Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-24

| porting to give an account Of a conversation
| between members of the Cabinet AZ the meeting
| on the nth instant, relative to the action of
| General Grant in eonnec ton with his retire
| ment from the War Office. The chronicle of
this morning has the folio wing in regard to the
| matter:
| In view of tie authoritative denialS already
made to the charge thai General Grant prom
ised the PIesidsn Mt his assistance in any form in
preventing the Reinstatement of Mr.. Stanton,
we do not deem II necessary to enter at length
into the con side ration OF the statements male
| by the World. We may call attention, bowey-
| 'r, to one point in this report which exposes
| the efforts of the President 70 entrap Genera
Grant and use him a. catspaw with which TO
pull his chestnuts out of the fire. Que of tn
four Secretaries in question is sreported as using
| this language:
ale tGrant) sald that the discussion in the
papers had caused him to look over the law,
and he had found trouble in the second aad
| first sections. He (Grant) remarked that he did
not wish 10 be subjected TO imprisonment and
fine; when the President replied: "Why, told
you, General, tApt would take all the impris-
onms Mt and pay all the fines that might b. i'm
posed upon you"
And again, the Pres >ident himself is reported
a. saying:
''On Saturday. when he fCirant) referred to
the tenure of office act, told him thar won Id
take all the imprisonment and pay all the fine
that might he imposed upon him under its pro-
visions. When he arose to leave the room |
repeated the remark, for I wanied to know
whether or not he intended to hold on 10 the
offics. designing to relieve HIM if IL was his pur.
pose to yield it,
That man confessedly engaged in such an
attempt TO cheat another, is disclosed here,
should complain of another having cheated
him, rs somewhat laughable, If nothing worse.
The Pres ident assuming him 10 be- correctly
Teported) admits that h., sought to inyeigle
| General Grant into dsobedience TO the law,
holding out TO him the cOnsoling promise that
he would take upon himself the fine and i'm
prisonInent prescribed As the penalty OF the
| course he desired him to take. The Civil Ten
ure Act provides that if the Senate refuse TO
concur In the suspension of an officer sSuch
officer so suspended shall forthwith resume the
functions of his office, and the powers of the
person so performing its duties in his stead
shall cease" Section further provides that
"lf any person shall contrary, to the provisions
OF this ACT, accept any appointment to- or en-
ploymeDt in any Office, or attempt to hold or
exercise any such office or employment, he
shall be deemed, and is hereby declared
10 be. guilty OF high misdemeanor.
anu upon trial and conviction thereof he shall
be punished therefor by a fine not exceeding
ten thousand dollars, or by imprisonment not
exceeding five years, or both said punishments
IN the discretion of the court Mr. johnson
does not issue any Official order 10 General
Grant by which he would render himself re-
sponsIhr for resistance to the law. but he gives
hlm his verbal assurance that, should he
(Grant) get into trouble by breaking law OF
hls country, then ne (Johnson) will step into
his shoes and submit To the fine or inpriSon-
ment, or both, incurred by such action Even
atonement one cannot be- surprised that Gen.
Grant should have hesitated to trust himself 10
such frail bark as the Presidents promises
So palpable is the attempt of the latter 10 over
reach him, that his complaint of having been
oyerreachpd by him is supremely absurd. The
simple truth evidently il that he esteemed Gen
Grant an inexperienced sort of man, who could
he readily imposed upon. and, resting in this
comfortable faith, felt confident of the sue
ceesful working of his plans. He Wa disap.
| pointed, and his disappointment was proper
a nf. 9. .at. a. :.
where the shoe pnches. 1t is not that Mr.
