Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-08-25
Defense Of Garfield.

Garfield's character, at the Opera
House, for the benefit of the Re-
publicans of this city. Mr., Learn
ed had a difficult case to plead,
and it is not to be wondered at
that he forgot to tell all that is
charged and proved against the
periured and bride taking candi-
date who heads the Republican
ticket.
As Mr.. Larned is "A stranger in
our city, and as, no doubt, his large
legal business has prevented him
from studying Garfeld's misdeeds
fully and completely, we, thero-
fore, take this opportunity of as
sisting the gentleman in his re-
searches, regarding the part that
Garfield took in the Credit Mo-
biler bribery affair. We shall take
all our evidence from Republican
sources, believing, as we do, that
the Republicans would not make
criminal charges against promin-
ent leader of their party unless he
was guilty.
To commence with, when Mr..
Garfield was charged with being
connected with the Credit Mobilier
| fraud, he made the following de-
claration
From his 0lon Srror7 Testimony before ne Poland
Committee, Jan. "A, 1873.
81 never owned, received, or agreed to
| receive any stock of the Credit Mobilier or
/ of the Union Pacific Railroad nor any divi.
dends. or profits arising from either OF
them"
The Congressional Committee,
consisting Of three Republicans
and two Democrats, which was APP
pointed by Republican Congress
to investigate the Credit Mobilier
fraud, after hearing the evidence,
convicted James A. Garfield OF
both perjury and bribery. The
report of the Committee, regard.
ing Garfield, is as follows:
From Jpdg. Poiands report. Fro is, lS;3-Gar-
Geld's testimony PeIJuFed.
The facts in regard to Mr.. Garfield. as
! found by the committee, arc that he agreed
with Mr.. Ames TO take ten shares of Credit
Mobilier stock, but did not pay for the
same. Mr.. Ames received the eighty pei
cent. dividend in bonds and sold them foI
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 1920. This sum
was paid over 10 Mr.. Garfield by n check ON
the sergeant-at- Arms and Mr.. Garfield then
understood this sum was the balance OF
dividends after paying for the stock.
The view that the leading Re-
publican newspapers took concern
ing Garfield, can be seen from the
following few extracts
From u, Ven Fork Times Rep FEB. 10, 1873.
Messrs. Kelley and Garfield present q
most distressing figure. Their participa
ton in the Credit Mobilier AFFAIR is compli
Gated by the most unfortunate contradic
tons OF testimony.
From The Nsr Fork Tribune Rep FcJ. 49, 1873.
James A. Garfield Of Ohio had ten shares
never paid dollar received 1929 which
after the investigation began, he was anN
J ious TO have considered as "A loan from Nj
Cakes Ames to himself.
Well, the wickedness of all Of il is thu
these men betrayed the trust OF the people
deceived their constituents, and by eva
sions and falsehoods confessed the trans
action TO be disgraceful.
From N, Ne,o York Times 'R,pl Fsb 20, 1875
The character of the Credit Moblier wa
> no secret. The source of its profits wa
very we'll known at the time Congressmcl
, bought IL. Though Cakes Ames ma
have succeeded in concealing his own mC
: tive, which was 10 bride Congressmcl
: their acceptance of the stock was not ~
that account innocent. The dishoner of tn
net. a. participation in an obvious FRAUD
still remains.
some OF them have INDUCED I'm testimon
. with reference 10 the matter which has bee
contrndicted. The committee distinctly r.
iects the testimony OF several Of the mon
bers. This can only be done on the grOun
: given under oath is morally, II not legally
perjury.
] II is the clear duty Of Congress 20 Wis
with punishment all who took, Credit Mo
!, bilier stock from Cakes Ames.
From he N,lo York Tribune tRep.l Ftb. &c, 1873
Mr.. Ames establishes very clearly IN
Q point that he was not alone in this oflcnc'
, if he is TO be expelled for bribery, the me
Il who were bribed should go with him.
. Now let us see how thousands o
J. Republicans in Mr.. Garfeld's owr
4 Congressional district, in Ohio, act
ed in reference to his participation
! in the Credit Mobilier fraud an,
: other matters, and the following
D from the Rochester Union vii
: show how many Of Mr.. Garfield
Republican neighbors judged hi
official conduct.
!. The Poland report OF tho Credit Mobile
|. bribcrles was made I'm 1873. In 1874 CARTEL
received the nomination for reelection
, his district-the Ashtabula district Of ohi'
where the Republicans have always nun
. bercd two TO one against all opposition
lie had the party, like a machine, nj hi
back. right or wrong, but there were homes
and indignant Republicans enough TO ru
him 2,ss2 behind wickoff, the Republioa
candidate for Secretary OF State. In is7'
, stiil controlling the machine, he again =,