Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-13
DIR. COLFAK'S TESTIMONY.


Investigating Committee clears up his
connection with the Credit Moblier COM
pany and Cakes Ames. lie brings uninl-
peachable evidence to show that none of
his rulings in the Chair were other than
fair and honorable and in accordance with
parliamentary law, as respects the matter
of which he is accused. He quotes from
his speech in September last his denial
that any stock was ever given to him, and
his declaration that he saw no wrong or
improperly whatever in purchasing the
Credit Mobiler stock if he desired to- He
bargained with Cakes Ames tor some of
the stock, but when he found that with
the stock he was to purchase lawsuit,
he took NO certificates, no dividends, and
considered the contract incomplete He
denies having received $1,000 from Cakes
Ames, and explains what money he had
in bank at the date of the Ames check,
and how he came by It, His story is
straightforward, manly, and against the
word of Ames, who has neither memory.
fair accounts, nor apparent regard for
consistency or truth, is entitled to belief.
The gravamen of the accusation against
Mr.. Colfax is that he took stock rs
bride. IF he considered the transaction
an honest one, why, it is asked, did he
not say so. and declare that he considered
he did no wrong in buying the stock if he
chose to? The extract from his speech
in September answers that question. He
then declared that he had & right to buy
the stock, and has said nothing to the
contrary since. There is no doubt that
he and others whose names are connected
with the Credit Molilier, saw no more inn
propriety in their transactions with it than
with any other company, never dreaming
that it could swerve them from their duty
as public men, or bring them reproach.
No stock was given them, nor did they
actually ever own any. The charge that
Mr.. Colfax or Mr.. Wilson entered into the
relations which they did with the Credit
Mobilier under the idea of selling out
their official integrity, is not sustained by
the facts. Because they have been men
Of fair character an especial effort is made
to disgrace them, but it will not succeed
TESTIMONY or SCHUYLER COLFAT
BEFORE TIE CREDIT NOBILIER
COMMITTEE.
~ ol n. 80. ,
Mt Z O'Clock. Vice President ColfaX read the
following letter from a gentleman whom he
declared the best parlimentarian in the Uni
ted States.
CLERKS OFFICE Of House of Rcprescn. }
tatves Of the United States,
February, 10Th, 1872.
HoN. SCHUYLER CoLrAx, DEAR SIR. At
your request l have examined the proceed
ings of the House of Representatives for the
session Of Congress commencing, Dec, 1867,
and ending July, 1868, as reported in the con-
gressional Globe. / have examined all your
rulings as Speaker, on every proposition
made during the entire session by Hon. f.
d. Washburn and Hon. G. C. Washburn in
relation to the Union Pacific Railroad and find
no ruling made by you that was not in my
judgment commended and justified by Parlia-
mentary law. Very respectfully,
JouN NJ. BARCLAY,
journal Clerk, House OF Representatives.
Mr.. Colfax then addressed the committee
as follows:
GENTLEMEN: Last fall was one of a num-
Der Of persons in public life charged with
having been brbed by gifts of stock in the
Credit Moblier from which an enormous div
idend had been received, and for which GER
tain legislation had been procured. l re-
piled to these charges in a speech al South
Bend Ind. Sept. 18th 1872, in which after
showing that the most important part
of this legislation had been enacted four
years before the alleged bribery, respond
ed to the personal attack as follows, which |
read from the Chicago Inter Ocean ofthe next
day. "Never having had in my life a dollar
Of stock of any kind that did not pay for,
l claim the right to purchase stock in the Gre
dit Mobiier or the Credit Immobilier, if
there is one, nor do know of any law pro.
hibitlng 1t, nor do l need to add that neither
Cakes Ames nor any other person offered to
give me one share, or twenty shares, or two
hundred shares in the Credit Mobiier or any
other railroad stock, and that unfortunately |
have never seen or received to the value
OF farthng out of the 270 per cent div-
dends, or the 800 per cent dividend in cash
stock, or bonds, which you have read about
for the past month, nor 10 per cent, nor the
tenth part of one per cent.
have said that if twenty shares of it could
be purchased at par, without bringing one in
10 q prospective lawsuit, it would be good
investment, il it was as valuable a stock as
represented; but never having been a plaintiff
or defendant in court of Justice, l want no
stock at any price, with q lawsuit on the top
Of it,"
1t will been from these extracts, that pub
licly claimed last fall the right to purchase
the stock. l ayowed frankly that would
have been willing to pay for twenty shares, if
did not buy into prospective lawsuit, but
that no possible profits could indace me to
involve myself in litigation. Having over
four years before this speech Voluntarily
abandoned contract to purchase at the rate
Lad stated, and on the very grounds had
stated, and having no certificates, no owner
ship of the stock in it, my answer to the
charges then made are the exact truth, and
then accepted whatever odum might be at
tached to the Willingness to purchase and hold
its stock as l then understood it. l will add
that what then said, last September, that
neither Cakes Ames nor any other person
over aya or offara1 IN Give mo on,, ri tb;s