Year: 1873

HON. WILLIAM NJ. MERRICK,


OF MARYLAND.


In the House Of Representatives,


February 25, 1878.


The House having under consideration
the report of the select committee appoint
ed to investigate the alleged Credit Mobi
lier bribery


Mr.. MERRICK said:


Mr.. SPEAKER: Never before did re-
sponsibility fall upon me like that
which was devolved upon me by the
order of this House. [ had hoped to
pass the small remnant of my official
career in that same tranquility and
obscurity through which it had glided
during the past two years. But [ had
to meet the responsibility which de-
volved upon me by the order of the
House of Representatives.


Most of the men who have been sub
jected to the inquiry Of this Commit
tee have been almost total strangers to
me. But one of them could | venture
to class among my personal friends,
and sad, indeed, it is that this man is
one of those who, under the high sense
of responsibility which has been de-
yolyed on me, | have been constrained
to consider and charge before this as
semblage as a guilty man.


Mr.. Speaker, before going into the
consideration of the particular question
affecting individual members, it is pro-
per to consider what the true meaning
and purpose of the report which has
been made. by the committee to this
House. It has been misunderstood, it
has been misrepresented, it has been
falsifed; nay, the committee have been
held up to the world rather as the
criminal than those who have been sub
jected by the orders of this House to
their jurisdiction.


What is the meaning Of that report
Have we undertaken to say that the
men who have been arraigned before
us are without fault? Have we acquit-
ted and justified them before the A
merican people for all the things they
have done in this connection? Those
who so read that report misunderstood
totally it's scope and purpose. We
were charged with a specific duty to
inquire whether or not certain men
were bribed by Oakes Ames or others,
and in the discussion of the precise
question as to whether men were or
were not bribed by Cakes Ames or 9th
ers, certain expressions were used de-
signed by the committee to reflect only
the Identical legal question which was
propounded to us, to wit: was there
such state of mind and purpose at
the time and in the act of the recep-
tion Of the contract as made between
them and him as made them guilty of
receiving bribes. And it was in that
connection, with reference to that pre-
else questionwhich wewere discussing
and bound to discuss and determine,
that we used that language which has
been the subject Of so much miscon-
struction and so much censure upon
the members of the committee.


The language to which | refer is to
be found especially on the ninth page
of the report of that committee. 1t is
In these words:


"The committee do not find either of the
above named gentlemen in his contracts
with Mr.. Ames had any corrupt motive or
purpose himself, or was aware Mr. Ames
had any; nor did either of them suppose
he was guilty Of any impropriety or, any
indelicacy In becoming purchaser of this
stock.Ds ss~s-g-


That phrase has been strained into
a white-washing phrase, if I may be
suffered to use the expression, as a to-
tai exculpation of all the parties con-
ceTned in this transaction with refer
ence to each. and every stage of their
action in this regard. IF men will read
calmly and dispassionately all that is
said in that report, that which follows
this particular language, they under
stand the import Of English differently,
far differently from what | do if they
consider the committee meant to ex-
culpate all gentlemen from all blame
by reason Of the transactions in which
they had been engaged; for we went
on to say in the first place that chad
it appeared that these gentlemen were
aware Of the enormous dividends upon
this stock and how they were to be
earned, we could not thus acquit them ,;
Acquit them of what? Acquit them
of the act of bribery in the reception
of the contract and the profits Of the
contract as made between them and
Mr.. Ames. 49,


And the committee go on then and
discuss the general subject as connec-
ted with this matter of indiscreetly
placing themselves in a position un-
becoming to members of deliberatre
la#-making body. And we hold uE
to them, by contrast with their acts
and conduct, the example of the vener.
able Senator,from Delaware, (Mr. Bay.
ard, who felt he would not have dis,
charged his official duties by closing
his eyes to the consequences of con:
tract into which he might enter, and
the committee say the duty of each and