Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-06-25

end to the DlOOQy SnlrL and to electoral
commissions. It will put soldier in the
White House who recognizes the superior
ity of the civil law, and will elevate one to
the Presidency who will in reality know
no North, no South, no East and no West.
IT ia ticket that will bring both victory
and peace between the sections of our
country.
THE CREDIT MOBILLER CHARG q
AGAINST J. A. GARFIELD.
We last week published the facts, OBJ
tanned from Republican sources exclusive
ly, concerning a transaction that renders
Mr.. Garfield's election to the Presidency
an impossibility if he cannot clear himself
of guilty connection with it. Below we give
some evidence, or, to speak more strictly
an opinion, given in Mr.. Garfeld's favor
by Judge J. S. Black, distinguished DEM
ocratic lawyer. Here it is:
PHILADELPHIA, February Is, 1873
My dear Sir,-From the beginning of the investi-
cation concerning Mr. Ames' use of the Credit Mo-
bilier believe that General Garfield was free from
all guilty connection with that business This opin
ion was founded not merely on my confidence in his
integrity, but on some special knowledge Of his
case Imay have told you all about 1t in cohversa-
tiun but desire now to repeat it by way of remind
er.
assert unhesitatipgly that, whatever General
Garfield may have done or forborne to do, he acted
in profound ignorance of the nature and character
OF the thing Mr.. Ames was proposing to sell. he
had not the slightest suspicion that he was to be ia
ken into ring organized for the purpose OF defraud
ing the public did he know that the stock was in
any way connected with anything which came or
could come within the legislative jurisdiction of
Congress The case against him lacks the scienter,
which alone constitutes guilt.
In the winter Of 1S697o told General Garfield of
the fact that his name on the Ames' list; that
Ames charged him with being one of his distribu-
tees: explained to him the character, origin and OBJ
jects of the Credit Mobilier; pointed out the con
nection it had with Congressional legislation and
showed him how impossible it was for a member of
Congress to hold stock in it without bringing his pri
vate interests in conflict with his public duty. That
all this was to him perfectly new revelation am
as sure as can be Of such fact or OF any fact
which is capable of being proved only by moral cir
cumstances. He told me then the whole story of
Trains otter to him and Ames subsequent solici5a
ton and his own action in the premises much as he
details it to the committee do not undertake to
reproduce the conversation, but the effect of it all
was to convince me thoroughly that when he listen
ed to Ames he was perfectly unconscious Of any
thing evil I watched carefully every word that fell
from him on this point, and did not regard his mar
ratye Of the transaction in any other respect with
interest, because in my view everything else was
insignificant did not care whether he made a
bargain technically binding or not his integrity de-
pended upon the question whether he acted with his
eyes open. If he had known the true character Of
do RI i'm "a hov on.
dured it, much less embraced it.
Now couple this with Mr.. Ames admission that
he gave no explanation whatever of the matter to
General Garfield; then reflect that not particle of
proof exists to show that he learned anything about
it previous to his conversation with me, and think
you will say that it is altogether unjust to put him
on the list of those who knowingly and wifuly join
ed the fraudulent association in question.
j. s. BLAcK.
Hon, J. G. Blaine, Speaker of the House of Rapre-
sentatives.
This is Judge Blacks opinion, and a
very kindly one it is. And an honest one
we are sure. But here is what Mr.. Gar
field swore to before the House Investiga-
ting Committee, January 18th, 1873;
"Inever owned, received, or agreed to receive any
"stock of the Credit Mobilier, or the Union Pacific
railroad, nor any dividend or PROFITS arising from
t'either 'of them"
And here is what the HOUSE InyestiRas!
ting Committee, composed OF majority
Of Mr.. Garield's political fsisads, who had
heard all the evidence and were more ia
miliar with the facts than Judge Black,
reported officially to the House of Repre-
sentatives: :.
sThe facts in regard to Mr.. GARFIELD, as found by
%1,A nfHT
kelley to the point OF the reception of thee check
ssfor 1929. He agreed with Mr.. Ames to take ten
shares of Credit Mober stock, but did not pay foI
Sc the same Mr.. Ames received the eighty per cent
dividend in bonds ard 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 a balance OF 1929. This
sum acas paid to Mr., Garfield By a check on the
"tSergeant at arms Mr. Ames received all the sub
s'sequent dividends, and the committee did not find
that since the payment of the 1929 there has been
s.any communication between Mr.. AMes and MI
sGarfeld on the subject until the investigation be-
''gan Some correspondence betWeen Mr.. Garfield
.'and MI. Ames, and some conversation between
them during this will be found in the
reported testimony.
As we have gotten our facts exclusively
from Republican sources we may also gath
Oh AoIn Uuo oolao oooA0 "ii"' "''' ouo Nsu'
of Mr.. Garfield when the exposure took
place. The New York Tribune" of Esb.
10Th. 1873. held this language:
flames A. Garfield, of Ohio, hadsan shares never
spaid dollar; received $685. which after the inyes
litigation began, he was anxious to have considered
las loan from Mr.. Cakes Ames to himself We'll,
the wickedness Of all Of it is :at these menbetray.
led the trust OF the people deceived their consttu
tents, and, by eyaslona and faisehoods, confessed