Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-08-25


REPUBLICAN, CANDIDArE-GARrIELD's STATE
MENT UPHELD by THE EVIDENCE BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE.
.. tF'rom the Albany Journal
Ever since General Garfeds nomination the
Democratic papers, with few exceptions, have
been pleased TO print single sentence from the
testimony given by him before the congressional
committee charged with the investigation Of the
so-called Credit Mobilier matter, and have ell
deavored by publishing certain portions OF the
committees report, and suppressing other por-
tons to deduce the inference that General Gar
field was implicated in the Credit Mobier, and
when before the committee prevaricated to avoid
the consequence of such implication
The following is the sentence from General
Garfeld's testimony referred to: never owned,
received, or agreed to receive, any stock OF the
Credit Mobilier, or of the Union Pacific railroad,
any dividend or profits arising from either of
them
This certainly is clear, direct and positive, and
to my mind, taken in connection with rest Of the
testimony, 10 which he gives a full statement Of
his relation to the matter, bears the mark of a
conscientious purpose to speak nothing but the
truth No person testified against him or in any
manner brought the truth of his statement in
question except Cakes Ames, and have thought
a brief review of Mr.. Ames' testimony, as to
General Garfeld's relation to the matter might be
q pardonable undertaking on my part For after
a careful perusa of the report Of the committee,
Of the testimony upon which 1t was based, am
convinced that General Garfield not only spoke
the truth, but that Cakes Ames Is good witness
to corroborate and sustain him. That the report
of the committee 80 far rs 1t can be construed
into reflection upon General Garfield, Is unwar-
ranted by the evidence.
Mr. Ames was first before the committee on the
18th Of December, 1872, and the first allusion he
makes to General Garfield Is found on page
twenty-one OF the report. lie says; " agreed to
get ten shares OF stock for him, and hold it until
he could pay for it. He ''ecer did pay for it or
receiUe IT,"
Again at page twenty-eght;
Ques,ionIn reference 10 Mr. Garfield, you say that you
agreed to vet ten a eS ,Ss him. IL and 70 hold them o a
receive them. Answer-Yes, sir
Questionable never paid any money that stock nor
received any money from it? Answer-Not account of
Questionable received no dividends? Answer-No. sir;
think not He says he did not My own recollection Is
Quesonso that, you understand Mr.. garfield neyer
psa sn any money o sseTsa az mSnsg on S
some three or four hund ed dollars and called 1t
and he considered loan lie tool his stock and
mere, Pad IGr a Z, ,o ,,na..,,,nd, ~, ,n.xer
an Wiilin0 anderadndu. do not recolect paying
him DIVIDEND and have forgotten that paid him any
Again at page forty.
NJ rssssed ,ns d'ard,, An, Ns ,tns
he received them al OF not think NJ seoned received
for Their soet, and nerer reeered their diridends.
The above is all Mr.. Ames testified to concern
ing General Garfield on this OCCASION and think
no one will say but what he corroborates General
Garfield in all essential particulars. 1t should be
borne in mind that a large amount OF Credit Mo-
bilier stock stood In the name OF "Oakes Ames,
trustee" on the books Of the company, and that
out of such stock Mr.. Ames claimed he filled his
engagement with members OF congress and others.
On the 18th Of January, Mr.. Thomas c. Durant,
of tue heaviest stockholders of the Credit Mo-
bilier company, and for a long time its president,
testified before the committee and said (page
.t..alr A. ia l.a. n.
Ames, as trustee, claim belongs 10 the company
yet; and hare a summons in suit in my pockei
rafting 10 catch him in Ne,o York 10 SerUe ht
papers" Mr.. Ames was next before the commit
tee January I'D, just week after this significant
declaration of Mr.. Durant was made, and seemed
quite anxious that the large amount of stock
which stood in his name rs trustee" should " be
placed Some,ohere out of his hands At al
events, he evinced a willingness to right about
face so to speak, and present statements ap
parently inconsistent with his previous testimony
and it is barely possible that his dread OF the
threatened lawsuit was the spur of his action
Even In this task which he set for himself, it |,
not difficult to trace his actual corroboration o.
what General Garfield had testified.
Previous to appearing before the committee the
second time Mr. Ames had spent the holiday re
cess Of congress at his home in Easton, Massa
chusetts. He had spoken of certain memoran
dun book or diary he had at his home and tn,
chairman of the committee, before Mr.. Ames wen
home, gave him notice to produce it. On his re
turn, lusJeau Ol producing the Dook no appestree
with certain statements which he claimet
were copies of entries concerning Credit Mobile
transactions, and which he testified (page 462
were prepared at Edst0n by his book-keeper dur
4 ing the holiday visit home, and which he (Ames
compared with the entries in the book and knew
to be correct But little further on page 463
; he as positively testified that the copies" wer
made by his book-keeper in Washington, ant
that they were made partly from the book an,
partly from other sources although he had jus
stated he left the book home at Easton. Thes
contradictions prove little to be sure, but Their
, was ample time after Mr.. Durant sounded tn
alarm for an expert book-keeper. with little as
1 sistance, not only to prepare copies" Of en-
1 tries but to prepare" a book of entries well
The following is the copy" which Mr.. Anne
produced:
1858. To shares stock Credit Mobler of A. $1,000
5 I"'ssi g. 10 cash. 81
81, 500
I by dividend bonds, Union Pacific Railroad.
so a. n Ell cent less PR s cent: saas
D $3.50
1t should be borne In mind that Mr. Ames
sure at all times that he never delivered or offere
5 to deliver any stock to General Garfield and tina
General Garfield never called for any, althoug
= they were members OF the same congress, an
: necessarily met every day. Although Mr.. Ames
when first before the committee, testified wit
great positiveness that Messrs. Kelley and Gar
field never paid for their stock and receive
their digidends," page forty,) still it will b
observed that by this statement" Mr.. Anne
tries to establish a payment" OF 1929. in cash
June 18Th rs dividends the 81 600 Of stoc
Ames held all the time
: The pretended proof that this sum was pai
: General Garfield is found in the production Of
check drawn on the sergeant-at-arms. The FOL
Q lowing is the language OF the check page egh
a hundred and tifty-three);
"JusE %, 1868
PAY A. or bearer ss2s, and charge TO my account.
"OAKKs AAKs."