Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-02-28
More Concerning Mr.. Colfax's Vindi.
cation.
[From the Baltimore American, February

From the Baltimore American, February 13.l
VICE PRECEDENT CoLFAx's private
character is the property of the nation.
Democrats as well as Republicans have
always admitted that he was one of those
pure Christian statesmen who added
luster to the American character. As
every Republican regards Charles Francis
Adams to be man of unblemished repu-
tation, against whom the shafts of cal
umny might be hurled in vain, so all hon
est men of the Democratic party will hail
with qualification the proof that was fur
nished to the redit-Mobilier Committee
on Tuesday last, that Mr.. Colfax has been
the victim of personal malice and proba-
bly, premeditated perjury.
The main charge against the Vice
President was that he had received a
check for 81 200 from Oakes Ames, and
falsely swOre that he had never received
it or any other sum OF money from his
accuser. The fact that he had deposited
one item of 81 300 about the time the
check was dated was hailed by his ene-
mics as circumstantial testimony that his
denial was downright falsehood. He
has now not only satisfactorily proven
this deposit came from another source,
but Mr.. Sidney Dillon, the paying clerk,
who cashed the check to "S. c." swears
that he is strongly impressed with the be-
lief that it was presented to him by Mr.
Oak 8 Ames himself, and the money
was paid in two $500 and two
800 bills to the very man who has
had the hardihood to assert and reassert
that he had given it to Mr. Colfax and the
money was drawn by him. Mr.. Dillon,
in further proof that his memory was
correct, stated that "during the past
thirty hours he had asked him (Mr. Ames)
if he did not pay the check to him, and
Mr.. Ames said he thought it was very
likely" 1t should be remembered that
Mr.. Ames was present when Mr.. Dillon
thus testified, and did not dare to dispute
his assertion or question him on the mat
ter. This testimony alone, striking at the
| very root of the accusation, is sufficient
to satisfy all unprejudiced men that Mr..
Ames, in making deliberate attempt to
prove Mr.. Colfax perjurer, has convict.
ed himself of having committed the basest
outrage that any man in public life was
ever guilty of. His whole manner dur.
ing the closing scene Of the investigation
| felt that he had done an infamous wrong
to an innocent man. While he had not
the manliness to acknowledge and make
reparation, he did not dare to make any
further attempt to sustain his accusation.
The Gazette of yesterday morning, true
to its malignant instincts against every
one who differs with it in political senti
ment, in reviewing Mr.. Colfax's defense,
says:
| with singular faulty, he involved himself in
contradictions that only make his case worse, II
| possible, than 1t was before"
We imagine, however, that the reader
of the Gazette who are not similarly af
fected with political malice will rather
consider that Mr.. Colfax has proven him
self as still worthy the good character
given him by that leading Democratic
journal, the st. Louis Republican, of q re
cent date:
"He has always enjoyed heretoiore an unblem
ished reputation and that genuine popularity
| which is the best reward bestowed upon a public
man. An ardent politician, and advocating hi
peculiar views with zeal which sometimes savor
ed of bigotTy, he has never rendered himself OBJ
noxious TO his opponents by displaying that intol
erance which is as disgusting as II is ungenerous
He has fought bitterly, but never carried his hos
tility outside Of the bounds OF strict courtesy
those who have suffered most from his assault
have been compelled TO acknowledge him gallan
enemy, as chivarous as he was resolute. AddeC
TO these purely professional qualities was natnra
| kindness OF heart and suavtty OF manner whicl
gained for him the respect and esteem OF all will
| whom he was thrown in contact. He never cease,
to be gentleman, never forgot that others had tn
same right to express their convictions that he hat
and this manly generosity brought Its own ap
propriate recompense.