Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1873 — More Concerning Mr. Colfax's Vindication. [ARTICLE]

More Concerning Mr. Colfax's Vindication.

. l-'nnu tlie Baltimore American, February 13.] Vioe-Pkehident Colfax's private character is the property of the nation. Democrats as well as Republicans have always admitted that he was one of those pure Christian statesmen wtio added luster to the American character. As every Republican regards Cnarles Francis Adams to be a man of unblemished reputation, against whom the shafts of calumny might be hurled in vain, so all honest men of the Democratic party will hail with gratification Ihe proof that was furnished to the Credit-Mobilier Committee on Tuesday last, that Mr. Colfax has been the victim of personal malice and probably premeditated perjury. The main charge against the VicePresident was that be had received a checl*for $1,200 from Oakes Ames, and falsely swore that he had never received it or any .other sum of money from his accuser. The fact that lie had deposited one item of $1,200 about the time the uheek was-4ated w-as bailed by 'his enemies as.circumstantial testimony that his denial was a downright' falsehood. He has now not only satisfactorily proven this deposit came from another source; but Mr. Sidney Dillon, the paylng.clcrk, who cashed the check to “S. C.,’’ swears that he is strongly impressed with the belief that it was presented to him by Mr, Oak s Ames himself, and the money was paid in two $506 and two SIOO bills to the x r ery jnan who has had the hardihood, to assert and reassert that he had given it to Mr. Colfax and the money was drawn by him. Mr. Dillon, in further proof that his memory was correct, stated that “during the past thirty hours he had asked him (Mr, Ames) if he did not pay the check to him, and Mr. Ames said he thought it was very likely.” It should be remembered that Mr. Ames was present when Mr. Dillon thus testified, and did not dare to dispute his assertion or question him on the matter. This testimony alone, striking at the very root of the accusation, is sufficient to satisfy all unprejudiced men that Mr. Ames, in making a,deliberate attempt to prove Air. Colfax a perjurer, .has convicted himself of having committed the basest outrage that any man in pfißlie life was ever guilty of. His whole manner during the closing scene of the investigation was that of a sneak and a coward, who felt that he had done an infamous wrong to an innocent man. AVhile he had not the manliness to. acknowledge and make reparation, he did not dare to make any further attempt to sustain his accusation. The Gazette of yesterday morning, true to its malignant instincts against every one who differs with it in political sentiment, in reviewing Alr. Colfax’s defeuse, says:

“With singular fatuity, he involved himself in contradictions that only make his case Vvorse, if jiossible, than it was before.” We imagine; however, that the readers of the Gazette who are not similarly affected with political malice will rather consider that Mr. Colfax has proven himself as still worthy the good character given him by that leading Democratic journal, the St. Louis Republican, of a recent date: ’’ '■■•r%iXyT

“ He has always enjoyed heretofore animbTemiehed reputation and that genuine popularity which is the nest reward bestowed upon a public man. An ardent politician, and advocating his peculiar views with a zeal which sometimes savored of bigotry, he has never rendered himself obnoxious to his opponents by displaying that intolerance which ts as disgusting as it is ungenerous. He has fought bitterly, hut never carried his hostility outside of the bounds of strict courtesy, and those who have suffered most- from his assaults have been compelled to acknowledge him a gallant enemy, as chivalrous as he was resolute. Added lo these purely professional qualities was a natural kindness of heart and suavity of manner which gained for him the. respect and esteem of a]l with whom he whs thrown in c ontact. He never ceased to be a gentleman, neveriorgot that others had the , same right to express their convictions thathe had and this jnanly generosity brought its own Sppropriate recompense. —A man of lowa Falls, who has a limekiln, asserts that, with wood and com in about equal parts, the fire is better and scarcely more expensive, and that the lime is somehow vastly better. • r. "■ ... V-l , —One Signor Ferraro, a Milanese, has discovered a new fuel, which is said to b« abundant in Italy, cheaper' and more c&lorific than coal. » _ ,