The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-02-04

ITrom the New York Tribunel
e MOreLight.
Nothing in all this tedions inquiry at
Washington has done more to- epreju-
dice the public mind than the reluctance
of the accused Congressman to tell the
whole struti Facts are drawn from
them only by the most painful process
Of examination and cross-examination
Shutting and preyarieation, imperfect
and deceptive statements, lies which are
half the truth, have. DISTRACTED every
step of the investigation when the
story Of McComb was FIRST published in
September, every man on the famous
list with one or two excepti0ns) de-
nounced it as fabrication. Examine
their denials carefully, in the light OF
subsequent developments, and you will
find in most of them loophole of eva.
sion; but they were intended to be ta-
ken, and by the Administration press
were taken, as the most sweeping dec
laration that there was no foundation
whatever for the McComb story; it was
a sheer invention 1t has now been
shown that Cakes Ames did offer stock,
at half its market value, to every map
named in that list, aud that every man,
except Blaine, Boutwell,, Eliot.and Fow-
Ter, did accept the offer, Confronted
With the evidence that they did have
dealings with Mr.. Oakes Ames, the hon
orable gentlemen next attempt to show
that they made no prtft on the stock,
drew no dividends, nay. as q general
thing, threw up the bargain before it
was completed; whatever may have
/ been tie Intentions of Mr.. Ames, they
at any rate are innocent of wrong =
] They merely proposed to buy stock as
an ordinary matter of business, but
changed theirzn,intls as soon as they
heard rumors of litigation.
At first Mr.. Oakes Ames aeemed dis
posed to sustain them in whatever they
saw 6t to say The testimony of all
parties, so rumor says, was harmonised
in frequent private consultations before
the Committee began its labors, Mr..
Ames remembered nothing that it was
important 10 forget, and could not find
the memoranda which would have told
the whole story of his dealings with the
twelve. 1t looked as if the explanations
of the men who bought the shai es, how
ever they might affect the public, would
be accepted by the Committee, so that a
harmless report could be made to Con-
gress. But the fate Of the man whu
sold the shares was not so clear. Mr.
Ames was undoubtedly guilty of an at
temptto corrupt the legislative body OF
which he is an ornament, aud it does
not appear that anybody has been very
anxious to save him. 1t may have oc
CURED to MIR. Ames as a good plan. un.
der these circumstances, to recover his
memory. He had evidently failed to
save himself by concealing the truth
he might save himself by telling it. A
frank explanation of his TRANSACTIONS
would compel his fellow members tc
remain in the same boat with him, oul
Of which they were trying to scramble
and if they did notsucceed in keeping
themselves afloat, Mr. Ames at any rate
would go to the bottom in very dstin
guished company.
| Mr.. Colfax was the first victim of tn,
recovered memorandum book. In
speech delivered last September, be de
clared: Neither Oakes Ames nor an,
, other person ever gave or offered to IN,
: one share or twenty shares or two thou
sand shares, in Mobilier or any othe
: railroad stock, and unfortunately hav
! never received the value of farthin!
out of the 270 per cent dividends. no
the 500 per cent dividends in cash, stock
and bonds you have read about ever,
day for the past month, nor one hun
dred per cent. nor one tenth of one pc
cent. y In this examination before tn
Committee, he testified that after agree
ing to buy 90 shares. and paying $50
e on account, he broke off the bargain
: land allowed Mr.. Ames to keep the $50
because he had been unfortunate in bu
s siness. He added, II never received
b dollar in bonds, stock, or 'sinoney a
$ dividends" and furthermore declare,
: that he was out of pocket $500 by th
d operation, and that "Ames never pal,
n him the value of a dollar on any &C
s count Whatever Mr.. .Ames did no
/ contradict this testimony at the lime
: hut he now swears that Mr.. Cola,
il bought the 90 shares in full, and is stil
+ the owner OF them; that they were pai
r for in part by an so per cent dividen
n due soon after the date Of the transac
o lion, aud the rest by Mr. Colfax's chec
J for 1884 70; and that Mr. Colfax di
# receive one dividend of 81 200, paid b
= a check to rs G. or bearer" on th
Sergeant-at Arms of the House of Rer
e resentatives. This officer confirms ih
n statement as to the check Mr. Allison
I formerly member of Congress fron
i Iowa, and now Senator-elect from tina
/ State, was also very, emphatic an,
$ sweeping in his denials please dis
e claim on my BEHALF" be te'egraphed t
e i'riesd, ''any shareholding or interes
: in the Credit Mobilier or Union Pacifi
! stocks have not had any, and hav
y not derived any profit therefrom. ;" Ye
t Mr. Ames, having examined his memo
e Erandum book, now testifies
e "Mr. Allison agreed to huy 10 share
of Credit Moblier stock; / received hi
dividends of so per cent bonds on tha
stock, which sold at 81, and he paid M
e the difference in cash; in June he re
: ceived dividend of $780,"
With Mr.. Dawes. MIR Kelley, ant
i Gen Garfield the transaction seems tt
5 have been precisely similar; with Mr
/ Schofield it was perhaps the same; bu
e here the witness became uncertain. Th
i cases of Mr.. Patterson and Mr. Bing
: ham are already pretty well understood
!. There is a curious doubt, however, a
e to the ownership Of the stock now :
: Mr.. Allison, we learn, as soon rs ther
, were signs Of trouble, resold his Credi