Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-03-23

men being found against one. fear that
thst has carried him too far away, and be-
lieve that upon reflection he will see that he
has given too much weight to it. That is not
the cardinal proposition with relation 10 evi-
dence; but the fundamental thing 10
arriving at truth is the source OF the
evidence. the dependence that can be placed
upon it. the question whether 1t comes from
such source as carries convection, or IRON
the contrary source that carries suspicion.
Now do not mean to go into any lengthy
expos;tion of NV views about what char
acter is as concerned in this case. But
in the course of the long examina-
ton which another committee has made.
which have helped to make in company
with the gentleman from Wiscasset. and in
which he hns rendered most faithful and ex-
cellent service, have been interested IN
seeing how it was that the great conspiracy
for the fraudulent seizure of the State, which
had its headquarters here in Augusta and
which was evidently dominated by some mas
ter spirit. nut forth its hands and touched a
class of instruments all over the State. That
was a thing that came tn our owledge. and a
subject of curious inquiry on our part was how
unfailing it appeared if any tampering with
the record was desired, if any substitutions,
if anv false affidavit, if any forgery or any
erasure was needed to be done, that the con-
spiracy that was seated here reached out its
arms and found a proper instrument. am
sorry to saw, as member OF the legal pro-
fessiOn, that the master mind in that consplr-
acy, sitting here and looking out all over the
State. touched class Of men in the legal
profession. who. from certain knowledge that
they had of statute law and certain training
in the lower courts, were competent instru-
ments for the mischief that was going on.
We found such instruments in Washington
county. We found such instruments in
Franklin county. Ifa forgery was needed
to be done the man was found.
Wherever we looked, all over the State,
we saw that such instruments could be
found If a thing was needed to be done in
Penobscot county. if it was necessary to have
an alteration Of return, some characterless
member of the bar was found to take care of
the work. And the wit that he had learned
in that profession, awit which ought to ennoble
man and make him the best. and not the
worst. was made instrumental in carrying
out their plot. And when it had been done.
and when the tampering was over, and
when the rolls had been made up and we
were all assembled at Augusta, and when
it was seen that enough men had declared
that they would not take part in this perfor-
nance, and had refused allegiance
to it. and when the wheels had
been stopped. the master spirit in this con-
spiracv looked out for man who would do
another kind of work, which was worse than
any that had been done.
Mr.. Speaker, not many men can be found
who at the Indictment If the master spirit Of
a conspiracy, will take upon themselves the
task of being procurers of bribery. When a
proposition Of that kind is presented to an
honorable man, no matter what il at stake
there is but one answer. The answer is this ::
''Thc party may be in danger. Nay, the re-
public may totter to its foundation; but ]
will have no part or parcel in such n
plan. ! will not attempt to procure bribery
and make myself part and parcel of tina,
act. have name and reputation that il
good for something to me-" And he says
"'Get thee behind me Satan,' and will have
nothing to do with this
But man was found like the master spirit OF
this conspiracy who set himselfto get up a case
Of bribery in order to arrest the fall of the
falling house, in order to prevent other men,
bers from leaving who had begun to be fright
ened at the prospect and result, and though
persisting in their course, were wavering in
their allegiance. And 50 we had all at once
sprung upon us what is known as the Wal
lace r. White bribery case. And So far a.
any body can learn, only the three men who
acknowledge that they entered into this ar
rangement, that they sought Wallace White
that they put the matter before him, that the
whole subject in detail of the bribery was dis
cussed, and in two cases, they claim the mon
ey was received-sO far as it can be learned
no ore else in the minority Of this House on
that occasion was willing to take part in tha,
plan. But these men did engage in it. And
they have come up now and each has testified
against Wallace r. White. not accumulativc-
ly, even, not that they were all present and
all swear to any one fact, but disconnectedly
to strike the chain of his evidence and weak
en- its force, and seeking to break it. And
nowhere is one man who testifies to the same
thing. as I understand the evidence. Bu,
even If it were the contrary, ask this House
ask the gentleman from Wiscasset, I ap-
peal to the good sense Of men and the feeling
that character goes for something in tbi.
world, ask whether, if they had all sworn
to every single fact together, it should be con
sidered as three men array.d against one.
why. sir. is not character something; Is tn.
simple fact Of three men who stalk on huma,
legs and speak with loud voices to be set
up as the testimony of three me,
against one! Doesn't virtue apd
character and reputation count for something
in this world: Why. sir, the testimony of on.
man who stands unimpeached, whose reputa
tion in business in his vicinity has been un.
spotted, who has gone in and ont among hi,
neighbors and never forfeited their respect
and who, when his character is assailed
stands up in the presence of his Maker and
asseverates it in plain and simple narrstiy.
that leaves no void, why. sir, that mans tes
timony is as far from the testimony of q thou
sand characterless men as is the east from IN,
west. Would the gentleman from Wiscasset.
with his high character and we'll known reputa
ton, be willing that that shocld be taken !
every one Of Capt. Blacks men that hauntet
this State House, should come in and swca,
against hims [applause. No, sir, chsrscte,
tells, and always will.
In the strong drawing of John Buuvar
he pictures the Heroic Soul restinp
upon lofty integrity, standing in th.
midst of the minions Of hatred. ana
lust, and evil fame. and thieverv
and cheating, and the central 6eur.
is the man Of character. Milton has de..
cribed the shining face of Virtue lifting her.
self above the dissolute rioting about her. sne
the central figure in the great English poem
= the towering and lofty figure Of Virtu.
and Character. And no report and no actor
of anybody that merely places tesf;r,ocv ,,,,