The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-12-01
The nrcGarrahan Claim:

Grants administration has been his intimate
connection with certain well-known jobs OF
schemes of questionable purity, and which,
as they have rapidly succeeded each other,
have formed the subject of extended news
paper criticism. The structures of the Radi-
cal press in relation thereto have been both
pointed and severe. Passing by the memo
rable gold speculation in New York, over a
year ago, in which he and his brOther-in- law
(Corbin) acted mysterious part, the next
notable instance Of the kind was the San
Domingo treaty, All his energies, as we'll
as his official influence, were exerted in favor
of that speculating project. One of his nu-
merous military attaches who hang around
the Executive department, and who, like
many other things in this world, are more
for ornament than use, was dispatched in
government vessel to that island, in company
with a United States Senator. for the pur-
pose OF procuring statistical information, so
called, in order to secure the ratification of
the treaty by the Senate. Grant even trans
ferred his headquarters from the White
House to one of the Senate committee rooms.
which no President had done before, and
there held interviews with refractory Sena-
tors, using his personal influence with them
to pct the job through. At least one well
known Senator, of easy political virtue, who
was opposed to the Presidents pet scheme,
was convinced of the error of his ways, and
as qutd pro quo, for his sudden change of
front, son-in-law of that same Senator was
soon afterwards appointed minister to for
eign court. All the efforts of Grant in favor
Of the treaty were unavailing-the Senate
stood firm and immovable against the swim
die, and the treaty failed, as it deserved to
do. 1t is said, however. that the Presiden-
tial Ring have not yielded the point and that
another effort to accomplish their purpose
will be made at the approaching session.
And now we have the celebrated McGara.
han claim, in which Grant appears to be
considerably mixed and shows to great dis
advantage. The land embraced within this
claim is located in California and covers one
of the richest quicksilver mines in the world.
1t was in reference to this claim that one of
the difficulties arose between Grant and
Gen. Cox, the late Secretary of the Interior
and which forced that gentleman. as mat
ter of duty and self-protection, to retire
from the Cabinet. 1t is enough to say that
years ago the Supreme Court of the United
STATES decided that McGarrahan's title to !
the land was fraudulent. One of the ablest |
Republican papers in the country, the New |
York EUening Post. clearly sums up in the |
following article the points established |
against McGarEahan and Grant by the re-
Gently published documents relating to the
case.
Elsewhere will be found n number of official
documents giving Il curious history OF the Nc
Garrnhan claim, and of President Grants con-
President does not appear TO advantage in this
story 1t seems to be established:
. FhSt-That McGarrahans claim had within
preme Court of the United States, and that
court, In fact, in its decisions showed that some
oI the persons concerned in it have been guilty
Of gross fraud.
SecOnd-The claim had been officially exposed
ted States as fraudulent.
Thi,d-It had been before Congress, as we :
showed on Saturday, and Congressional COM
nittee decided against it.
FOuTth- -Attorney-General Hoar officially in
'tructed Secretary Cox that under these cir
he had no right TO deny the demand
u the opponents of McGarrahan to have their
.ialm investigated.
FVth-Under this opinion of Attorney-Gen-
raj H9ar Secretary Cox ordered, not that the
New Idria Company should have their patent,
lut only that in the regular course of business
)fIice. " 49, -1'1o
bTOtlleT-tn-tdir Of the President, ran on to Iona
{Iuach, lchcrethe President totis staying. and in
ts, persuaded him to forbid the action Of SccTe-
Serenth-At the same timo McGor,aban in
ucSd u minority OF the judges of the Court of ,
he District OF Columbia, in vacation, and in |
nee been rebuked by the Supreme Court for ,
imilar illegal Interference with the constitu-
rider against the Secretary to show cause whv !
mandamus should not be issued forbiddinC
i'm to have the New Idria claim examined
Elghth--Thereupon Secretary Cox wrote TO 9
ne PRESIDENT an account of the case. believing ,
D him that the court proposed n gross interfa
ence with the Executive authority and asked :
1eetlng, and deal With the business in a busi-
Ninth-The President took no notice of this
equest: ana did not act upon the information 6
iven him by Secretary Cox. ;
Thus it appears that tho President. who was ,,
robably ignorant of the demerits of McGarra- Z
an case, GttOtced himself TO be persuaded bg q
'otheL-n. tdic To interfere in II TO the disturb
nee O JnStice General Grant does not shOlc lrelL
me matter and his Interference is made 1rOrse q
me Idct Ihdt NOT only has DTOthcT-in-lCtur, but
ntG notorious politicians rO hnllDen inst 1lo1U 10
2 ms confidential and intimate advisers are re-
htcd 10 be concerned lUith McGdTTdhdll in this r.
aim. ~ " '''' =
But it ought not to be forgotten that this Ii
mole matter Is false issue set uIyby the Pres "
lent against General Cox. The real issue is .
10 prostitution of the civil service; and it is +"
lr that that the President is held responsible o
the people. J
AS THE TINE approaches for holding the I