The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1875-12-21
What Senator Henderson Says Of His Dis
miSsal.

missal.
From the Missouri Republican. Dec. IL
A Republican reporter visited Senator
Henderson O short time after the recep-
ton Of this dispatch, and found him at
his office discussing the situation with q
few friends. The Senator had just been
furnished with q copy OF the announce
ment, and this he handed to the news
man.
Senator, what do you think Of this
charge of outraging professional pro
p~riety?"
"Think of it? Why, / hardly know
what to think OF it. In the first place
the question arises, what is professional
propriety? Then, that being deter
minod, can any remark which ] made
in the Avery case be, by the most sevore
construction, considered q violation of
it? | hardly think that any remark
which was Il legitimate portion OF u lc-
Ultimate argument can be justly charac-
torized thus. / have frequently said
and l repeat it, that l made no assault
upon the President. In commenting on
the causes of our nations ills, | depre-
Gated the system Of government which
makes any officer, however humble,
subservicnt to another, however high.
/ declared that, when an officer recog-
njzod any other master than the law,
he was dcrclict in his duty and treach-
ron to his trusts. Mr.. Douglass had
testified that the President interferred
with him in the discharge OF duties for
which he (Douglass) alone was respon-
sible; and in reviewing this testimony l
stated that the President hnd no bust
ness to make such interference, and
Douglass had no business to submit to
it. If this plain assertion OF what any
honest and candid mind must recog-
nize as u fact was an assault on the
President, or an outrage on professional
propriety, then / must plead n want Of
comprehension of those terms. For
such a statement us that | have no apol-
ogy to make, and the statement i'm this
mornings Gtobe-D Democrat, which at
tributed to me u dispatch in the nature
OF an apology, which was sent to Wash
inGtOn, was erroneous
edo you think, Senator, that this was
tho real occasion of your removal, or
vas it merely %pretext?'
LET the record of the case and the
Judgment Of the public settle that"
ut has been suggested that your
prosecution was rather Unexpectedly
vigorous. What do you think Of that?''
"That, too, can only be q matter Of
inference. Ween the President, by let
ter, forwarded the injunction, Let no
guilty mar escape and when, last fall
he verbally repeated it to Col. Dyer,
supposed he meant what he said, and |
have acted on that supposition. i have
ton that every man whom we should
find reason to indict should have a fan
trial, should have every opportunity fol
defense, and should be convicted If !
possessed tho power to accomplish that
end. The very trial in regard to which
this trouble arose was IN emincntly fail
one. The defendant was allowed the
benefit Of every defense which the most
liberal justice would warrant, and !
have no hesitation in saying that it will
go into history as n of the faircst
trials on record"
"Your removal, Senator, does not
probably cause you serious i%nconveni-
ence?"
"Quite the contrary. It would have
been hardly an honorable mOv on my
part to Withdraw from the case, and ye,
| have Of late been very poorly fitted to
continue my labors. Ihave not felt like
prosecuting anybody. ] have just suf-
fered a great bereavement through q
death i'm my family: some of the mem.
bers of my household are sick / have
labored with great perseverance, on
these cases ever since June last, to the
LOtHl utBlecJ vi I'LL OtileT DuSIHeSS, J. hill
quite worn out physically and tired
fond of prosecuting. HENCE, / can say
with great sincerity, that This action OF
governmental authorities has afforded
me considerable relief"
EDO you regard this action as e1na.
mating mainly from the President, Oh
rs i~nstigated by somc member OF the
Cabinct?"
"That ! do not pretend to Judge. ]
have no enemy that l know of in thu
Cabinet. / have long enjoyed friendly
relations with Fish, Belknap, Chandler
and P%ierrepont, and considered them
my friends. Mr.. Robson ] met bat
ance with him. ] am sorry to know
that all Of these gentlemen took such n
view Of my course rs that expressed in
the telegram"
"Do you intend to make any public
statement of your position, Senator?''
mot at all. The entire record OF the
case and my part in it are before the
public, and ] have no desire to influ
cnce any Judgment"
"WiIl you send any communication
to Washington"
81 shall probably write a short letter
at my leisure, in Justice to myself"
"Do you think, Senator, that q new
mar can step into your position, and sc
perform the part which had been mark
ed out for you as to carry tho prosccu-
ton to u successful ~cIose?"
Certainly / do. / think that there
are many lawyers I'm this city who could
make a far better showing than 1 could
do"
This closed tho interview, and the re,
porter left.