The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-06-25
THE CRABS OF GARFIELD.

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A Sketch of the Public Career Of the Re
publican Candidate for tic Presidency
Written before tie Nomination..
James A Garfield is now serving his
ninth consecutive term Us member of the
House of Representatives. At the end of
this term he will succeed Mr.. Thurman in
the Senate, as night succeeds day. Gifted
with fine natural parts, possessed of some
literary ability, given to study, popular in
manners, and with pleasing styl of speech,
few men have begun public life with such
advantages. No public man has sacrificed
his opportunities more unworthily.
MIR. Garfield entered the army in 1861
as colonel of volunteers, and left it as a
major.general in 1868, with record which.
Though nuU sftuiuS, was quite creditable.
The Republicans Of the Western Reserve,
who had sent Joshua r. Giddings to Con-
gress until he became recognized as the
father of the House, took up Garfield on
his return from the war, at 81 years of age,
and have cluug to him since then, despite
the most damning proof of his venali:y and
jobbery in legislation. Fidelity to the par
ty in its fierce ard intocrant spirit seems,
like the mantle of charity, to have covered a
multitude Of sins in his case.
Thrown into the midst of the reckless
legislation for which the calamity of civil
war furnished an opportunity, he soon de-
veloped the traits of character which have
more recently made his name notorious
throughout the country. He became the
advocate and apologist of the huge land
grants aud subsidies by which millions of
acres of the public domain and tens of mil
lions of money were voted to great corpora
tions and rings. That may be called the
beginning Of the organized corruption
which fourshcd during Grants two terms.
Garfield voted for almost every job, and for
that then controlled the leading commit
tees.
TIE CREDIT MOBILIER.
The construction of the Union Pacific
Railroad furnished the opportunity for
gigantic fraud. Congress voted money and
land enough to build it without any consid.
cradle issue of bonds or stocks by the COM
pany. The directors were forbidden by law
from engaging in contracts or holding other
interests Of profit. Therefore they could
not become beneGcarcs by the abuse of
their trust until the obstacle was overcome
They soon found way to do it, A COM
pany, known as the Credit Mobilier, organ
lied upon the French plan. had procured
charter from Pennsylvania, which proved
10 DC u r'rttuIu
was purchased. a ring of officers and d.
rcctors of the Union Pacific Road obtain ID
absolute control of its affairs. They con-
tracted with thcms lives under another name
for the construction at cXorbitant prices
They swindcd the United States, the bond
holders and the stockholders, for the benefit
Of their own close corporation.
In 1867, Oakcs Amcs, James b. Alley
and others, known as the "Boston party"
got possession Of the Union Pacific and the
Credit Mobilcr. At that time Amcs was
n mcmb!r of Congress, and a manufacturer
Of rcputcd wealth. The great contracts
passed into his hands, and the dividends of
the Credit Mobilicr had already attracted
attention. Elihu Is. Washburnc introduced
a resolution in the House which alarmed
the jobbcrs for their Immense profits
Collax, then Speaker, and one Of the crca.
lures of the ring, silenccd this movement
for timc by parliamentary tricks.
Still the Credit Mobilicr monopolists were
uneasy, and proposed to buy off opposition
In January, 1868, Amcs wrote to McComb,
who afterwards started the investigation
from motives of revenge, 81 have assigned,
as far as | have gone," Certain shares to
different States the fifty per cent increase
| want for distribution here and soon" A
fnIy nIf hn Ell
lie wrote again "In view of Washburne's
move here, | go in for making our dividend
in full. | want that Sl4 900 increase Of
the Credit Mobilicr to sell here. We want
more friends in this Congress" AS he him.
self said, the object was to put the stock
"whcre it would do the most good" The
stock was then selling at $3.50 share on Il
par value of 500. 1t was issued in blocks
of thirty, twenty and ten shares to members
of Congress at par, aud The SO. called pur-
chase was more than cXtnguishcd by accrued
dividends. 1t was q nice stock to hold.
The first disclosure Of this corruption
Was made in the SIN during the summer
Of 1872, duplicating many Of the Rcpubli.
can leaders. y Presidential election was
then pending, and they all vchcmcntly
denied any connection with the fraud.
GARFIELDS STATEMENT
was more explicit and boldcr than that Of
any Of his comicdcratcs in the crime. An
investigation was ordered by the House
soon after the meeting Of Congress; the
examination of witnesses began on Dcccm-
Der II, 1872. At first Oakcs Ames de-
clined to make any exposure; but when the
incrimnatcd members combined to swear
him down and to free themselves by rank
perjury, his blood warmed quickly and he
determined to let the trutL be known