Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-12-13
GEN. HendersOn's Dismissal.

HENDERsos's REMARKS AT ST. LOUIS THE OUT
COME OF HIS HOSTILITY TO THE PREsIDKNT-THE
PROSECUTION NOT AFFECTED BY HIS DIsMIssAL.
Special Dispateh to the New Pork Times.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1O.-The employment of
Gen. Henderson to assist in the prosecutions of
the whisky ring at st. Louis was referred by the
Attorney General to the President, who
sanctioned and approved It, Judge Pier
repont did not know at that time
that Henderson Twss bitter per
dent then mention it. He had no doubt Of Hen
derson's ability, and as the Attorney General
recommended his employment to be for the in
terest of the Government the President laid
aside the thought of their personal
lsa0ns Be rs.insa gsss goms shns ss sasa
in conversation, the President told Judge
Pierrepont of the hostile personal relations be-
tween Henderson and himself. Perhaps Hem
derson did not know that his appointment In the
first place was due to the Presidents forbear-
ance, and perhaps 1t would have made no differ
ence to him il he had. The newspaper report
of Judge Henderson's speech is essentially COR
rect, as compared with the sworn copy Of the
stenographer's notes. He attacked the Pres-
Internal Revenue Bureau, and attacked Mr..
Douglass for needing the requests or demands
OF the President. The reference was to
the order changing the Supervisors from
one district to another, which the President
overruled,. as he had perfect right,
under the law, to do. The order was made by
Secretary Bristow and not by Mr.. Douglass,
though his recommendation Of the change is on
file. 1t is the unanimous opinion OF the Cabi-
net and the almost universal opinion Of lawyers
about town, that Hendersons sliusion to the
President was outside the evidence, and, in
view Of his employment by the Government,
unprofessonal and unjusti6able. The tele-
graphic order from Judge Pierrepont for Hem
derson's Dismissal ia terBe and clear statement
of all the essential facts, and may form cor
rect basis Of Judgment on the question involved
in the action.
The occurrence OF the difficulty is regretted
on all hands. 1t will be seized upon by those
who are endeavoring to create disturbance OF
the harmony OF the Cabinet with the nope OF
thereby crippling the prosecution of the King,
which can only be successfully carried forward
by the ooncordant action Of all departments OF
the Government. In this connection the state
ment that the Cabinet WAS unanimous in its
condemnation Of the course of Gen. Henderson
is of especial Importance.
The hostility between the President and Hem
derson had its origin In the old controversy be-
tween Gen. Grant and President johnson, when
Henderson espoused the cause OF the latter.
Political events following the impeachment
served to intensity the feeling which has at last
been forced upon the attention of the public.
1t has been often stated, and may be re-
| iterated with assurance, that during the
| whole investigation not scrap OF testimony,
| documentary or verbal, has been discovered
which reflects in the slightest degree upon the
President. The statements of all the officers
connected with the exposure and punishment
of the Ring are explicit and emphatic upon this
point, and there can be no room to question hii
honest purpose to adhere to the order to let nc
| guilty man escape"
The effisiency of the prosecutions is not to be
| impaired by the dismissal of Henderson. The
Attorney Generals instructions are clear on thii
point. An able assistant ia to be secured with
out regard to political association.
There is q Democratic lawyer OF ability sne
eminenoe in st. Louis by the name Of Glove
who will be employed II he Is not retained OF
the side of the defense, which is not certainly
| known here.