The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-16

deposits paid by Chamberlains Sweeny and
Bradley the moment Comptroller Green with
draws his captious and ill-judged opposition
to the reception of the money.
The Caution OF Congregational COrrwP-
tion-A Hating investigation.
If the Congressman who focked about Cakes
Ames as carrion birds flock about decaying
carcass have not exhibited the courage of
Spartan youths they have at least manifested
their appreciation of the morality Of Ly-
curgus, which taught that the criminality Of
theft fraud and corruption consisted not in
the act, but in its discovery. They did not
hesitate to question the great lobbyist of the
Credit Mobilier in regard to the profits prom
Used by his tempting investments they had
no conjunction about accepting the shares
placed to them, and, if short of money.
of purchasing them upon credit or paying
for them out of the dividends which poured
in so speedily and so profusely but, cautious
to provide against the crime of detection, they
prudently recorded their stock in the names
Of wives, sons-in-law or "trustees, and as soon
as the first threatening of an exposure came
some of them, ct least, fastened to get rid of
the plumber and to swear that its touch had
never polluted their fingers. They did not
shrink from receiving Cakes Ames' valuablef
inducements to '.look into the merits" of
Credit Mobilier, but they trembled and
quaked at the prospect Of the transaction be-
ing made known to the world through the
merciless investigation Of court of law.
If they could have got off with their stock
and their enormous dividends safely buttoned
up in their pockets, secure from prying eyes
and shutting noses, they would have held their
heads higher in the air than usual, and have
acclaimed more sonorously than ever against
the enormity Of official corruption.
The people will follow out the Lycurgan
code, and will insist on inficting upon these
debauched legislators the full penalty due to
the discovery of their offences. Public at
tention will not be diverted from the fact that
the guilty parties have suffered themselves to
be found out by all the adroitly worded
confessions that may be showered upon
the committee up to the latest hour of its
existence. Honest men have plain, direct
manner Of looking at the duty of an honest
representative. When they find him hanging
about the coattails of notorious agents of
remunerative job, asking how he can most
proftably invest little spare cash, they know
that he is seeking to be bought. When they
discover that he has secretly secured stock not
in his own name, but in the name of rela-
4. k1oo% Ia 1&oo cold
himself and is sensible of the meanness and
criminality of the act he has committed. The
people will also insist upon holding the whole
batch of offenders, great and small, of what
ever political complexion, equally guilty, no
matter whether their offence has partaken of
the character Of the highwayman or the pick
pocket. 1t matters not whether a legis-
lator sells himself for two hundred
thousand dollars or for two thousand;
the criminality is the same The philosophy
of the voluntary witness G. S. Bushnell, who
testified before the committee yesterday, will
not be accepted by the public. That remark
able individual did not see why the men who,
as Legislators, were induced to 'look into the
Credit Mobilier by the inducements offered by
Cakes Ames should be ashamed of the trans
action, and thought that if the Credit Mobilier
had gone back on the Congressman it would
have been perfectly natural for the Congress-
men to have ''gone back" on the Credit Mo-
bilier. Honest men will consider that Con-
gressmen should have acted in. accordance
with their duties to the people and with their
oath Of office, instead of "going back on
those who might fail to put money in their
pockets. But this sentiment of course the
voluntary witness does not comprehend.
1t will be seen from the proceedings of the
investigating committee that the meeting of
yesterday was farce. The testimony of DR..
Durant was so singularly Ineffective as to lead
to the idea that his mind must have been
occupied with other business-with the
friendly settlement of pending lawsuits, it
may be, or with other weighty matter. At a
little after twelve the committee adjourned
Does Congressman Cox, who appointed the
committee, or Judge Poland, who presides
over its meetings, deem that this will be
regarded as an energetic and fearless prosecu-
tion of its duties? Let us see whether the
committee is disposed to blast its own reputa-
ton by attempts 10 shield the character of
those who already stand convicted in the judy
ment of all honest citizens.