Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-02-25
TIE CREDIT MOBILIER,

TIE CREDIT MOBILIER.
The House special committee, of which
Judge Poland is chairman. to INQUIRE whether
any members Of the House ''were bribed by
O4kes Ames to perform certain legislative acts
for the benefit of the Union Pacific Railroad
G"mnsuy, Ivy presents of stock in the Credit
M"biier of America. or by presents of VAL
liable character derived therefrom," or wheth>
er any member bribcd by Cakes Aues
'or any other person or corporation, in apy
matter touching his legislative duty" SUBJ
mi'ted their report on Tuesday last. After
considerable debate it was agreed that the
report should be Gale up to>day, after the
morning hour. The report recommends the
expulsion of Cakes Aues and James Brooks.
Commenting upon the subject, the New
York Sun says:
The honest masses of the people love
square. manly dealing. They will look with
k'ndl'ns eyes and burning cheeks upon this
sneakius. skuIkine. despicable effort to seize
an old man like Oakes Ames, who has reached
the verge of three score years and ten, and
hind nnon his shoulders all the infamies of
his fellow participants 10 bribery and venality.
However it may be with him, we trust
there is honor and courage enough in the
House to meet the righteous demands of pub.
lie opinion by so ame nding the report of the
committee as to sink the brand of condemua>
ton into the foreheads of all who have Of.
tended in like manner with Ames and
Brooks
In the House of REPRESENTATIVES, on Thurs
day, Mr.. Wood. of New York, submitted
resolution ..:hat the testimony reported to the
House By the select committee Amounted
under the resolution of the House of Decem-
her 2. 1872 for the investigation of charges
ct bribery in influencing members of the
House ct Representatives be referred to the
committee on the judiciary. with instructions
to report articles of impeachment against
Schuyler Colfax, Vice President of the United
States if, in its Judgment there is evidence
duplicating that officer in the case that war
rants impeachment"
On this the yeas and nays were ordered
NSSs'''N
100. MeSsrs. Davis and Hereford, of West
Virginia, voted for the resolution, and Mr..
MEG rew against it.
ES Governor Walker, of Virginia. in A
message delivered to the Legislature of that
State on Monday of last week, proposes that
the Federal Government shall pay the debts
of all the States, and that the measure shall
be accompanied with an amendment of the
Federal Constitution prohibiting the States
from contracting any debts 'except such as
may be found necessary to the legitimate and
effective execution of their governmental
functions, or as may be required by sudden
and great emergencies"
1t is doubtful if Uncle Sam would agree 70
such proposition as this. A. the North
says the Baltimore Gaxene, such a scheme
will meet with no favor and even the South,
tempting as the bait would be, would find in
its success stride toward Capitalization, and
the overthrow of what little remains of the
rights OF she States, that would more than
counterbalance, in the future, any temporary
relief from the pressure of debt.
ES- The Charleston, Courier says that the
James River and Kanawha Canal ante. dates
the revolution. The canal was first commen.
ced along the banks of the James river. TO
pass the falls at Richmond. During the war
work upon it was ahandoned After the es-
Enlistment of the United States, the enter
prise was resumed by a private company.
The State soon assumed the construction of
this work, and enlarged and extended it with
purpose OF forming a line of Transportation.
partly by water and partly by land, from the
Chesapeake to the Ohio. The idea then was
to establish navigation along the James to the
Blue Ridge, partly by an artificial channel.
but chiefly by river and across the mountains
by a road to the Kanawha
EF a number of farmers in the western
States have banded themselves into a sor, of
protection union, or secret society mainly for
the purpose OF securing themselves against
the impositions Of the railway companies
Their local associations are called s'Granyes"
and they hope by firm and concerted action
to compel the railroads to yield compliance
with their wishes and serve their interests in
the matter of freights.
Gs- The Pennsylvania Constitutional Con-
venuon is discussing the secret and the uiva
""ce ballot. There seems to be strong dis
position to require each voter to write his
name upon his ballot.
AS Inc work on the line of the Valley
haiIroad' between Earrsonburg and Staun>
ton says the Rockingham Rcyis.er, is pro.
crossing very actively