The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-19

they received from Cakes Ames second be-
cause they did not appear to know that the
dividends would be paid in Union Pacific
stock, and as the Credit Mobilier was State
corporation they had q right to invest in it !;
third, because it is not proved that any cor
rupt consideration was asked of them by
Ames that they were only seeking legitimate
investments, and that it does not seem that they
voted for any measures favorable to the Credit
Mobilier while they held the stock. It is true
that the committee believe the favored Con-
gressmen must have felt there was something
SO out Of the ordinary course of business in
the extraordinary dividends they were receiv-
cious," and that they attribute to this feeling
the anxiety of some of the purchasers to get
rid of the stock but the report declares that
it can find no evidence of corrupt intention
on the part Of any of these members. The
committee argue that if the whitewashed Con-
gressmen had known of the large dividends
they were to receive, or if they had been
aware that the dividends would be paid in
Union Pacific bonds and stock and thus have
given them IN interest in corporation de-
pending upon Congress for legislation, they
would then have been guilty Of corrupt
and illegal conduct in accepting the shares
But failing to discover that the Congressman
possessed this knowledge the report SAYS
''The only criticism the committee feel com.
PEELED to make on the action of these members
in taking this stock is, that they were not
sufficiently careful in ascertaining what they
were getting and that in their judgment the
assurance of good investment was all the
assurance they needed
A single fact sweeps away in an instant this
whole mass Of false reasoning and fraudulent
pleading. The stock was taken by some of
the members in December, 1867, and by
others in January and February, 1863 In
some instances at the very moment Of pur-
chase and in all cases within two or three
weeks after purchase, these whitewashed Con-
gressmen received eighty per cent dividend on
their shares in the first mortgage bonds and
stock of the Union Pacific Railroad! If they
did not know that they were bribed at the
instant they completed the transaction, the
guilty knowledge must have come to them
very soon afterwards. Judge Poland and his
associates stultify themselves when they argue
that the knowledge Of the amount and charac-
ter of the dividends would be proof of guilt
and yet justify the men who held the stock
and received the dividends in some cases for
months and in others for years. They stultify
themselves also when they pronounce Cakes
Ames guilty of bribery, and find that he has
bribed no person Bribery is the giving or
receiving y reward for violation of official
duty. Gould Cakes Ames have committed
this offence unless he gave this stock or sold it
at quarter of its value to these Congress-
men, for the purpose of inducing them to
violate their official duty? And if he did do
this, can the men he bribed-the men who re-
ceived his valuable gifts-be innocent? As
we'll might Judge Poland and his committee
tell us that their report is fearlessly and
impartially made in the cause of truth
and justice alone. The committee stul-
tify themselves further when they sup
press the evidence against Vice President
Colfax and shrink from the responsibility of
making an allusion to his case. Their ex-
cuse is that Mr.. Colfax is the presiding officer
Of the Senate and as such is beyond their
jurisdiction. Yet the keen and subuy-renson-
ing lawyers of the committee must be familiar
with the constitution of the United States;
they must know that the Vice President can
be impeached and removed from Office on con-
viction of treason, bribery or other high
crimes and misdemeanors, and that in the
House of Representatives rests the 'sole
power Of impeachment
The report is now the property Of Congress,
and the House of Representatives can do with
it what they will. But outside and beyond
this incompetent or unfaithful committee
stand the jury of the whole people of the
United States, and from them will come YER
dict different to that rendered by Judge
Poland and his associates. That verdict will
affix the brand Of guilt upon every man i'm
plicated in this infamy, and the whitewashing
committeeman will not escape. The punish
ment of Ames will be approved by this higher
court. The expulsion of Brooks will be en-
dorsed. 1t is proper that both these dis
honored heads should be bowed in shame.
But the jury of the nation will not suffer the
escape of Colfax, Dawes, Scofeld, Bingham,
Kelley, Garfield or any of their fellows in cor
ruption. They will not permit such q mock
cry Of justice as the conviction of the high
way robbers of the Credit Mobilier infamy
and the justification of its sneak thieves
Nor will they be content with mere ten
days expulsion from seat to be soon re-
sumed by those Of the offenders who have
unhappily been elected to the next Congress.
The people are just now properly severe on
murderers. In this era of ruffianism and
assassination they insist that the full
penalty of the law shall be inflicted on
those who wilfully take human life.