Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-23

Mr.. JOHN d. DEGREES, late superintendent
of public printing at Washington, is still very
angry with Mr.. Collax, on account of losing
that position. and refuses TO be comforted. In
our judgment, his removal from that office Sc
cured an important improvement of the public
service 1t would be very easy to explain why
he is an unit man to have charge of the public
printing; but, under present circumstances this
is unnecessary. Why he holds Mr. Colfax re-
sponsible for his loss of the office, is not so APP
parent as it should be to excuse his anger. Mr..
Colfaz had no more to do with his removal,
than with the election of Mr. Mcpherson as
clerk of the house of representatives; that is to
say, he had nothing at all to do with it. Mr..
Defrees was removed by the senate, and the de-
cison not to re-elect him was adopted with
great unanimity by caucus of the republican
senators, of which Mr.. Colfax knew nothing,
and which he had no influence TO control. De-
frees shrinks from saying explicitly, in his pub
lie communications, that he holds the vice pres
ident responsible for his removal; nevertheless,
it is well known that bis anger against Mr.
CollaX was immediate, sulleu, and impacable;
and it appears to have grown in sullenness ever
since. The matter came up again recently in
one of the Indiana newspapers, which has
moved Mr.. Defrees TO issue card in which he
says this:
"About or O'Clock on the evening of the
day after the caucus, Mrs. Defraes, becoming
incensed that he had shown such a want of
interest in the affair, sent Mr.. COlfdX card, on
which was printed Mr.. and Mrs. John d. De
frees, on the back oil which she Endorsed the
following, from SOlomon's Proverbs, which she
thought peculiarly applicable: Confidence in
an unlaithiul man in time of trouble is like a
broken tooth or foot out of joint. With the
card she returned several small presents that
had been given her by Mr.. COliax. On the fol-
lowing day Mr.. CoiaZ was informed by friend
of his and mine, by my authority, that he was
not blamed for not using his influence to pre-
vent the action Of the caucus; but because he
had not shown any interest in the result after
it had taken place, and that the card and pres
ents had been sent TO him by Mrs. Defrees, of
her own accord, without my approval, and
much 10 my regret. To this explanation, given
in all kindness, he simply remarked that, as my
name was on the card (the 'Mr.' had not been
erased by Mrs. d., must be responsible. Of
course / at once assumed the responsibility, and
since then there has been no intercourse between
us, and no one acquainted with me need be as
sured that there never will be again"
This is much more funny than terrible. There
must have been the widest outbreak of rage in
the Deirees household, before the card motto,
and presents, were hurled with such fury at the
head Of SO pleasant gentleman as the vice
president. II was not precisely what would
have been done by Mr. Delrees himself, for he is
usually one of the Aminidab Sleek sort of men,
whose ways are softly, even in anger and not
at all like those Of Captain Thunder. We should
like 10 know what he found in the Office that
can explain his long and suller mourning over
the loss Of it. The salary was $4,000 year, GER
tainy not more Than enough to pay the ex-
penses OF his family in Washington. BE the
explanation what 1t may, we have it from Mr..
Defrees himself that all intercourse between
him and Mr.. Collax has ceased, and that it will
never be renewed. Nevertheless the sun and
moon, utterly regardless of his anger, have
failed to "stand sill"