The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-28
BLACK FRIDAY.
THE FIRST SCANDAL 4 WHICH
sHADowED THE WHITE
HOUSE.
Mr.. Cox Revives Some Unpleasant
"Reminiscences Concerning Jim
Fisk, Jay Gould and q. 8.
Grant.

QlSregaTu Inc SuUpbnd Ol tue w dSHlugtOu
supreme court in the Belknap- Marsh case
Mr.. Cox let 10 some light on the Black
Friday scandal and the presidents COM
plcity therein. We quote from the Con-
gressional Record of the Sth:
Mr.. Cox.-Tbe suspicion of rascality in
the administration of the government has
been in mems mind for good many years.
After all our minority trials and troubles
for long time our investigations have
proved almost fruitless. Nearly all OF
them were suppressed by the kind and
patriotic efforts Of gentlemen on the other
side. Laughter [ do not wonder that
the gentlemen of this committee charged
with this duty were little reluctant to
confer with gentlemen on the other side in
respect to these peculiar matters or to sub
NIT their evidence to other and insignificant
tribunals.
When it is charged, as it is here, that
this matter transpired in time to affect an
election it is about the best defense Of the
crime possible. Then it is said that it is
brought out for some malicious purpose,
and when failing to defend the badness,
they turn around and inculpate the COM
mittee for something. They abuse the
plaintiff counsel like the lawyer in the old
story. This mode of defense does not look
like the high moral tone of the party which
is claimed to be based on moral ideas,
Laughter.
But, Mr. Speaker, | was about to say
that we have had investigations heretofore
under Republican auspices. | served two
months on the committee on the BLACK
Friday" panic. We had to 60 up and
down Wall street and Broad street; and
we rushed from Washington county, Penn
sylvania to Washington City, District of
Columbia, TO obtain our proofs. We un
earthed much that was Infamous We
brought matters almost up to the very por
tails Of power? How were we treated then?
have at last accidentally found in my COM
mittee- room the journal of the currency
committee. 1t was under the authority of
that committee that this Black Friday
was examined. / have an abstract here
which | will give you now, and | do not
care whether it affects the New Hampshire
election or not. Great laughter 1t
ought to effect it, 1t ought to make
honest men vote for the Democratic party
this year Applause.
Now, what is the record? On the lst
of February, 1870, after certain revela-
tions, Mr.. Cox offered resolution that the
chairman of the committee on banking
and currency should confer either person
ally or 10 writing with the president of the
United States in reference to the testimo-
ny given before the committee referring
to him or his family, and that the presi
dent be respectfully requested to state
whether, after considering the matter, he
desired to be heard before the committee,
or otherwise, with reference to said evil
That rnSOlrtinp anroaI n
On the 4th of February Mr.. Garfield.
the chalrna an, reported that he had, in
pursuance of instructions, called upon
President Grant aud stated TO him that in
some of the testimony given before the
committee personal reference was made to
himself and to some of the members of his
family and inquired whether he desired to
make any suggestions or statements con
corning the same.
MI Garfield also reported
The president desired me to expires:
his thanks to the committee for theil
courtesey, and to say that he preferred
not to see the testimony nor to make any
suggestions or statements in reference Il
it during the progress Of the investiga
ton.
Nhereupon Mr.. Cox offered the follow
ing resolution;
Resolved, That the committee summon
the president Of the United States.
Ga motion, the consideration Of IN
resolution was postponed.
On the 9Th of February NJ. Cox move
to summon General Dent, and Mr.. Jone
moved TO summon Mrs. Corbin. The cor
sideration Of the resolution was postpone
to the Sth of February, and on that day
after great deal of trouble and trial, tn
motion of Mr.. Cox to summon the pres
dent was taken up.
Mr. Coburn, a Republican. moved t
amend by requesting the president to az
pear before the committee 20 testify. Tn
amendment was lost 10y the following vote
Democrats in itaIicS
Yeas-Messrs. Coburn, Lash, Cor an
Jones'.
Nays-Messrs Judd, Smith Pache,
Burchard, and the chairman, Mr.. Gal
ield-5,
The vote then was then taken on tn
original resolution offered Dy Mr.. Cox.
was lost as follows, Democrats in itaic
Yeas-Messers. Coz and JoneS-2.
Nays-Messrs Judd, Coburn. Smith
Packer, Lash, Burchard, aud the chat
man, Mr.. Garfield.
The reason given for not requesting {
SumnOuluR the president was tnaJ
claimed to be a coordinate branch of Il
government, and there was no way
reaching him so as to obtain his testimon
We could only impeach, not investigate |
his own evidence. In spite of the prec
dents of Jefferson and Lincoln, who ha
appeared before congressional commtte,
without objection, they refused to summc
him. They voted 1t down, as also IL
motion to summon Mrs Corbin, Gen. Der
and Mrs Grant On the 9th of Februar
1870, the motion Of Mr. Jones to summC
Mrs. Corbin was taken up, and it was 10
by the following vote:
Yeas Messrs Coz, Jones' and Burcl
ard-3.
Nays Messrs. Judd, Smith, Packe
Lash, and chairman, (Garfed)-5.
Mr.. Jones moved that the testimony
Mrs Grant be taken. Lost by the folio,
ing vote:
Yeas-Messrs. Coz and Jones.
Nays-Messrs. Smith, Judd, Packe
Lash, Burchard, and the chairman, (Ga
feld)-6
Mr.. Cox's resolution to summon Ge
Dent was then taken up and lost by Il
following vote
Yeas-Messrs. Packer, Lash, Cox al
JONES'
Nays-Messrs. Judd, Smith, BURGLAR
aud the chairman, (Gar6eld)-4
Thus the house will see how Republic
Investigations proceeded and whv m