The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-02-05
Our Agents ia Charleston
The Credit Mobilier Scandal.

since the establishment Of this gov.
ernment, than that which has been
brought to light by "the Credit Mo-
bilier" investigation at Washington
involving, as it does, charges Of brl'
berry, and very strong proof to sustain
them, against leading members Of
Congress, from Vice-President ColfaS
down. Very damaging charges had
been made both before and during
the late campaign against prominent
Congre ssmen, Senator'S and Repre-
sentatives, to the effect that they had
received large bribes in the shape of
the Union Pacific Railroad Stock TO
control their legislative action in
regard to The Road. Among the
parties implicated by these charges
was Mr.. Blaine, the Speaker of the
House, aud very early in the session
be demanded committee of investi-
CATION. Mr.. Cox, of New York, was
called to the chair, and the commit
tee was appointed by him. This
committee, with Judge Poland at its
head, has been for months in session,
and the testimony taken ny it has
been very damaging to leading Con-
gressmen. The sessions at first were
held in secret, and the testimony kept
from the public, but the voice of the
press and the force of public opinion
were too strong for secret iuyestiga-
ton, and the whole testimony, in all
Its details, has been given to the
public through the pRsss Of the
country.
The term aCredit Aobilier" is one
Of French origin, and in this matter
designates an sinner ring" of the
Board of Directors of the. Union Pa
oific Road, who took the contract for
building the Road, and with the
large franchises ofthe road at their dis
posal, made immense profits out of
the contract. The "Credit Mobilier"
had made a great deal of money
through the favor of Congress, and
had obtained all the legislation which
it's chief managers desired. They
feared, however, a threatened inves-
tigatioD, and to stave off any unfaVor-
able action on tho part of Congress,
put into the hands of Oakes Ames,
and Thos. G. Durant, o thousand
shares of stock, to be distributed
where it "would do most good" These
gentlemen proceeded to make friends
of leading Congressman by giving
them pecuniary interest in the
stock. They did not give the stock
outright, but sold it at third or q
quarter Of its value, with pledge to
pay the money back with ten per
cent. interest, if the party did not
like his investment. Thus they made
themselves secure against upfavorahle
Congressional legislation.
..lhe investigation before Judge
Poland's committee, and the testi-
mony especially. Of Oakcs Ames,
member of Congress from Massachu-
setts, implicate not only Ames and
his associate, John B. Alley, but Sem
ator Wilson, Vice-President Colfax,
and Messrs. Bingham and Garfield,
Of Ohio, Brooks, of New York, Kelly
and Sco6eld, Of Pennsylvania, Dawes,
of Massachusetts, and many others.
Speaker Blaine and q number of
others, supposed to have been impli-
Gated, seem to have cleared them
selves very satisfactorily, but the
attempts of some in the way of
explanation and selfdefenee have
only fixed their guilt more clearly. u.
With regard to the parties who
may DO found guilty under the pres
ont investigation, we may we'll apply
the language of the Journal of Com.
usree:
t.They must he treated with i'm
partial justice, like men arraigned in
ordinary Courts for common offences.
Sympathy and compassion should be
sterply set aside, IF convicted of
bribery under the present investiga-
tiop, we invoke against them the full
measure of the penalties. And here
they are: A fine of three times tho
amount offered or gwen, and impris-
opment in the penitentiary for pot
more than three years !; forfeiture of
Office and perpetual disqualification
from holding aRy office Of honor,
trust or profit under the United.
States. This is the law Of the land.
approved February, 1853. We de-
mand that it be enforced. Govern
ment is severe in dealing out terrors
to little offenders. The promptitude
and mercilessness of Government pros
ecutioas in minor cases is proverbial
Why should this law against bribery
of all the laws of the republic, be
considered obsolete? Are the men
who make the laws to be the only
persons allowed to break them with
inpunity? If SO, then justice is o
farce and the repablic is fraud, and