Year: 1873

The report of the Senate Committee on the
Credit MObilier, which was submitted by the
Chairman, Senator Morrill, of Vermont, during
the Thursday night session, came like the
sound of trumpet. 1t was so entirely unex-
pected that the reading of the resolution for
the expulsion of Mr.. Patterson almost put
stop to the transaction of business. 1t is by
no means an indication of wholesome con-
dition of morals that the Senate and Congress
and the people were unprepared for what must
be admitted to be righteous finding; but
whatever it indicates, it is the fact The
people who had watched the proceedings Of
these Committees with curious interest were
taken by surprise, for they had seen so many
sham investigations by the present Congress,
which had resulted in nothing but glossing
over fraud and corruption, that they had given
up all expectation Of seeing anybody punished
for anything by either House. And the Senate,
yawning over tedious debates, and having no
idea that anything would be done in the way
of vindicating its own honor, was almost
startled from its prOpriety at the Committees
recommendation.


1t is, we may be allowed to say, the first
really manly and courageous thing that has
emanated from the representatives OF the
dominant party in long, long time. 1t is
clean, ringing, vigorous. There's no nonsense
about it. 1t sums up the testimony with
judicial fairness, states Its deliberate con-
clusions without shutting or evasion, and
crowns it all with judgment terse, sharp, une-
duivocal. When we consider the organization
of the Senate, its traditional esprit de corps,
the terms of friendship and intimacy existing
between its members, and the fact that Sena-
tor Patterson was rather popular among his
associates, with q high reputation as
scholarly gentleman of ability and integrity,
the conscientious fairness of their verdict will
be appreciated. To Senator Patterson it is a
crushing blow, for it skaters the reputation of
a lifetime. There will be no lack OF sympathy
felt for him among the people, as there is
doubtless among his colleagues, and even on
the Committee. But the Committee had no
right to be governed by its sympathies in
making the report, and it was not. 1t justice
is done, the report will be accepted and the
resolution passed.


The Committee reports also that Vice
Presdent-elect Henry Wilson, though not
guilty of any corrupt connection with the
Credit Mobiler, was untruthful and insincere
in his denial during the campaign of all
knowledge of it. 1t was just for this that
THE TRIBUNE arraigned Mr.. Wilson from the
beginning. In this, as in the KnOw-Nothing
business, he deliberately deceived the people.
He has very little to congratulate himself
upon in this report submitted by committee
of his friends.


In the case of Senator Harlan the Commit
tee reports simply the facts, with some whole
some reflections on the moral qualities
exhibited in the acceptance of sum of money,
which, in the consideration Of the country,
though not reported proven by the Committee,
was an unmistakable bribe, with the wicked
featute added that it was used to debauch the
Legislature of Iowa and purchase seat III
the Senate


The report is as sound in its conclusions as
it was unexpected by Congress and people.
The action of the Senate upon it will show
whether that body has the bOldness and up
rightness to make just one step toward its own
publication and purgatiOn. II it has the cOur-
age to eject Patterson for corrupt practices
there is some hope that it will thrust out
Pomeroy and Caldwell and keep out Patterson
of South Carolina. But we have very little
reason to expect such action. 1t seems vastly
more probable that sympathy will get the
better of justice that press of business will
be seized as pretext for letting Patterson
alone that Pomeroy'S coat Of whitewash will
be decorously respected, and that for the next
four years the Senate will be presided over by
an officer Of whom its own Committee has de-
clared that he does not tell the truth.