
should be allowed any voice on commit
tees. Still another phase of opinion cries
out that no one Of the fifty-two members
who. by his inability to take the iron-clad
oath, openly avowed that he had been u
rebel against the Government, shall have
any place of honor whatever in the organ
ization of the House. Now, pray tell us,
gentlemen, who should Speaker Blaine APP
point on committees? BY your cries and
denunciations you would have him dis
franchise well nigh two-thirds of the en-
tire body, and elevate his individual judg-
ment over law, and right, and usage.
The Speaker might just as well say that
the members OF the classes referred to
should not be heard in debate or vote on
the roll-call, as to declare that they should
have no voice or vote on committees
where the legislation is really and effect
lively shaped and settled Upon what
authority. pray. would Speaker Blaine
proceed to practically disfranchise two
hundred constituencies from their proper
ranrpspnfafiau in tho oonoo;l. IL