Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-07-14
Garfield in Ills Own Defence.

L HellueF puTCilaSeu nor agreed 10 pur-
chase the credit mobiier stock which Mr.
Ames offered to sell me, nor did receive
any dividend arising from it. This appears
not only from my own testimony, but
from that first given by Mr.. Ames, which
is not overthrown by his subsequent stale
ments, and is strongly confirmed by the
facts in the case of eacn of those who did
purchase the stock there was produced as
evidence of the sale either certificate of
stock, receipt of payment, II check drawn
in the name of the payee or entries in Mr.
Ames' diary of stock accoInt marked, ad.
iusted and closed, but that no one of thesp
evidences existed in reference to me. This
portion is further confirmed by the subse
quent t stimony of MIR Ames, who thought
he claimed that | did not receive 1929 from
him on account of stock, yet he repeatedly
testified that beyond that amount | never
received or demanded any dividend; thai
none of it was offered to me, nor was the
subject alluded to in conversation. Mr.
Ames admitted in his testimony that after
December, 1867 the various stock anu
bond dividends amounted to an aggregate
of more than 800 per centum, and that be-
tween January 1868, and May, 1871, all
these dividends were paid to several Of
those who purchased stock. My conduct
was wholly inconsistent with the supposi-
tion of such ownership, for during the
year 1869 was borrowing money to build
q house in Washington, and securing my
creditors by mortgages on my property !;
and all this time it is admitted that re-
ceived no dividends and claimed none.
The attempt 20 prove a sale of the stock
to me is wholly inconclusive, for it first
rests on a check payable to Mr.. Ames
himself, concerning which he said several
times in his testimony that he did not
know to whom it was paid, and again,
upon loose undated entries in his diary,
which neither prove sale of the stock nor
any payment on it. The only fact from
which it will be possible for Mr.. Ames to
have inferred an agreement to buy the
stock was the loan to me of $500. But
that loan was made months before the
check of June 22, 1868, and was repaid in
the winter of 1869, and after that date
there was no transactions of any kind
between us, and before the Investigation
ended Mr.. Ames admitted that on the
chief point of difference he might be mis-
taken.
The offer which Mr.. Ames made to me,
as understood twas one which involved
no wrong or improperly. had no means
of knowing and had no reason for suppos
ing that behind this offer to sell me small
amount of stock lay scheme to defraud
the Pacific railroad and imperil the inter
est OF the United States, and on the first
intimation of the real nature of the case ]
declined any further consideration of the
subject. That whatever may have been
the facts in the case, l stated them in my
testimony rs | have always understood
them; and there has been no contradiction
prevarication nor evasion on my part.
If there is citizen in the United States
who is willing to believe that for 1929
have bartered away my good name and TO
falsehood have added perjury. these words
are not addressed to him. If there be one
who thinks that any part of my public life
has been gauged on so low level rs these
charges would place it, | do not address
him. address those who are willing to
believe that 1t is possible for a man TO
serve the public without personal dishonor
have endeavored in this review to point
out the means by which the managers of II
corporation wearing the garb of honest
industry have robbed and defrauded II
great national enterprise and attempt by
cunning and deception of selfish ends to
enlist in its interest those who have been
the first to crush the attempt, had their
object been known. If any of the schem-
ing corporations or corrupt rings that have
done SO much 10 disgrace the country BY
heir attempts to control its Legislation
have ever found in me conscious sup
porter or ally in any dishonorable scheme,
they are at full liberty to disclose it. In
the discussion of the many grave and
difficult question of public policy which
have occupied the nation during the last
twelve years. have borne some part; and
| confidently appeal TO the public records
for II vndlcalion of my couduct.-fronl
his reUieD Of the charges against him nude
in 1874.