The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-10
LAME LOYAL DUCKS.

LAME LOYAL DUCKS.
A List or the KILLED, Wounded, Missing
and Scared TO Death-sad Havoc. I'm
the Ranks OF the ChrIStian StateA-
men,. ...as... ...l. ..,--.....
From the New York Sum, Thursday.l ztz
In calmly reviewing the developments be.
fore the Credit Mobilier committee. several
facts stand prominently out and claim pecu-
liar attention. First Of all, The trlghtful ex-
tent of faisehood and perjury which 10 one
form or ahulher sticks to the incrimlnatcd
parties secondly, the manifest desire ot
Oakes Ames to screen the corrupt members
from exposure of their real criminality until
they sought to make him general Bcapegoat;
and thirdly, q conspiracy on the part OF C0i-
fax, Garfield and Kelley to break down the
testimony of Ames by baretaced audacity ana
lying.
Ames has been reluctant witness from the
start, and what be has dlvulged came out
rather by the stress of circumstances .than
from any purpose 10 expose the veDality with
which he was complicated. He has never re.
garded these transactions as Improper, but 40
legitimate operations by which Legislators
might profit Without affecting their integrity.
Educated In this school Of morals, Ames re.
pels any idea of bribery or corruption, aud "a
most disturbed because the men who were
associated With him In these various enter
prlses-ior there were many OF ihem-haVe
cravenly retreated, dlsowned their con-
necuon, and thus thrown upon him the bur-
den OF what is denounced as great crime.
In all this investigation Ames at least has
shown cool head and calculating Judgment.
He has never. under any provecslloH, a.
lowed bis Interest to be Injured BY resent
ment. or been driven by anger to seek hasty
revenge. The crushing disclosures which
have gradually eliminated In Inc disgrace
and ruin of several prominent men seem 70
have dropped out ct his pocketoook py
chance rather Than 10 have been forged %
lhnnderbolls OF destruction. .. .
Nothing Is due 10 the committee for the
astounding revelations with which the whole
conplry Ia now only too familiar. They have
always been inclined to relieve the guilty aud
TO silence this scandal BY milk and Wnter
report mildly censuring these practices, ana
vet saving the criminals from punishment.
That game Is no longer. possible. Pa6lic
opinion Ia trying the committees more IMAM
The committee Is trying the indicted members.
II they falter In their cuty we are connoent
That resolutions will be offered In the house,
which cannot tail 10 test its sense sterniy and
TO bring every man rigidly 10 The record for
or against expulsion.
The general belief is that between perjury,
nation 10 the committee, the crust OF this
buve fraud and plunder has only been broken.
IL Ia not possible that such vast ano prontaDlo
speculations could have passed Wlthout pay
Ing larger tolls than are already proVeo, OF
impllcasing more persons. Wnetner tne
present inquiry will unearsh s o.neTs .aen VINO aso
Thus far the list OF wrecks lett by the Credit
MobilIer is sadly imposing. Look at 1t fer re-
faction and instruction:
Schuyler Coliax. Vice-Presldent.
Henry Wilson, Vice. .PresldeDt elect.
James Harlan, United States senator from
James W. Patterson, United States senator
from New Hampshire.
W. B. Allison, United States senator elect
Heory L. Dawes, chairman ways and means.
James A. Garfield. chairman on appropria-
lions.
Gennl W. Scoaeld, chairman on naval al
Samuel Hooper, chairman on banking AID
W. D. Kelley, leader of protective policy.
James Brooks, member oil ways and means.
]. F. Wilson, ex.member OF Congress, whom
Grant wanted TO make secretary OF State.
So far as the House OF Representatives is
concerned, these men control Legislation and
hold the purse. strings Of the nation In their
hands. Their will is absolute. They can pass
any bill or prevent any measure from passing.
II was this latter eerVice especially that Amea
enlisted them TO do ''most good" for his job
bling corporations. He and bis confederates
sought no particular legislation, AFTER cheat'
ing the government out Of half the transpor
talon which should have been charged
against their arrearages of interest; but they
reared INQUIRY such az is now started. and ad'
verse legislation like that which has Just pass.
ed. Hence the distribution OF stock among
the willing and needy, who sought TO %
| seduced with greed shsrpened oy foimer e1-
perlence, and the consciousness that .ttls
gigantic system of pluDder was drawing 10
| close.
Mr.. Speaker Blaine has escaped from con-
tact with the Credit Mobllier, but he 10 con-
necled with another Job, which is not mucn
better, and in when 1mes, e55-anu t1e
same crew were the chief managers: he 40
mits holding an interest of over *Sl.ooo ~ Lae
Sioux City speculation, upon Walcn no uiSi,
dend is alleged to have been PAID mr. c,n nnr ,snor
| came to Congress ten years ago very poor
man He ia now q very rich man, lnougn No
hos received no inheritance. Tbis sudden
| transition has excited much comment winch
Ia NOT sileuced by the bold demeanor OF tne
sneaker or the failure OF his accusers TO en-
Trap him In the Credit Mobilier. Tne ques-
| ton is still asked and will be repeated, now
proached Mr.. Blaine on the Credit M0ollier
business, according 10 his own INVERSION version ne ne
does not seem to have been displeased. Un
ihe contrary, he joksd with him repeatedly
| on on the subject, as II corruptlng members Of
Congress was only a piece Of pleasantly;
Why did the speaker not lay the iacts oeioLe .
| the House then, and thus nip IN the qua tnls
Infamous scheme of robbery Echo answers,
| why! o,,h
| roecoIItv "a has been established against these
Republican leaders. Corruption. bribery eya ana n,
false swearing are fastened upon soMs .,
souebt sou pnbllc confidence as teachers Of NOR.
time they TeTs addressing nssssS
;nu hou1e ,emnarsnce. depIoring immortality, and
holding I up the banner Of reform and pro.
had rad 'oapsd 0se sn s,Fs1 and h1snss Sss
canpht thew have not scrupled 10 add perjury
and suborOaton Of perjury to other crimea
hardly less odious. &c.,