Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1873-01-30
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WHEN the charge was made last sum-
mer against certain eminent members of
Congress that they had been bribed to
vote in favor Of the Pacific Railroad,
every Intelligent man probably felt that
the charge was untrue. The bribery of
Speaker Blaine was said to have been
proved He promptly and fully de-
MED II and It Is evident that he told only
the truth. The late Mr.. f. D. Eliot was
among those named. He was man of
singular purity of character; and those
who knew him could only pity the party
fefocity that did not spare him. It now
appears to everybody that the charge was
as false as his friends knew it to be at the
time, and simply because of his charac-
ter. Mr.. Boutwell,, also, one of the most
spotless of our public men, was assailed
by the same infamous Islander. It was
wholly without Justification. Mr.. Dawes
was aspersed. But the evidence shows
how unjustly. There are other gentle
men who were involved in the charges.
But although they had to do with Mr..
Oakes Ames and his stock, it is entirely
unnecessary to suppose, and it is certain
ly not yet proved, that it was with any
Colfax, for instance, would not and could
not be bribed is as plain proposition as
could be imagined.
Nobody can doubt his statement before
the committee. He had long been, as is
well known, friend of the Pacific Road,
and one day Mr.. Ames offered to sell him
some stock In the Credit Mobilier. After
some inquiries Mr.. Colfax said that he
should like to buy, but that he had no
money. Mr.. Ames replied that he would
sell him twenty shares ct par il he would
pay also interest until the first payment.
Mr.. Colfax agreed, thinking, as he most
naturally and honestly might, that there
was no more probability of Congressional
legislation upon the Pacific Railroad than
upon any other chartered company-a
national bank or mandatory. Some
time afterward Mr.. Colfax paid five hun
dred dollars upon his contract, but he re-
cefved no dividends and no certificates of
stock. Presently he heard of difficult
ties among the managers and probable
lawsuits, and he instantly told Mr.. Ames
that he must recede entirely from the
transaction. A year afterward Mr.. Ames
failed, and Mr.. Colfax told him not to
think more of the five hundred dollars,
the loss Of which is the net result to the
Vice-P President of the Credit Mobilier
operation.
This Is very simple, natural story.
Told by Mr.. Co1fax, it is not story to be
doubted. Mr.. Ames may or may not
have had sinister intention in his
offer. But surely Mr.. Colfax was not
bound to know it or to suspect it. There
are many gentlemen In Congress who
have little money to invest, and who know
very little of good Investments When
they wish to invest, naturally they would
consult their colleagues who are constant
" pod in, ,o;v
such colleagues suggest that if their
friends have money to spare there
Is good opportunity to invest, it is
not surprising, and implies no kind of
dishonor, that the opportunity is improv-
ed. Indeed, there is nothing questiona-
BILE insthe matter until it is shown that
the gentleman ought to suspect the col
league who makes the offer. IF a man
cOnsults Jim Fisk upon investments, he
must expect, of course, to be called pig.
con, or sharer of the booty. And again,
If member Of Congress is pecuniarily
Interested In any company or project
which asks Congressional aid, he should
refrain from voting. But this is q rule
which affects votes upon tariffs as well as
railroads.
If we assume that Mr.. Ames had i'm
proper intentions, he would, of course,
seek to entangle men of the best charac.
ter, and to affect their votes Indirectly
and of course, however essentially limo.
cent transaction may be, when an ex-
posure is made showing knavery some
where, those who have had any part in it
whatever are smirched. If it shall finally
appear that members owning stock voted
favors to the company, then they must
suffer in public estimation with the mem.
bers who, being interested in any manu-.
featuring industry, vote for its special
protection. But that members of Con.
gress were bribed, as originally stated
that is, that they consciously received
stock as consideration for yotes-there
ls no evidence whatever.-Harper'
Weekly.