Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-02-07
The Duty Of the Day.

The Forty-second Congress will adjourn
sine die on the 4th of March Only five weeks
time remains in which it can clean its halls
and make them fit for the occupancy of lis
successor.
The corrupt transactions whereby two or
three members of tie present Senate obtained
their seats, and which have been proven by
irrefragable testimony, imperatvely demand
the p onpt expulsion from that body of Cald-
well and Clayton, not to speak of Harlan,
whose case does not involve SO much turpitude
as theirs
Patterson, of New Hampshire, should not
only be expelled for his connection with the
Credit Mobilier corruption, OF which there is
not shadow of doubt but in addition TO
this unless Oakes Ames is Shameless falsi-
fer under oath, and also forger of receipts
and letters, Patterson ought to be indicted for
perjury and subornation Of perjury If Ames
has sworn to the truth before Poan's commit
tee, then Patterson testified falsely before that
committee, and by letter addressed to Ames
tried to get him to swear to lies in his behalf
In dealing with the question of expulsion
for cause, we pass over other Senators whose
characters have been deeply stained by the
Credit Moblier investigation, and confine our
sci ,es TO the three fragrant cases of Caldwell,
Clayton, and Patterson. They ought not to
be allowed to sit in the Senate nor can the
honest. respectable members of that body per-
ing responsible for their offences against the
Constitution, the laws, and public decorum.
Mr. CollaX cannot be disposed Of in this
way. The Senate cannot eXpel the Vice Pre-
sident, though be is in one view a member of
the body, and presdes over their delibera-
tons The testimony before the Poland COM
lnttee establishes beyond n cavil that Colfax
was implicated in the Credit Mobilier transac-
TONS and his whole conduct shows that he re-
garded all those receiving its stock and divi-
dcnds from Ames as guilty of corrupt prac-
tees Bnt though Colfax cannot be expelled
nv the Senate-and moreove: he can be hand
ed over to the Grand Jury to be indicted for
perjury of which he is most certainly guilty,
unless Ames is himself perurer and forger
As to the House, aud passing over all the
doubtful cases, the proof before the Poland
committee shows that Kelley, Garfield, Bng-
ham, Brooks, and Ames himself, ought to be
expelled. The testimony in respect to each of
these members is as strong as was ever pro-
duced before The House as a justification OF
expulsion in all its history; and in its essen
tial elements it is far more damning than has
sometimes been deemed sufficient 10 warrant
that extreme measure.
Moreover in respect to Kelley, either he or
Ames has been guilty Of something very like,
if not precisely like perjury, in their testimony
before the Poland committee; and their case
should be sent to the Grand Jury TO determine
which of them is the culprt.
viii Judge Polands committee meet the
question with such candor, conscentousness,
and courage as the facts demand viii they
do their dutyP In such an emergency dare
they shrink from performing it'll
Do members of Congress imagine that they
can smother this investigation, or even smooth
down its worst features, and let off these cor
rupt Senators and Represen tatives with few
mild and meaningless words of rebuke, 10 be
administered in the House by Speaker Blaine,
and in the Senate by Schuyler Colfax.
We warn Congressman that if they adjourn
and leave these corrupt men undisturbed in
their seats the two Houses will sink into pub
lie contempt with the American people,
". Y. Sun.