Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-05-08
Central Investigation

" stated that, in our opinion, the charg-
90 of mismanagement, corruption and
REGULATION on the part OF the trustees
and managers of the Vermont Central and
Vermont and Canada railroads had not
been sustained. We, at the same time,
took occasion to remark that we did not
consider persons standing in certain re-
lations were competent to present fair
and impartial reports. We will go fur
Their now, and say that we do not believe
that the managers of newspaper have
the moral right to employ such person
to furnish special dispatches. OF course
independent journalism will continue
To do so. They have the undoubted
power, to pursue such course, and di-
rectly aid-and, probably, with that
very intent-in prejudicing the public
mind. Fortunately for the rights of all
parties concerned, and especially for
those of the managers Of the road and
the public, the reporter, to whom we
alluded, has been compelled to appear
as a witness before the committee. he
then testified, as we stated yesterday,
that his dispatches were untrue and, in
effect, designed to misrepresent. The
investigation is now closed and the re-
porter aforesaid is compelled to admit
that sit seems to be the general impress
SION that its work will be attended
"with no great detriment to the Yer
mont Central managers as the result. "
Even with this admission from the dis
charged clerk, the lender of passes, and
the echo of the inspiration of paid at
torney of the opposition, independent
journalism" can not, as yet express an
opinion upon the matter. At the hour
of writing Mondays editorial, all allie
cations relating to the car companies,
secret service, personal accounts, North
ern Pacific railroad, foundry materials,
Sullivan railroad and Montreal Junction
road, had been included in the testimony
then offered, and we had carefully read
abstracts as we'll as full reports of the
testimony. If we were ever ready to
express an opinion thereon-unless, be-
fore forming and expressing our opinion,
we had waited to see what view some
other newspaper took of the case, as the
manner of some is--then was the timely
and proper occasion. We have indie
pendence enCugh-and we trust we al
ways shall haye-to be enabled to form
and express an opinion without waiting
TO ascertain the drift Of public opinion.
1t mattered not to us how the investiga-
ton ended, except in so far as the fair
fame of Vermont, her trusted citizens
and the general interests of the public
and the State were concerned. The in
vestigation is now, as we have already
said, closed, and we have nothing to take
back from that which we said Monday
morning. As reason for appointing a
committee of investigation the joint re-
solution of the Senate and House of Re
representatives. stated that "said charges
involve the fair fame of the State" The
''fair fame of the State" as the result of
the enquiry, is still bright and untarnsh-
ed there has been no ''money used to
influence legislation and subvert justice
in this State !" there have been no ''cor-
rupt practices, frauds or populations )"
the record of "the trustees and manag-
ers of the Vermont Central and Yer
and Canada, and leased lines of rail-
roads" as well as the "several gentle
men of high official position in the Leg
islature and other branches of the gov
erAment of the State in A. ID. 1869, and
at sundry times before and since that
time," is pure, unstained and unquestion-
ed Such is the testimony and such the
admission of the slanderers and revilers
of Governors John Gregory Smith, John
w. Stewart and George w. Hendee, of
Judge Wheeler, Lieutenant Governors
Dale and Taft, of Wheelock G. Veazey,
William M. Pingry and a host of others
of our ablest, purest and best citizens.
The clique, that have controlled the col
umns of the Boston Traveller and two
or three sheets in this State, have been
proved to be gross and wanton SANDER
ers, without the shadow of truth, facts,
tured and set afloat by themselves-upon
which to found their base and vile asper-
sions. We have reason to rejoice in this
result. Every Vermonter takes, natu-
rally and necessarily, just pride in
those who, by their votes, they have
made Governors, Judges, Senators and
Representatives in Congress. They, too,
without distinction of party,-with, per-
haps, here and there miserable excep-
tion-will rejoice that these men are, as
they have heretofore had ample reason
to believe them to be, honest and upright
as citizens, pure and incorruptible as
Judges, Governors, legislators aud other
officers, and faithful, vigilant and I'M
tainted as railroad managers. We are
rejoiced that the investigation has taken
place and that it had been conducted in
thorough and searching manner. The
money of the State has been we'll ex-
pended in indicating her fair fame and
the reputation of her assailed citizens.
Since writing the above our attention
has been called to the following extract
from the New York Herald, and as it.
in our opinion, expresses clearly and
forcibly the feelings of the people of
Vermont, we cannot fCrbear copying it.
Says the Herald, ''thc hearings have
been largely attended, and there has
been intense interest in the proceedings
and there is great indignation at the par
ties who have been the getters up of the
attack upon the trustees, and who have
attempted to defame the Judiciary and
the Legislature by accusing them of
taking brides. 1t is not whether this or
that policy of the trustees is good, or
whether they have made money legiti-
mately; but whether they have made it
wrongfully, whether they have defraud-
ed, whether they have bribed men in
hiOh nosition The trustees tha Iud,,os