Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-04

to rob and plumber the peopls. Mr.. Brooks
knew that fact; Mr.. Brooks had that know
ledge, and be failed to inform the Govern
mens or the people Of the United States of
it. He has not done it down to this good
hour and day. Then, sir, for this failure
CT duty he is guilty now; and il he Is guilty,
what shall we say Of Mr.. Samuel Hooper,
Turn to theirecord and you will find this:
"The undersigned members Of the Credit
Mobilier of America recommend the issue to
the Hon. Oakss Ames, trustee, Of ninety three
shares of the capital stock of the company at
par"
This is signed, among others, By Mr..
Samuel Hooper & Co. Why did they sign
that agreement? To enable OAkes Ames to
do bis work Of corruption here. Samuel
Hooper was at the head of Il, s9d Oakes
Ames was his agent in the work Of corrupt
ion and bribery, and yet The committee
have not one word TO say as TO M. Hoop
er. Here be sits to-day as q member Of
Congress, knowing that an outrageous fraud,
If not robbery, has been perpetrated upon
the public Treasury, and yet he says moth
ing about it. If Mr.. Brooks is guilty, is not
Mr.. Hooper guilty also? Is not Mr.. Gar
field guilty? Is not Mr.. Dawes guilty? Is
not Mr.. Kelley guilty? Are not others
guilty? These men knew aud must know
that the Treasury Of the United States was
being robbed by this association. Why did
not they tell Of it? Why do they not tell
it to-day?
Look st this volume of testimony. Are
you satisfied you have all the facts here? Is
any member Of the committee satisfied that
they have got the whole truth In the case?
They are not. They say as much Ia their
report. Then each and every one Of these
gentlemen have failed Ia their duty. For
this dereliction Of duty, and their conduct
before the committee, bsing present Of
erses, we have jurisdiction over our mem
bers, and if Mr.. Brooks is guilty, than Mr..
Hooper and the others are guilty. Shall
we pause at once and make . compromise
on this question, o. shall we go forward
and do our whole duty to the people?
Sir, as l said in the outset Of my re-
marks, we owe something more to the peo-
pie than a mere regard for our felIOw-mem-
bers; we owe something to the power be-
hind us; to the people, to the integrity OF
the Government, and to the purity OF our
institutions. In the theory upon which
they are built we have discarded rank,
blood, service, and built alone upon the
virtue and integrity Of the people. Let rs
preserve that virtue. Let US preserve that
integrity.
Here, sir, in the highest Legislative body
within the limits of the United States, shall
we, either by strained tecbnitalities, OF ous
ofTegsrd for members, by our eonduct set
an example TO the other legislative bodies Oh
the different Commonwealth OF tbs natlon
that will lead to the escape OF the gulisy,
either through our affection for them or
from a strained technical construction OF me
law? do not believe that such Is my Gu
ty. And taking the view that have OF me
law and our jurisdiction, | shah support me
report ofthe committee 30 far as Il goes Ano
l am also ready to 90 further, and renesr
Judgment SO as to include other parties wno
! | think have brought themselves ey t1eir
conduct before this committed, and on tniS
door, within what l claim TO be tne Jnris-
diction of this House, whether thai snau %
expulsion OK eensure.