The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-01-30
Ths 9ailg arsns.
Thursday, January 90, 1873.
The nrndit Mnhiliar.

We need not wait till either the prose-
ton or the defense closes its case b. giVe "a q
general Judgment on the investis,auo5, n. sun
pending in Congress. lnculpsted ihulVlu-
uals there are who will hereafter De ena,
bled 10 exculpate Themselves or VIII SUN
be more deenlv incnlpated. But 1t is not
az individuols thsf we prefer tospeak Ii
10 NOT becouSe Il helps or hurts any party
or anv nerson that we ought to ponder the
testimopy which shows the defect of our
national character in rs strong and as
striking way as it is shown by the help
lessness, in the face Of one angry element,
of American fleets upon the sea, or the
helplessness, in the face of another angry
clement OF American structures on the
land. This is one phase of the reckless
hurry and the reckless greed which, in the
building and equipment of steamers and
IN the building and equipment of houses
and warehouses, lead builders and owners
TO disregard the first conditions Of safety
in both. From the time of Solomon his
saying has received fresh exemplihcatiOn
in every generation, but never more fire.
quently than in our own He who max
eth haste 20 be rich shall not be innocent. ~
The building of the Pacific Railway was
both n public and a private enterprise.
The private interest OF the stockholders
and bondholders was in some sort opposed
% the public interest OF this public in
terest Congress was the guardian Ii was
the sworn duty of every Congressman 10
insist upon the public interest, and to re-
fuse postponing it in any particle TO the
private interest which might come INTO
collision with il. BY becoming a partaker
"A
would be placed in the same position rs
Judge in suit wherein he is interested The
law declares, and the sense and self.respect
Of honest judges would declare without the
law, that when a suit in which Judge is in
terested-nay, a suit in which kinsman Of
the judge Is interested-comes up for trial
such a Judge shall abdicatc the bench.
That n Judge should buy an interest in Il
suit after il has begun and brought before
him is a thing 50 monstrous and incred
ihIc that the law has omitted to provide
against IT,
And yet in what would the position of
judge who would perpetrate this monstrous
and incredible offence against Justice diff.
Ter from the position of Congressman
who should buy stock of which his official
action might enhance the value? That
is the thing which has been done by many
congressman. We care not IN rehearse
their names nor 10 distinguish their DO
litical complexion Give them the benefit
OF all the doubts whether they knew the
object vt Oakes Ames, himself a Con
gresham, in going about among them of.
tering them stocks, and promising them
profits The facts remain
/. That these Congressman assumed n
private interest opposed TO the public in
tercst they were chosen and sworn To
protect.
=. That they voted 70 postpone the pub-
lie interest 20 their private interest. and
procured such a postponement bv subro-
eating the first mortgage held by the
Government 10 the second mortgage. held
by the Credit Mobilier in which they were
stockholders.
3. That they procured another postpone
ment by passing bill against the deci.
SION and over the head OF the Secretary
OF the Treasury, releasing themselves
from paying for thirty years the interest
which as stakeholder, they were bound tn
pay at once, and which as Congressman
they were bound 70 enforce the nav
mtht Of
These things are true Of all the Con
gressmeu who held stock in the Credit
M5bilier and voted for these measures.
They voted % take money from the peck
ets OF the people whose interests they
were sent a. Congress 10 protect. and nut
that money into their own. II thew had
bought the stock at its full value they
would still have been guilty of trading ON
their trusts for money. OF all of thcm
this Is true and OF some of them much
more Those of them who bnupht fine
stock at less than its value, knowing that
the difference they failed To make up in
money they were expected by the seller 10
make up by their speeches aud their votes.
and those who permitted Cakes Ames 10
carry the stock which they we're unable
~ pay tor, were distinctly brihed a. a
breach OF trust and those of them who
have denied what has come or is coming
t. be- testified against them are guilty of
bribery aud treachery together.
This Is a shameful showing. and il /.
most shameful Of all ia this. that those
whom II conyict- show scarcely any shame
for it, Men who only chartered with Oakes
Ame- about buying from him stock the
value OF which they must have known that
N'N' 'iilNla4 dglOu WAS expected tn m
crease hold up their hands before rs and
cry aloud that they were clean. But of
men who entertained his offers. and re-.
fused them on other grounds than that 10
accept them would I've a breach of trust
though it eau be said that thew are mill.
less before the law, can il be said that tho,,
are spotIcss? Is this that sensibility or
principle. that chastity Of honor, which
feels a stain like a wound. and which
alone is entitled 10 be called public virtue ?
~ the vulgar batch Of criminals who took
the brides OF Ames a. a laborer his hire.
and worked in the lobby and on the floor
70 earn them. what can be said save that
with their brides they have earned infamy?
But can We say with confidence that thew
will be held infamous This one thing we
can say, that II the offence Of these Cou-
gyressmen Is condoned By their fellows and
.lelI constituents a form Of government
which postulates the intelligence and the
,lrtue OF the people and the legislators
he people shall choose for themseive, has
'ecome tor such Congress and for such
.gn'tltuencies a failure and farce " y /