The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-06-25
JUDGE BLACKS CHARITY FOR A FALLEN
FRIEND.
HIS LETTER ON GARF1ELD's CASE, WRITTEN
THREE DAYS BEFORE THE REPORT OF

HIS LETTER ON GARr1ELD's CASE, WRITTEN
THREE DAYS BEFORE THE REPORT OF
THE POLAND COMMITTEE.
From the New York Evening Mall June17.
II there is lawyer in. this country who
has a constitutional hatred of all public
officers who shows the slightest tendency to-
ward corruption, it is Judge jeremiah S.
Black, Democrat OF Democrats. With full
knowledge, after thorough investigation, he
wrote the following letter, which we COM
mend to the careful study of all intelligent
and disinterestcd readers
"My Dear slr From the beginning OF the investiga-
tQn concerning MIR Ames use OF the Credit Mobii er
believe That Gen. Garfield was free from all guilty
connection with that business This opinion was
founded not merely upon my confdencein his inte-
gritty but on some special knowledge OF his case |
may nave told you all about 1t in Conversation but
now desire TO repeat II In way OF reminder.
=, assert unhesitatingly that wheatver CEN Gar
neld may nave done rorborn 10 do, he acted In
uter 'gh4rance Of the nature and character of the
thng whlch MI Ames was proposing to sell. lie
had not the slightest suspicion that he was 10 be
taken into ring organized for the purpose of de
was IN any way connected which came or could come
within the legislative brisdlcGon OF Congress-. The
stltuteSgullt.
an the winter of ls691O toll Gen. Garfield OF the
charged him with being one of his distributes ex-
planned 70 nun the character origin, and objects OF
the Credit Mober pointed out the connection II
had with congressional legislation, and showed him
now Impossible II was for member OF Congress TO
hold STOCK IN II without bringing his private inter-
eSts In conflict with his public duty. That all this
10 MN was perfectly new revelation am as sure
as can De OF such fact, or OF any fact which IS
capaoe OF being proved only by moral circumstan-
stances lie then told me the whole story of Train 5
oner 10 nun ana Ame5 subsequent solicitation and
MS own action In the PREMISES much as he details IL
tothe committee. DO not undertake to reproduce
lhe conversation but the effect OF IL all was to con-
vince me thoroughly that when he listened to Ames
ne was perfectly unconscious OF anything evil. |
Matchtu carefully every word that fell from on him
nls point ana dld not regard the narrative of the
transaction IN any other respect with much interest
because everything else In my view was lnsignln-
cant. ga not care whether he made blrga n
technicallv binding or not his integrity depended
upon the quest ion whether he acted With his eyes
open. II he had known the true character Of iha
proposition made TO h IN he would not have endure /
II. much less embrace It.
NOW, couple this with ir. Ame's admlsslOi IN It
ne gave no explanation whatever on the IN i'rr u
Gen, Garfield, then reflect that not particl II
PROOF exists 10 show that he learned anything Hhout
" previous! 10 his conversation with me and think
you VIII say 1t Is altogether lust to put him on the
llst OF those who knowingly and wilfuy joined the
association In question j. i BLACK
Hon: j. q. Blaine Speaker OF the House Of Rep
sentatives. F
II the Herald and the sun had any sense OF fair
ness they would et their readers this convincing
tesLllnoly OF lawyer distinguished for his acute
ness In detecting guilt-incpent or committed