New-York tribune., 1873-01-17
NEW-YORK. FRIDAY. JANUARY II. 1873

be lost had made speech before the war ID "n'on
attempted to demonstrate that fact and ne'o'
changed my mind in regard 20 IL was OF eours',
strongly in favor of building the road. but peheNee
that the money Mr. Ames and others put into u "ouu
be lost; Mr Ames said he would guarantee that 'ne
stock should pay ten per cent condition that II IL pau
more than that he should have onehalf the excess,
thought that was safe enough, for believed ID MI
Ames although did not take his advice; went 10 -u
Alley about It, and asked his advice; this was I'D III.
Autumn OF 1867 probably in December; Dir. Alley saiu
that Mr. Aes thought better OF it than he did, but th
was safe enough with Mr.. Amess guarantee, ana nc
advised me TO take 1t after this, my wife and mysen
concluded that her money should be invested IN tha
way; some little time after that few weeks perhaps
the money was paid TO Mr.. Ames, and he gave DIS
receipt for It, agreeing 10 furnish twenty shares Vi .
stock with the guarantee have stated; before paying
the money however asked Mr.. Ames II there was 10
be any more legislation the subject OF the faco
Road that had made II rule never to buy anything
which could be affected any way by legislation; 40
not mean say 1t is wrong for other gentlemen 10 o"
railway or bank securities, or anything OF that Knu
everybody must Judge for himself in regard 10 that
A PECULIAR POSITION.
NV position was peculiar one, having learned carry "
life that poor cannot do what rich man can, anu
that man who is not lawyer cannot do what lawyer
may ] suppose with propriety, do; came INTO 'he
Senate from mechanics shop; had home when haa
doing some little business. which found when went
10 Congress must give up; wound up my business
and sold out what stock had on hand; was making
shoes sold my shop paid all my debts, aud had less
than 81 900 over: knew that came here under temp
taton, and made up my mind as said, never 10 po
the owner Of any property which would be affected oy
legislation-not because such ownership would De
wrong but on account OF my peculiar posi-
ton; Mr.. Ames told that more leglsia-
ton was wanted in regard to the Pacific road ;
told him IL any matter legislation should ever come
M, should demand my money back; that would not
have anything TO do with 1t some time afterwaTd 40
not know how long, learned there was some dinouy
in regard 10 the c. NJ saw something about IL III 'ne
papers consulted Mr Alley and two Others in
regard TO IT, did know that any else IN Congress
was interested in the matter except Mr.. Crimes MI
Alnes told me in the conversation had that he had
held Mr. Grimes some stock which he had guaranteed
personally; asked Mr. Alley what these reports meant
and whether he dld think legislation would grow Out
of that intimating my intention TO the receipt
for the stock he told that very FOOLISH TO gNe
II up: replied that should regard it as an incomplete
bargain, and that / should deliver up the receipt
told Mr. Ames the same; Mr.. Ames laughed
AT me: thought / was doing very foolish
thing and advised not to give 1t mp some little time
after that made for Mrs. Wilson settlement OF tue
matter with Mr. Ames including the interest she was
allowed SslI profits in the transacton that money
returned TO Mr.. Ames, receiving back only the money
she had paid but made II up 10 my wife from my own
earnings as said regarded it as bargain not con-
summated and backed out because OF my apprehension
from what had gathered from the press that there
might be some difficulty impending did not know that
il might not lead 10 legislation, and did not want
TO be mixed mp with any stock that could be affected by
il: the matter was settled stated the tsli which
was allowed my wife, paid from my own earnings; "
there had been $4,000 due at the time income from
.I.Aa Iplla nf ha-
cause desired out of the transaction, regarding
10 as an infamous bargain.
O II understand you your wife received from Mr..
Aes o. 900 and 10 per INTEREST," A. viii tell you
precisely how that my wife received Sol4 more than
was paid that Ssl4 transferred to Mr. Ames and paid
the money my wife out of my earnings so that
she might not by it am, therefore, really ssl4
poorer and shall be until die for advising wife TO
buy stock that is all there s about it; then If the
Committee will allow me TO make an explanation of my
wfes property; she had the 800 increased by frs late
earnings in interest for about four years she died in
May ls7O settled up this transaction tn the Fall OF
1857 told her that this property must be hers to dis
pose OF when she died it amounted TO S5OO every dol
lar ~ which she gave away; 1900 of 1t TO the
church OF which she was a member. for the bene-
tit Of the poor, and the rest Of 1t to her own
friends her will has been regiousy carried ou-was
Immediately carried out, thatfrom the present given
to her on her silver wedding have had any bene
fit, and have you Will allow TO say. also,
In regard the amount she received at the silver we'd
ding that having made up, stated the 81 900 which
invested by my advice and lost, and having made
up her the amount allowed in the settlement with Mr.
Anes OF $S4, altogether $,Sl4 poorer than If she
had never received ii from her silver wedding, and had
never invested any in the Credit Mobilier; am
ready to answer any questions the Committee may choose
to ask.
O. At the time you settled up this business with Mr..
Ames, and money paid back, you that the
dividends from the Credit Mobiier that time
ss14f A. mean dividends and interest; there one
dividend s4OO $780, think, which, with the inter
est whatever it amounted to- made Sl and cents
in the aggregate
SENATOR'S PRIVATE ACCOUNT.
O. Mr.. Ames only paid the money and interest 10 your
wife and you up the additional sum, so that she
should lose nothing by falling 10 receive the dividends
A Yes made IL up to her. and at that time 1 had
81 900 In the world, after paying my debts she had
little home which left her when came u Congress
knew the uncertainty Of life, and wanted her TO have
home had also insured my life for $500, which she
would have had of ] was anxious that every
dollar she had should be used to dhe best advantage
In taken away she would not be left des
tue for myself, cared nothing about money the
only speculation ever made since have been in Con-
gress TO buy lot in my town for $780, for my
brother TO planta garden after keeping 1t for four
years without receiving any rent interest, sold 1t
for 500.
@. DO You remember the time when this transaction
was closed with Mr.. Amesi A. think il must have
been in December that thejmoney paid, and some
time in the Winter in February March, probably
paid back in November, 1868 Il may be mistaken TO
the dates.
O. Do you reooect what IL was about the Credit Mob
ier which you in the newspapers which disturbed
YOU A. Isaw something in the newspapers about some
trouble do not recoleet what it wac there
dispute about Il; ; did not know anything about the
Credit Mobilier did not know where they made their
money. how they made it, and do not know to this
day have doubt OF my right or the right of any