The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1880-07-14
MISCELLANY.
From the N. Y. independently
THE CREDIT M0BILLER SCANDAL.

THE CREDIT MOBILIER., SCANDAL.
The main attack of the Democrats upon
General Garfield, since his nomination for the
Presidency, relates not to his political and
public action as a member of Congress, but
rather to his personal character, especially his
yeracity as man. What they charge II that
General Garfield, in 1868, bought of Mr..
Cakes Ames ten shares of Credit Moblier
stock, knowing that the purpose of the sale
was to influence his action as member of
Congress, and that in his testimony before
the Poland Committee, in January, 1873, he
periured himself in denying that he had ever
made any such purchase. Mr.. Cakes Ames
is the only witness upon whom they rest this
accusation.
General Garfield is not by any means an I'M
known man. He has been in public life for
nearly twenty years, and has, among all who
knew him, gained the reputation of an honest
and upright man. His own district has for
the last eighteen years elected him to Con-
gress by overwhelming majorIties and he has
Just been chosen to represent the state OF
Ohio in the Senate of the United States
Long tesfad and yariously tried as public
man. he has commanded the confidence and
respect, not only of his own State, but of the
whole country. His acknowledged record
and reputation constitute 10 themselves
tower of strength, as against the imputations
of his Democratic assailants, whose sole mo-
tive is to gain party ends.
na1,a IA w
whom these assailants rely, the Poland Com
mittee, in their report, declare that he had
"been guilty of selling to members of Con-
gress shares of stock in the Credit Mobilier OF
America, for prices much below the true val
ne OF such stock, with intent thereby to influ-
ence the votes and decisions of such members
in matters to be brought before Congress for
action, and recommended his expulsion from
the House of Representatives. Though not
expelled, he was, nevertheless brought to the
bar of the House and sternly rebuked. This
is the witness on whose assumed veracity and
accuracy of memory the Democrats rest their
attack upon General Garfield.
Mr.. Ames, thus condemned and censured,
appeared before the Poland Committee, on
the nth of December, 1872, and, in sworn
statement which he had prepared, said with
reference to General Garfield agreed to
get ten shares Of stock for him, and hold il
until he could pay for it. He never did pay
for it or receive it'' Being examined by the
Committee he testified as follows
40. In reference to Mr.. Garfield, you say
that you agreed to get ten shares for him, and
hold them till he could pay for them, and that
he never did pay for them nor receive them
A. Yes, SIR"
90. He never paid any money on that
stock nor received any money from it ? a.
Not on account of it,"
80. He received no dividendse A. No,
sir think not. He says he did not. My
own recollection is not very clear"
40. So that, as you understand, Mr.. Gar
field never parted with any money nor receiv-
ed any money on that transaction a. No,
sir !; he had some money from me once, some
three or four hundred dollars, and called 1t a
loan. He says that thai is all he ever receiy-
ed from me, and that he considered 1t loan.
He never took his stock and never paid fol-
it.v
80. Did you understand it sos A. Yes
am willing to so understand it. do not
recollect paying him any dividend and have
forgotten that paid him any money"
This is what and all that Mr.. Ames said
about Gen. Garfield under the solemnities Of
an oath, in his first examination before the
Poland Committee, affirming an agreement
between him and General Garfield which. by
his own showing, was never carried into effect,
and distinctly declaring that Gen. Garfield
never paid him any money and never received
from him any money on Credit Mobiliei
stock. he thinks that he once loaned him
some three or four hundred dollars. If Mr.
Anes in this examination told the truth, then
there is absolutely nothing IN this Credit
Mobilier scandal, SO far as General Garfield il
concerned. If he did not tell the truth ant
did not mean to tell it then he perjured him
self.
General Garfield appeared before the POLAND
Committee ON the 14th Of January, 1873
about four weeks after the examination o
Mr. Ames, and told the whole story of BIZ
connection with this Credit Mobilier matter