Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-16
Garfield and the Democracy.


disproved charges relating to his connection
with the credit mobilier and the DeGolyer
paving case in Washington. As Democrats
make the charges, so other Democrats furn-
ish the ready means for an effective vindioa-
ton or disproval Of the charges. The con-
gressional committee appointed to investi-
gate the matter Of the corrupt connection of
members Of congress with the credit mobilier
scheme was made up Of Democratic and
Republican members. After long, search
ing and impartial investigation, which was
free from partisan prejudice, and which
dealt with Republicans and Democrats alike
with judicial impartiality, the committee
reported unanimously with reference to Cen
eral Garfield and some other congressman,
in substance, that they did not find that
these members had ever had any corrupt
transactions with Mr.. Ames that they were
not able to find that their official action as
members of congress had in any way been
affected by their interest in credit mobilier
stock and that the committee did not find
anything in the conduct of the gentlemen
named that called for any recommendation
concerning them. Democratic journals of
the more candid class, such as the Boston
Post and the New York World, treat these
charges lightly, and the Brooklyn Eagle
| Democratic) states significantly that it
will be difficult to convince General Gar
fields associates in congress, on either side
of the house, that he is not a man of in
tegrity. In regard to the DeGolyer matter,
the facts appear to be briefly as follows :;
In 1873 General Garfield was employed by
an agent of DeGolyer & McCleland, a paving
firm, to make an argument before the board
of public works in Washington, TO enable
them TO obtain contract for paving the
streets of that city. For legal services thus
rendered General Garfield was paid $4,000.
This transaction was probed to the bottom
at the time, but General Garfield was found
to have acted without reproach in the mat
ter. The affair was revived as new thing
in February, 1877, by the Democrats, APP
parently to injure General Garfield in con-
nection with the electoral commission. He
was chairman of the committee on appropri-
atoms and was charged with receiving
$4,000 as bride to grant the money out of
which DeGolyer & McClelland were to be
paid for their pavement. Frequently it has
happened that eminent lawyers in either
house of congress have been retained as
counsel in important cases, In this respect
General Garfield yielded to long estab-
| lished precedent, which counts among its
| followers senators and representatives Of all
political faiths, and whose names are syn.
onyms of official virtue and integrity.
The improperly of serving as counsel in a
case in which he might be afterwards
called to act in his capacity of repre-
sentative of the people is the censurable
point in the DeGolyer matter. He was for
tunate in this instance to have so acted as
to escape the danger that attends such a
danger and the inconsistency of standing in
the double office of counsel and Judge appear
in stronger light than to General Garfield
himself, for this lapse of sound judgment in
his early congressional career was never re-
peated. After seventeen years Of public ser
vice in Washington he is reputed to be worth
only about $4,000, reasonably convincing
evidence of clean hands and an honest single
purpose in discharging his public duties
Thus stands the case against General Gar
field. Democratic members of congress
signed report that pronounced him sinless
in his connection with the credit mobilier
Democrats OF resPeotability are among tn,
first to rise up and vouch for his integrity il
opposition to the partisan cries of the basel
sort in their own party, and the strongest
collateral testimony-for example, the scene
known that their fellow-member had beer
chosen at Chicago every point
that is claimed by his warmest supporters
In the pertinent language of Senator Conk
ling it may be said concerning these charges
against General Garfield: "The ammuni
ton of calumny has all been exploded. Thu
powder has all been burned once. Its force
is spent" And his enemies will need seel
other missiles to stay the onward sweep O
the honest Buckeye in the faith and conf
dencs of the people. These futile charges
disclose the CONSERVATION the nomination
of General Garfield has produced in thu
Democratic camp; they are the desperate
clutch of disappointed litigants, beaten il
advance on the main issue, at trivial cir
cumstances TO distract the attention of tn
jury. They will pass by the great Ohioal
alike the idle wind"