New-York tribune., 1873-02-26


assert that an bribery could stand for an
instant I'm a common law court without specihcaiy
alleging who was the briber. who was DriDeu anu What
precise measure, matter. thing was the subject OF
bribery There be attempt to bride Without the
hone and purpose OF corruptly influencing some person
or persons respect to some particular act Uhili
therefore II is alleged and not only who rendered
a bribe but who accepted refused It, and what was
the specific subiectmatter OF the DhDery' any
conviction which may follow the alleged onense
must rest upon the shifting ana unstable iouhda-
tion Of individual caprice, and not upon the sond
rock Of Justice administered under the restraints OF law
shall not enter upon discussion OF the jurisdiction or
This Indy over oenses alleged to have been committed
during a previous Congress, leaving that question for
snch additional comment the lawyers OF the House
choose make. The position however, that the iau-
II such exists continuing Oense, Is so eStraofdnarY
and fruitful OF such fatal consequences that cannot
forbear reference to it, Since the Credt M0oer STOCK
sold by me passed into the hands OF tue seVerI meu
bers OF gress referred in the report have BEEN
in the Judgment Of the Committee. perpetual and
chronic offender against tho dignity and honor Of the
House aud so far yoltion Is concerned must
80 continue to Che end the world. 80 long ~ single
share OF this sook shall not be restored but shall re-
main in the hands Of the several receivers OF eher or
any them my oense goes on, ana an Derelt o the
power TO stop it, And yet Notwithstanding the world
Is now apprsod of my alleged corrupt mtentons-and
o roepher of Congress can be ignorant Of them-the
nares who alone have the power but fail to release me
from the necessity continuing my oenses by return OF
the stock are themselves without bame' ana III no way
obnoxious 10 the sins laid upon me. The Committee de-
clare that want OF knowledge alone OF the corrupt IN
tention Of the seller excused the buyer while holding
and owning the proceeds OF the SALE NOW thaI Such
knoIedee IA everywhere ana among all men. how can
this in the absence OF restoration OF the STOCK or ia
proceeds be living continuing, perpetual crime III the
seller and not in the Duycrl
TIE REPORT IMPARTIAL AND DISSEMINATING.
beg to be correctly understood; alIege hothih9
against those members of the House who purchased
Credit Mobier stock / am simply following tho rea-
soning Of the Committee TO its logical results make
no assault upon any man or class Of men, but most
earnestly protest against being chosen the victim or
line of reasoning and assertion, in my Judgment UNJUST
MARTIAL unsound inconsistent and ncOnclusiye-cacu-
lated If indorsed bring this body into dsrepute ana
repuGnant TO the Of justice and tr play lmhedded
In the hearts OF the American people. Reference Is
made by the Committee TO the act Or feOru1ry
&C. 1863 aud after setting ont the same the following
language IS used In the judgment Of the Committee.
the facts reported in regard TO Mr. Ames and Mr. Brooks
would have justified their conviction uuder the above
reeited statute and subjected them TO the penalties
therein provided" beg gentlemen to note tho entire
section carefully and critically and verify the assertion
now make that every penalty denounced upon nun VINO
shall "promse Offer give, or cause or procure 10 DO
nron,isod offered or glyen" amy valuable
thing, d" to any member OF Congress"
with intent TO influence his vote on any matter pendnS
or TO be brought before him. is alike launched with ih
partial severity against any member, occr or person
who shall in anywse accept or receive the same, not
knowingly wlfully feonOusly receive the same, but
in any wise accept or receive tine same Mark the Ian
guage "And tho member, officer, person who shall
in anywse accept receive the same or any part there
Of shall be liable to indictment as for high crime ana
misdemeanor, and SHALL upon conviction thereof be
fined not exceeding ten times the amount so offered
promised or given, and imprisoned In penitcntary
not exceeding ten years" Again protest against the
conclusion OF the Committee which makes TINS unequal
partial and discriminating allotment OF tho penalties
of statute designed by its trainers mpli italy to STRIFE
or shelter all to whom it applies Whatever result may
he reached here none doubt that IN the courts VI
the country there will be one law for all.
TIE LETTERS TO MCoIB.
Aside then from the letters addressed to Mr. McComb.
II is impossible 10 infer the motives attributed 10 me by
the Committee perfect understanding OF the circum-
stances which these lettcrs were written and
candid consideration OF their object and purpose, must
think carry TO any unbiased mind the conviction that
motives were very Tar IRON tIo-o ascIlDeu % nv
Mr. Dnran Dir. McCOmb, aud mysclf were cach ahAlOh7
10 secure large portion as possible OF te sheo O
the Credit Moher stock, ana pr0lessoIy lpr I3 SIM
purpOse-uamely, for disposition 10 those persons
%h whom We from were Wiling to share op-
portunltes OF proAtable investment had no desire
ect was to get and retain much Of this stock as pos
sble TO be scd redeeming obligations OF the eharac-
ter named. When. therefore, Mr. McC0mD objected 10
my receiving 80 large amount and entered upon
struggle TO prevent naturally addressed to him such
make the deepest Impression upon his mind II 80 hap
pcned that In the prosperity aud OF the Union
self had a common and identical interest and /
therefore urged upon him that l had so dis.
strength ana influence OF the company for whose welfare
his soicude not less than my own It IA no suf-
O.. Vhf m
the letters which most relied 70 influence his mind
cOncede, contained expressions liable 10 be con-
strued against tho purity OF my motives Tried by the
test Of casual and confidential letters often written hast
yand under circumstances and entirely dt
IC5 speIS md ncde1t3I
not reflected upon and deliberately weighed but fang OH
hastily in the instant press OF business aud the fFee
dom Of that personal confidence ordinarily existing be-
tween parties Jointly concerned in financial schemes
enterprises OF public improvement he would, indeed, Do
a caufiOus a prudent a wisc and almost perfect man.
who could emerge from such ordeal compile ely free
from the suspicion OF fault wish, therefore, 10 de-
cl9e i'm the broades sense of which language is capa-
bIe that in writing the McCOmb letters had alone in
for an instant imagined that from them could
he extracted proof Of the motive and purpose
PURPOSES Which solemnly declare never
Entertained The insignificant amounts Of stock sold
each member with whom had dealings; the proven
fact that never urged its purchase and the entire
Of secrecy-ordinary the badge OF evil purpOses-in
these transactions, ought, in my Judgment to stand as
conclusive refutation of the offenses charged And
above and beyond this I submit that long and busy
life spent I'm the prosecution of business pursuits hon
orabe to myself and useful TO mankind aud "a reputa
On hitherto without stain, should OF It's weight
overcome and outweigh charges solely upheld by the
uncOnsidered and unguarded uterances OF confidential
business communications.
THE COST OF BUILDING THE ROAD.
vast amount of error has been disseminated and
prejudice aroused in the minds Of by incorrect and
exravagant statements Of the profits accruing from the
different contracts for the construction of the road and
especially tnnt commonly known as the oakes Amos
contract The m the OF the country the natural
Obstacles the imitation Of the currency and consequent
exorbitant prices of labor and material, the Indian
pcri the unparalleled speed of construction and the
camorous demands Of the country for speedy compile
On TO be forgotten and parties connected with the
Cre MOber and the construction Of the road are now