character of Oliver Ames is his
veneration for the memory of his distinguished father. He fully believes
that the hastily and unjustly formed verdict of censure pronounced upon
Oakes Ames, both by public opinion and by the United States House of
Representatives, will ere long be reversed, and that his memory will be
honored by the country, as it so justly deserves. Indeed he has already
had the gratification of seeing this verdict reversed, so far as public
opinion is concerned; and it only remains for Congress to remove its
undeserved vote of censure, for Oakes Ames to take his appropriate and
honored place in American history. There is little doubt that Mr. Ames
will yet see this ambition of his life realized. As to this censure,
Massachusetts, where Oakes Ames was best known and appreciated, has
spoken through her Legislature by the following resolution, which
unanimously passed both House and Senate in the spring of 1883:

"Resolved, in view of the great services of Oakes Ames,
representative from the Massachusetts Second Congressional
District, for ten years ending March 4, 1873, in achieving the
construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, the most vital
contribution to the integrity and growth of the National Union
since the war:

"In view of his unflinching truthfulness and honesty, which refused
to suppress, in his own or any other interest, any fact, and so
made him the victim of an intense and misdirected public excitement
and subjected him to a vote of censure by the Forty-second Congress
at the close of its session;

"And in view of the later deliberate public sentiment, which, upon
a review of all the facts, holds him in an esteem irreconciliable
with his condemnation, and which, throughout the whole country
recognizes the value and patriotism of his achievement and his
innocence of corrupt motive or conduct;

"Therefore, the Legislature of Massachusetts hereby expresses its
gratitude for his work and its faith in his integrity of purpose
and character, and asks for like recognition thereof on the part of
the National Congress."

The beautiful Oakes Ames Memorial Hall at North Easton, erected by his
sons, is an impressive monument of filial devotion and respect. This
village of North Easton, the home of Mr. Ames and other members of the
Ames family, as well as the seat of the extensive shovel works, dese