Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-03-03
PUBLIC LEDGER.
ONCE, No. is Madison Street.
MEMPHIS'
Monday Evening. March ., lszs
A FARcE ENDED.

The farce Of investigating the conduct
Of those members Of Congress charged
with accepting bribes from the Credit
Mobilier has closed. No one was
expelled, and except for the more accu-
rate information of the people, the IN
vestiration might as well never have
beeu held. The report of the Poland
Committee, which singled out Ames
and Brooks as scape-goats, excited the
contempt of all honest men OF whatever
marty; but even these two were spared
such punishment, and the wind was
tempered to the shorn lambs. They
were quietly reprimanded, and the rest,
who were equallyor more guilty, escaped
entirely. Every technical and legal OBJ
stacle was thrown in the way of the IN
vestieation. The members voted and
acted as il they we're particeps Grim
mi, with the chief offenders, and that
wben one was on trial all were on trial;
that the conviction of the few would be
followed by the conviction Of the rest
The men who have thus aided and abet-
ted the known receivers OF brides may
soon learn that they are themselves sus-
uected. Some of them, if mon all Will
take lower seats hereafter. This affair
is not over yet. The American people
will vet have word to say. Mr.. Car
penter, Of Wisconsin, a strong kepubll'
can was right the other day in his APP
nrehension that these proceedings would
mot 90 down with his constituents. The
few members and Senators who put
themselves right on the record by voting
for conviction and advocating expulsion
in each well established case will find
that they have q tremendous advantage
when these issues are discussed on the
stump in the presence Of the uncor-
rupted people. A day Of reckoning will
come. and a day Of penalties far more
terrible than Congress is able to inlet
on auy man. As matter Of history we
NAV ailude TO the specific fact that the
final struggle took place in the lower
House of Congress last Thursday. The
report of the Poland Committee recon-
mended the expulsion of Ames and
Brooks this was defeated, and snbstl-
tute Of censure was adopted in the case
Of the former by vote of lSl to 80, and
the latter by ia to 81, and that was all.
In the midst of warm discussion over
the move to commit the subject to
the committee with ample powers, Mr..
Horace Maynard moved to lay the whole
subject on the table, which was carried
by vote of III to 70. Mr.. Sargent
of California, and a member Of what is
known as the Goat Island ring moved
to discharge the Poland Committee, and
the motion carried by vote of ia to
rs, and thus any further action was cut
of. All the Rugs and the lobby Jobbers
were vindicated and no one was pun
ished. The precedent was established
thata member of Congress has a right
to make the most Of his position, and to
vote for or against any public enterprise
according to the favors it has bestowed
on him in his personal capacity. Here
after any steamship line or big job OF
any kind will only have TO water the
stock, charge it to profit and loss, and
sell few shares at one cent on the
dollar to majority of Congressman
and Senators, TO secure any subsidy the
board of directors may find necessary
to insure themselves q good paying divi'
dend. Buying a Congressman is re-
spectacle; selling out by one, sharp.
Honesty is fat.