Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-01-17
THE GRR.fT sC.s.vD.rL.

testimony given before the Credit Mobilior !
investigation committee. We have laid be- |
fore our readers full abstracts of the testi-
mony. We have impartially considered
all the disclosures, as carefully and impair
italy as we would examine the testi mony
presented to us in case for our adjudica-
ton. We have done so that we might, If
possible, arrive at the truth Of the whole
matter. We desired TO ascertain whether
or not our politics and legislation had be-
come so corrupt, that any and all measures
could be controlled by bribery, either di-
rect or indirect. 1t was matter of inter-
est--aye, more than interest, OF vast, un-
speakable import-to us aud Ia all
American citizens to know the fact, If fact
1t was, that those public men, whom we
and they looked upon as among our wisest,
ablest and purest statesmen, were anything
but pure, were not only corrupt scoun-
drels, but the corruptors OF others. Were
Henry Wilson, James g. Blaine, Schuyler
Colfax and others, the greatest Of hypo-
critics. selling themselves, their constituents
and their votes for a few paltry dollars? If
they we're it is time the people knew and
understood II. We must confess that we
entered upon the examination, with the
hope that the picture would not he found
as bad as it had been painted. We beiev-
ed before the investigation was entered up
on, that the whole story, or scandal as it is
called, was one of the foul outgrowths OF
the campaign, and would die with its close
This probably would have been the result,
but for the action of Speaker Blaine. Had
it died here, however, it might have been
revived and made to do service at other
times and in future political contests. The
committee was appointed, and commenced
their investigations with closed doors.
| Notwithstanding this secrecy, scraps OF
what purported to be testimony leaked out.
The unconnected, unexplained reports or
rumors had bad look and tended to cast
suspicion upon certain members of Con-
gress. OF course every one could believe
as much or as little as they pleased. But
human nature, it is sad fact, it must be
acknowledged, is prone to believe evil re-
ports against their neighbors, and parlicu-
| larly concerning public men, while their
| charity is reserved for the dead, to whom
| il can do no good. Here the matter rested
until the Resembling of Congress, Mon
| day, when the veil was removed, and the
whole story is before the public. Now we
submit that the whole matter, as disclosed
| by the testimony, so far as any corruption
| or bribery, or any attempt or intent of
bribery or corruption OF or by a member
| of Congress is concerned is mere scandal
and libel. 1t had its birth rs u campaign
scandal and in an attempt 10 blackmall.
! The whole charge was founded upon the
statement OF one McComb. and what does
he say under oath? Simply that he knows
nothing about it of his own knowledge,
and only gathered it from what he heard
Cakes Ames say ; that he had offered 10
abandon, discaim and deny the charges,
If Ames would surrender or give TO him
certain shares of the stock. At the most
1t is but hearsay testimony, and, upon his
own confession, the charges were made to
intimidate. Would such testimony, even
if given upon pretended actual knowledge,
be entitled to consideration or weight? On
the other hand, Ames' testimony is direct.
positive and of his knowledge. He, as well
as Mr.. Alley, contradict McComb point
blank. The testimony further shows that
members of Congress were not approached
by Ames, but they, that is such of them as
had even temporary connection with the
affair, sought Ames for a good investment,
and he recommended this stock. Further
more, that they held the stock but tempo
rarly and that there was no legislation ex-
pected or probable by Congress for the
benefit of the Union Pacific railroad or the
Credit Mobilier. There is another fact OF
some importance, bearing on this question
of bribery, or intended bribery, and that is
that all the members of Congress referred
to had been, from the commencement, and
even before the charter, warm friends OF
the enterprise, and aided 1t by voice and
letter. Mr.. Colfax and Mr.. Blaine sub
stantially corroborate Ames and Alley, and
show themselves, as we have always be-
lieved them to be, incorruptble public
servants. Hero the matter rests now
what further developments, If any there
are, remains to be seen.-Rutidnd Heraid