johnson has been cheated, but thar he has been
handsomely f0lled in an elaborate attempt 10
cheat. over which ne feels so sore and about
which his friends make much ado
The FRErDMEN's BUREAU IN KEyTUCKY.-
The report of Brevet Brig Gen Burbank As
sistant Commissioner of the Freedmen s Bureau
for the State OF Kentucky, preferred TO in the
STAR of Wednesday last,) contains reasons
why the Freedmen's Bureau should, in his
opinion, be con tnued in that State. He SAYS he
does not submit his report a protest or re-
monstrance, but as a simple statement of rea.
sons, founded upon indlsputable facts, why
the order 10 discontinue the Bureau there
should not be carried into effect. if il can nos
sibly be avoided. Previous to these orders af-
iaiIs Were progressing satisfactorily, he says,
and freedmen We're of late comparati civ saf,
from outrage and injury. The work of esrah-
fishing schools was being prosecuted with
Hlgor, and the results werp exceedingly grati-
lying. mere was SOOO prospect that through
the efforts OF the agents and friendly citizens,
aided by u. ). courts. the State of Kentucky
would be induced TO grant the freedmen
the rignt TO testify in her courts The feeling
OF the people toward the freedmen was grad.
ualiy growing better; but the orders discontin-
uing the Bureau have been heraided through
the State as the triumph of Democratic prin-
clples and the death blow Of the Bureau, and
ITS eject has been TO epbolden the rebel ele-
ment. and TO renew their prosecutions of the
freedmen Ninety per cent. of the press of the
r1As ill.,
tnlng having In view the protection and eleva-
tion OF the freed people. Many persons de-
ciare that when the Bnreau is removed the
freedman will not be permitted to go before the
United States Commissioner 10 make com.
plaint, but will be punished for the many times
NE mas already appealed to the Bureau and
courts for aid AT Hardinsburg. Rreckinridge
county, he says the freetmen's school -house
was blown up During an examination of the
pupils the fuse was laid. but il did not reach
the powder until all had left the building
whlch was blown To atoms. The report, which
is very long, refers 10 the condition of affairs in
the various counties throughout the State, and
urgently recommends that the Bureau be con-
timed.
DEATH OF Hon. w. L. HoDGE.-we regret to
hear OF the death in Boston, on Wednesday
evening, OF the Hon. VIM. L. Hodge, for many
years resident of this ciIy. Mr Hodge was r.
most estimable citizen He was, we believe ar
one ume engaged in commerce in New Orleans,
ana was subsequently connected with the press
VI thot 3Dluty 1nQ eXceI1e0t cnarac-
Ter led TO his selection Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury under Generals administration,
af'er filing which position for some years Mr.
Hodge engaged in private suits, and so con-
tinued until his death At the time of his de-
ceas. Mr. ii odge was in the 18th year of his age
Mr.. SANFORD, our Minister 1t Belgium who
Is here on visit, has recently invested in
cotton-pIanting speculation in partnership
with his old fellow diplomat, w. H. Prescott of
South Carolina.
REcFPTIoH.-Gen. Ramsey, the commander
Of the Arsenal, and lady, gave brilliant reoep-
tion on Monday night last. The spacious par.
lo's of the Generals residence at the Arsenal
were well filed with ladies and gentlemen
Among the distin guished persons present was
Hon Edwin M. Stanton, and others of public
note. The cert moni les of the evening Were of a
diversified chaia cter, for, after the ususl pre
sentafion, promenade, and refreshments: dane.
ing and vocalism was commenced. and contiu.
tinued till long past midnight.
NoMInATIoEs BY THE PRRsIDRNr.-The
Presideat sent to the Senate yesterday the fol.
lowing Bominations dwight Bannister. to he
q paymastr in the army. Leslie Combs
marshal Cor the District of Kentucky in the
place OF William A. Merriwether, whose term
will expire. John M. johnson, marshal for
Virginia, in the place Of John Und, rwood.
whose term has exphed. George A. Rawlings.
postmaster at Old Point Comfort, Vireinia'
Solomon p. McCurdy, Chief Justice OF the
SupremA Gouyf If Urtth tt,a v,lo - - ..--