Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-07-08
The Credit MobllIer Scandal.

We do not believe that Gen, GARFIELD
needs any further vindicstion than has
already been published from the old scan
dal which the New York Sun, one OF the
most malicious of the Satanic press, re-
vived to subserve the lowest partisan ends,
but as the letter of Judge BLACK upon the
subject has often been alluded 70 in this
connection, we republish it by request
Judge BLACK, it is well known, is strong
partisan, and would not, il he could avoid
it, do or say anything 10 help Republican
ism. should such calamity fall upon
the country as the success OF the Demo
cratic ticket this fall Judge BLACK would
be prominent candidate for position
in the cabinet. In consideration OF his
position, his letter ought to be good au
,hority, and to silence the reiteration of
this old Islander. The following is the
letter:
PHILADELPHIA, Feb Is 1873,
nv Dear Str:-From the beginning OF the In
yestigation concerning Mr.. Ames use of the
I redit Mobilier, believed that General GIhcld
was free rom all guilty connection with that onsl-
ness This opinion was founded not merely on
my confidence in his integrity, but on some spe-
! cial knowledge OF his case. | may have told you
| all about 1t in conversation, but desire now TO
| repeat IL by way OF reminder,
| assert unhesitatiugly that, whatever General
| Garfield may have done forborne to do, he act
| ed In profound gnrrance OF The nature aud cnar
/ acter OF the thing whlcL Mr. Ames was proposing
! 10 cell He had not the slightest suspicion that
| he was to be taken into ring organized Tor the
! purpose OF defiauding the public, nor ala he Rno"
! that the stock WAS IN any way connected with
anything which came or eonld come WITHIN tne
! legislative Jurisdiction OF Couere-@ Inc case
az int him lacks the scienter which alone consul
! tutes guilt . ,-o,,
/ of The fact that his name was on AIMEE Hat; that
| Ames ch arged him with being one oil ms dls-
tributes; explained 10 him the Character origin
aud objects of the Credit Mobu'er; polh,ca ou'
! ,he connection IL had with Congressional iegls'
| latiou, and showed him how Impossible IL wac
| for a Member OF Congress to hold rtoek 10 u
without bhn'in2 his private interests IN cohh,e
| A pcrtecty new revelation am "a sure as can be
II such TACT, or OF any fact which Is 'apa"e OF
being proved only By moral circumsl nee; ne
told me then the whole story OF Train - oHet 10
| him and Ame.' subsequent solicitation ana MS
own action in the premises, much as nc details II
! 10 the COMMITTEES. | DO not undertake TO repro
dncc the conversation, but the eff CT OF II all was
| 10 convince me thoroughly that when he lirtehed
! TO Ame. he was unconscious OF anything evil, |
| watched carefully every WORD tnht zen rom h'i.
on this point, and did not regard his narrative Oh
| rho tran. action In any other respect with much
| interest because in my view evetytoin q else was
| insignificant | did not care whether he made a
bargain technically binding or not; MS lnlepriy
| denended upon The question whether he acted
| with his eyes open. II he had known the true
character OF The proposition made TO blm, DC
won d not have endured IT, much less embraced IL
Now conple this with Mr.. Ames' admission
that he cave O explanation wha'eNcr OF the mat
ter to General GARFIELD, then reflect that nor J
particle OF proof exists to show that no learned
ANYTHING abolt IL previous TO his conversation
with me- and think You will cay that II IL hlto
yetbef unjust to pat him on The lsl OF thoTc
! Who knowingly and wiliully Joined me ifauhu
lent association in question d. D bLhth'
Hon. j g. BLAINE, speaker OF the House oil KEEP
resentatiVes.