The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-02-11
THE CONGRESS SCANDAL.
Mr.. COifax Further Involved.
Bank account Tells a Startling
siOry--The Clrcamsfa Eyi-
dence Against Him Very strong
--Hfs Only Way Of EscDpe..A
senate CGsumtttee ee Re efused Him.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-The ruin oil
Vice-President Colfax is only little
less complete than that of Senator Pat.
tersoD. Last week the Vice-President
stated on oath to Judge PoIapd's Com
mittee that he had not received $1,000
from Uakes AHies in June, 1868; that
Ames's check upon the Sergesnt-at-srms
Tor that amount in favor of IS. c." had
never been seen by him; that he was
pQsitKc of thiss- because he, could not
..o0ssibi have receised -tHaf ain0nlH D
money from any source without recol-
Iecting it. To-day, the books OF the
First National Bank of Washington
were produced, and Mr.. Colfax's ac-
count was examined. There appeared
"a credit of s1,96S So, dated June %,
1868, two days after the date of Ames s
check to IS. G." on the Sergeant-at
Arms, and one day after that check was
paid. This furnished only presumptive
proof of the deposit of $1,000, but all
doubt was removed when the cashier
produced a deposit ticket, bearing Mr..
ColfaX's signature, in which the Sl,96S
SO was itemized, $1,000 being cash, and
the remainder checks or drafts. The
circumstantial evidence in Mr.. Colfax's
case is therefore complete. Mr.. Ames
swears that he drew check on the Ser.
geant-at-Arms in favor of as. c." fol
81, 200, Oh June 90, 1868, and gave il
to MIR. Colfax in the Credit Mobiliel
dividend The Sergeant-at-Arms pro
duces the check dated June 90, and
shows that it was cashed on the 2lst,
and charged to Ames's account. On
the 22a Mr.. Colfax deposits exactly ST.
200 III cash in the hank Now, unless
he can prove that he received the 81 200
from some other source, his case is
hopeless, and he cannot escape verdict
of guilty of false swearing.
At the very time that the cashier OF
the First National Bank was exhibiting
the tell-tale accounts in the Poland COM
mittee room, a strange scene was being
enacted in the Senate. The Vice Presi-
dent, after, the prayer, called the Senate
to order, presented one or two comma
nications from the other House and
from the Executive Departments, aud
then, in the midst of painful stiffness,
read from half sheet of note paper q
request that committee of his political
opponents be appointed to investigate
the damaging accusations that had been
made against him, and called Mr. An.
thony to the chair No more impress.
i've event has occurred in the Senate for
many day than when the Vice.Presi
dent left the Chamber, ard Mr.. Pratt
apparently very much affected, moved
the uPpUtntmeifJ of M S1nifHftte z<J
Five Mr. Thurman. whose head is al
ways clear on points of constitutional
law, though he often differs with til,
majority, was at once on his feet, urging
objections. In FIVE minutes speecl
he showed that the Senate had no righ
to appoint committee of investigation
since, if ANYTHING derogatory TO TIL
character Of the Vice President was dis
covered, that body could neither expe
nor censure him The only way o
reaching the case was by impeachment
and that must be hesun by the Hous
of its own accord, without any iNtlaene
from the Senate If the Senate shoul,
appoint a committee and make an inves
tigation itself, it would disQpalifv ut
members to Sit as impartial judges. Nh
Thurmaus argument was SO convincing
that when gira poce vote was taken o
IFS close, only two or three Senators We
ted for the resolution. This actio,
leaves the matter, so far as the Senate j
concerned, just where it was before, an
the only course left for the Viee-2res
dent, unless he can break through th
net Of circustantial evidence that
.gradually drawing closer and close
about him, is to request some friend /
the House to present articles of in
parchment, saying that lie does it 8
MIR Coliaxs request, in order that b
may have fair trial before his peers i
the Senate. 4
THE EVIDENCE OF THE BANK ACCOUNT.