The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-07-06
Garfield in Credit MObiIier,

We print herewith condensed history
of General GARFIELD's connection with
the Credit Mobilier ring, and the opin-
ions of the leading Republic ican papers at
that time on his guilt. 1t presents the
Republican stan0ard.hearer in very nit
iable plight. That he took a false oath
is proven by his own testimony and the
finding OF the committee as well as by
the able defense which Judge BLACK
wrote for him, and which now constitutes
the only plea which his friends make for
him. This record Of General GARFIELD
is something which should not be made
party issue merely The honor and
credit and good name of the American
nation are at stake. 1t will never do to
allow man who wifully perjures him
self to gil the chair of GEORGE WASH
tNGroN. That he did this the following
extracts from the official records will
show, unless somebody can prove that
they are false or forged:
From His Own Sworn Testimony Before the
Poland Committee, JANUARY IA. 1881
1 never owned, received, or agreed
to receive any stock of the Credit
MObilier or of the Union Pacific
Railroad, nor any dividends or prof
its arising from either of them.
From Judge Poland's Report, February IS,
tS73-GarAeld's Testimony Perjured.
The facts in regard to Mr. Garfield, as found
by the committee, are that he agreed with Mr..
Ames TO take ten shares of Brddit Mobilier
stock, but did not pay ftr the same. Mf. Ames
received the eighty per cent dividend in bonds,
and sold them for ninety-seven per cent. and
also received the sixty per cent cash dividend.
which, together with the price OF the stock and
interest, left balance of $3.50. This sum was
paid over to Mr.. Garfield by check on the
Sergeant-at- Arms, and Mr.. Garfield then un-
derstood this sum was the balance Of dicidends
after paying for the stock.
New York Times, February 10, 1873.
Messrs. Kelley and Garfield present a
most distressing figure. Their partici-
patton in the Credit Mobilier affair is
complicated by the most unfortunate
contradiction of testimony.
New York Times. February 20, 1873.
Tie character of the Credit Mobiler
was no secret. The source of it's profits
was very we'll known at the time Con-
gres men bought it. Though Oakes
Ames NAV have succeeded in concealing
his own motive, which was to bribe Con-
gressmen, their acceptance Of the stock
was not on that account innocent. The
dishonor Of the act, as participation in
an obyioas fraud, still remains.
Some of them have INDUCED in tes,i-
mony with reference to the matter which
has cen con,radicted. The committee
distinctly rejects the testimony Of several
of the members. This can only be done
on the ground that It is untrue Bu1
untrue testimony giuen under oath ismor.
ally, # not legally, perjury
1t is the clear duty OF Congress to
visit with punishment all who took
Credit Mobilier stock from Oakes Ames
New York Tribune, February 10, 1878
James A. Garfield, OF Ohio, hsd ten
shares; never paid dollar; received
1929, which, after the invest gat on be-
gan, he was anxious to have considered
as loan from Mr.. Oakes Ames to him.
self.
Well, the wickedness of all OF it il
that these men betrayed the trust of th'
people, deceived their constituents, ant
by evasions and falsehoods confessed tht
transaction to DO disgraceful.
New York Tribune, February 26, 1878.
Mr. Ames establishes very clearly th'
point that he was not alone in this Of
fense. Ifhe is to be expelled for bribery
the men Who ,oere bribed should go ,oitl
him