The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-09
The National Scandal.

i rs NtIlOu11 sJSebAiSS<sA'
The New.York Tribune Of Tuesday ac-
conplisbes the great feat OF giving some
three of its large pages Of the testimony IN
the.case of the CIGdit-Mobilicr, transmitted
by telegraph from Washington. THIS 'cs.,-
mony conclusively proves that the Crealt-
Mobilier stock was used by OAHE7 A&tS 10
influence the legislation Of Congress. AS
pithily put by the New York Times: aMEs
",nakes It perfectly clear that ne "Sned
"to interest congressman i'll his scheme
"for the sake of their influence, believing
"tbat they would look after their oon bust
"ness better than after that Of other people,"
1t appears that the Union Pacific railroad
was in feeble condition, and great effort
was needed to bring it out. The scheme h;i
upon was to place in Mr.. AAEs's hands The
was president of the roadl q certain amount
Of Creiit-Mobilicr stock to be used at hts
discretion--of course to influence members
of Congress to "push through" lcgls'a-
ton wanted to lit the Union Pacific railroad
ont of the slough. McCoMB, largely interest
ed, was opposed to this, and out CT the diff
ference between him and AAEs probably ulti-
mately comes the exposure. McCoMB got at
the names of persons who were tainted with
the stock by hearing AMFs read them out
and furtively copying them.
AMgs's testimony is All attempted rcbutrer
Of McCoMB's tcStimony-a re5utter which
confirms the main points Of the testimony,
TUT which is intended rs defence Of what
was DONE AMEs says he saw no wrong IN
what was done. 81 intended nothing that
should brand me with disgrace" said he.
Taking the testimony Of the two men, it
may be concluded that the stock was de-
lvefed or promised to be delivered to men,
hers OF Congress without fair equivalent
,, e., the sum charged was below the value Of
the stock, and payment for twas not required,
and made only in few cases, the stock not
paid for being left in Mr.. AMEs's hands until
sufficient dividends accumulated to pay for it.
The manner in which the transaction was
conducted. according to AMEs's confession.
proves its illicit nature. The back door
seemed to be lett open. Mcssrs. WILSON.
DAWES, BLAINE, and others paid money DIR.
WILSON for Mrs. WILSON Christmas pre-
sent of $1,000 10 Credit-Mobilier); and
this stock was held so loosely at the will of
the purchasers that months after, when they
got wind of little sulphur and saw few
stray lights Of suddenly-ignitcd matches OH
the track, they, like JUDAS, wanted to return
the bribe--they did not want to have any
a. ,,.:tt thnyy bod rs
much they never would have touched it.
hMEs saws, for instance: 81 know lie DIR.
"roLFAS) wanted to get some stock, and lam
pretty confident he paid ME for it, though
"'itwas never transferred 10 him nor eau
Il remember having paid over TO him any
"dyidends." This is remembering too
much and too little, but quite enough TO
taint Mr.. CoLFAx, who, like the others, the
moment we get wind that tic thing was
blown threw up his stock. Lie was not TO
lie corrupted!
The ullair is not unlike contraband en-
tertaipmcnt Of the bclow-stailS folk i'll the
absence of the lord. In the midst of the
,iollication the carriage-wheels are heard
rolling in at the gate, and the whole party Of
wassailers depart by tho back door to their
apartments. But the feast ia laid, the lights
ale bright, and the story is told. The in
vc.ti.ation which follows conrict> all Of the
guilty. The inevitable elimination and re-
elimination and bunglinG explanations Of
those concerned throw as much light upon
their doinss as the bright lights they left ,n-
exilnsuished threw upon the Widespread
board without its rcyelcrs.
AMEs does all lie can to cXculpnta the con-
grcesmcn. He can do no less. ind certainly
he can do no more. When he says he did
nothing that fought TO brand him with dis
grace" and that he believes the congress
men are as free from mint as himself, he
is saying all he can for them. Mr. AMEs
plainly thinks himself pure and unstancd,
and it is a high compliment he pays those
who bought his securities that he makes them
out as innocent rs himself.
ALLEY, who is an eX-mcmher of Congress,
was also witness and Il whitcwa>hcr He
and all concerned. He declared that
AMgs deserved n monument to his fame
for building the great railroad and getting
the help Of the Government in his great en-
tcrprise. Would it not be we'll to erect
monuments to all the NJ. CTS who took
the c. Ms stock! Would not they feel
proud of such distinction?
Indeed, this Credit-Mobilier business is Il
great national scandal But 1t involves SO
many distinguished persons that it will likely
be Smoothed over, and set aside and cover
ed up rs gently and stealthiy as possible. Ii
ought unquestionably to be covered up.
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