The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-14
Expected Resignation of Sec
rotary Fish.
Letter from the President to Colo
mel Forney.
THE QUARTERMASTERS WAR
Revelations Respecting the Sale Of
Arms to France.
EX-C0NGRESSMAN STOKES CONVICTED.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1872.
Rumor That Secretary Fish is about to Re-
sign-Sickes and Banks said to Aspire TO
His Position.
It's reported In administration circles that Secrc-
tary Fish Will soon retire from the Cabinet at the
desire OF the President. A very strong pressure
has been brought to bear against Mr.. Fish ever
since he determined TO stick and his conservative
foreign policy Is used against him with great effect.
1t Is not improbable that General Sickles Will aspire
to the place when Secretary Fish retres and 1t Is
said General Tanks would prefer to be Secretary of
State rather than Minister abroad.
Eerney and Graut-The Pennsylvania Semi
tOrship.
gentleman VINO reached this city from Philadel-
phia to-day brought to the President the comlorta-
bic assurance that Colonel Forney Is both sincere
and resolute in his adhesion to the administration
and the denomination OF General Grant by the Ma
tlOnal Republican Convention. The Colonel, how
ever, does consider that his friendly attitude
towards the President and his national policy COM
mits him OF necessity to the support of every ward
politician In Philadelphia who. on local issue,
manages to get an administration endorsement, and
1t was just this difference Of opinion between
himself and otner supporters OF Grant In
Philadelphia that led him to abandon the
Custom House. This statement of Forney's position
dent has had an excellent effect upon some OF the
weakkneed faithful aG the Capitol, who were found
to be UNITED for legislative business yesterday
through lear that the detection of Forney was not
only certain, but meant the ultimate loss OF Penn
syvania itself to Grant. But the thicker FOrneys
explanations fall the more certain does it become
that he means mischief. He has an ambition to
succeed Mr.. Cameron in the Senate, and hence he
switches of to the Mcclure from the Cameron fac
trou fhQ inn nd hn innp
local position which Colonel Forney desires are to
be held the interests Of the administration In
Pennsylvania the effect will probably be to give the
State to the democrats and so lose 1t both to Grant
and to Forney. This view much talked OF here,
and 1t said Colonel Forney has willing to go
over to the democracy Tor some tlme
The following Is O copy OF the Presidents letter to
Colonel FOrney:-
EXECUTIVE MANSION, |
WASHINGTON, u. u, FeD. II, 1872
To Colonei j. w. FORNEY, Collector Port OF PhIla
MY DEAR CoLoNEI-Your letter Of the 10th inst,
rendering your resignation OF the office Of Collector
OF the port OF Philadelphia TO take erect on the nrst
that you nave found this course necessary because
your appointment 10 That place gave generally a..
| most universal satisfaction wher 1t was
| since your services have been appreciated and
generally / appreciate. however, the reasons
which you assign Tor The course taken, and hope for
VIII be highly gratled successful in procuring
as your successor one ENJOYING the same confidence
of the public and administration and who Will ad.
minister the office well as you nave. With nigh
| regards your Obedient servant L. S. GRANT.
| The Qunrtermas:er's Department Reform
The Oversiaushed tig.itina the Old lile-
| gal Appointees.
The Overslaughed officers OF the Quartermaster's
| Department are not content with any proposition
| that, while 1t gives them the rank they have been
Illegally deprived OF for six years, looks to the re-
tention OF the officers through ntrigues they
| avow the injustice was effected IN the places they
have been filing without the slightest color OF legal
title. They claim that no bill to that effect can get
through the Senate even If the Judiciary Committee
| can be induced to report one. The suppression OF
all mention Of the illegal promotions and appoint-
ments made upon the passage OF the act OF July 49,
1866, and even of the retirement of some officers
10 make for Others IN the general order OF the
War Department, which purports IN terms TO give
all The changes in the up to certain date, Is
| likely to have damaging effect upon the prospects
| OF the officers now in possession OF the disputed
rank, as 1t negatives the suppostlon that the fixed
| law OF promotion was innocently disregarded.
| General Rufus Ingalls, who loses one grade by the
rectifcatOn now going on, takes the part OF the
| aggreved officers, so far as concerns their legal
| rights, and says he has no complaint to make at
losing for the time being "a promotion he never
sought, but which, coming to him unasked,
legality. An examination Of tue list of
officers unlawfuy promoted to Lieutenant colonels
| and majors seems to indicate that the great names
| of Kucker, ingalls,, Easton and Donaldson were
used without their participation to further the
| scheme. The rank ana service Of these four men
| during the war pointed them out as deserving the
| highest places In the peace establishment. The
| illegal precedent established IN their case 1t was
easy for the wire- puers OF Inferior position TO gel
| afta
| A. Ekin, known as volunteer chief mourner at all
state funerals IN Washington till Secretary Beknar
sent INN OIL TO Texas, was on duty In Washington
and assduous IN paying court to power
ana, as the result, got lieutenant colonel's
place. he Is soon TO be relieved from
duty in Texas and some rich developments OF his
career there are expected IN consequence. Captain
Charles II. Tompkins got the same rank as his
friend Ekln. He was Assistant Depot Quarter.
master IN washington and sort OF general caterer
for all the high government officials during the
war; since It's close, the War Department has kept
him on the move, 1t not being thought proper,
| from some cause, to leave him long In any
one place. Captain James NJ. Moore who
jumped many OF his seniors and got a
, majority, was also on duty In Washington that was
| Of more importance to himself, as the sequel
proved, than TO the government. Captain James j..
Dana and others on duty in Washington got
| similar prOmOtlOns Inc OUlCeTS WIZ are HOW u
be rlghted were all absent most of them having
been In the field during the war. These details
have all been made KIN )wn to leading senators and
officers claim only their support but that OF the
| War Department.
At the same time the story has another side which
cannot be overlooked. The fact that the violations
| of the law In making promtions by selection IN.
stead OF seniority were committed by General Grant
| ana Secretary stanton aud the additional fact OF
the extreme secresy by which the recthcation was
| attempted has stirred up much bad blood ana
very bitter fight may be anticipated.
| Conviction o, Ex. Conan essInan stokes Of Cor.
| ruptiy Pushing Fraudulent Claims through