The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-07-01
ACONFESSION.

- - O-NA A@N'N'A O-Ne
Many of the Republican party are
clamoring for the publication of Judge
jeremiah Blacks Ca Democrat) letter
in defense of Gen. Garfield when the
Credit Mobilier fraud was under con-
sideration in the House of Represen,
tatives. Judge Black was Garfeld's
attorney, and as a feed lawyer. it was
his duty to make the most plausible
defence for his client. We make no
criticism, but publish the letter with
comment of the n. Y. Herald, 0nd. }
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 10, 1873
Ny DEAR SIR: From the beginning
of the investigation concerning Mr..
Ames' use of the Credit MObilier, |
believed that General Garfield was
free from all guilty connection with
that business. This opinion was found
ed not merely on my confidence in his
integrity, but on some special knowl-
edge Of his case. | may have told
you all about it in cOnve. sation, but
| desire now to repeat it by way Of
reminder.
assert unhesitatingly that, what.
ever General Garfield may have done
or forbOrne to do he acted in profund
ignorance of the nature and character
of the thing which Mr. Ames was pro-
posing to sell. He had not the slight
est suspicion that he was to be taken
into ring organized for the purpose
Of defrauding the public, nor 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 scicntcr, which
alone constitutes guilt.
In the winter of 1869,7O | told
General Garfield of the fact that his
name was on Ames' list; that Ames
charged him with being one Of his
distributes; explained to him the
character, origin and objects of the
Credit Mobilier; pointed out the con
nection it had with the Congressional
legislation, and showed him how i'm
possible it was for Il member Of Con
gress to hold stock in it without bring
ing his private 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 circum-
stances. He told me then the whole
story of Trains offer to him and Ames'
subsequent solicitation and his own
action in the premises much as he de-
tails it to the committee. l do not
undertake to reproduce the cOnversa>
ton, but the effect of it all was to con-
vince me thoroughly that when he
listened to Ames he was perfectly un>
conscious of anything evil. l watch,
ed carefully every word that fell from
him on this point, and did not regard
his narrative of the transaction in any
other respect with much interest, be-
cause in my view everything else was
insignificant. did not care whether
he made bargain technically bind
ing or not; his integrity depended
upon the question whether he acted
with his eyes open. If he had known
the true character of the proposition
made to him he would not have en-,
dured it much less embraced it.
Now couple this with Mr. Ames' ad
mission that he gave no explanation
whatever Of the matter to General
Garfield, then reflect that not a parti-
Gle 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 uno
Just to put him on the list of those
who knowingly and wilfully joined
the fraudulent association in question.
J. s. BLACK.
Hon. j. G. Blaine, Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
"The New York Herald prints the
above and replies to it in an editorial