New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-14
STAG WHISKY FOR ONE.

popular government great harm ny the Hccuoi'
of its structures upon the conduct OF public men
and its sweeping criticisms and denunclations
of officials who are suspected OF dishonesty
and corruption. Well meaning persons who had
got into the habit of voting regular ticket
and did not like to be disturbed in it, and
whose confidence in their own leaders was
only equaled by their distrust of the opposl'
ton, were disgustcd at all the talk about Of
fetal corruption and public robbery; they
thought it was bringing our institutions into
contempt abroad and undermining the simple
faith OF tho people in the honesty
of their representative men. So mtch
of this sort of thing made them
sick at the stomach, and whenever there was
a new exposure, or IN investigation demanded
or anything Of that sort, they held up their
lily white hands and said, ooh, talk about
something else!' We desire to spare the feel
ings of this class 1t is with no disposition to
critcise the conduct of any official person that
we touch now gently for single mo-
ment upon the case of Godfrey and Goell,
prOprietO,s of "The Chesapeake" restaurant,
Washington. d. c., against the Hon. Peter
Campbell, late Speaker of the House OF Dele
gates of the District of Columbia. We do it
| merely to show that tho District Government
was a boon, and Peter Campbell statesman
who deserved better fate than to he sued by
unseniimental restaurant keepers for refresh
Inents furnished to class of persons whom he
| defines as "galOOts.'
The bill amounted to $1,O19. It was for re-
| freshmcnts, solid and liquid, running from ~
bottles stag" to "raw tomatoes and potatoes
q" for one" 1t covered the time from April
20 to July 1, 1873. From the testimony
in the case it seems that the Hon. Peter
Campbell, just before he was elected
Speaker of the House of Delegates, with
that wise forethougflt which characternes
the statesman of the period, and which he
had learned from association with OT public
men, appointed Mr.. Godfrey of "'The Chesa-
"peaken to supply the House with refresh
ments, and introduced to him Mr.. Flynn,
| the Sergeant at Arms as tho person
through whom refreshments would be
ordered The clear sighted statesman
having made this provision for the future, was
elected Speaker of the House. Thereon he
proceeded with party of forty or fifty to
"The Chesapeake" and ordered wine, which
was furnished under the appointment. After
ward Mr.. Campbell gave banquet at Tho
"Chcsapcakc,r at which he presided, and none
but members Of tho Legislature were invited.
1t pains ,rs though TO I've obliged to record that
| when the bill for these refreshments was
| handed him that eminent statesman said that
ga lot of galoots had been eating and drink
cling on him and he knew nothing about it."
1t was mainly this question OF "galOOts' that
brought tho matter into litigation. Mr. Camp
bell did not undertake to refresh the galOots"
at his own expense, but at the expense OF the
District, which, it will be remembered, has
been beautifed and adorned by statesmen like
Alexander II. Shepherd and Peter Campbell to
an extent that challenges the admiration Of the
world. Mr.. Godfrey does not dispute the
statement that the refreshments were fur
nished to "galoots," but the District Govern
ment, to which it properly belonged to furnish
rw tomatoes and stag whisky during
the progress of the great improvements,
having faded away like beautiful
dream, leaving "Thc Chesapeake" bill
unprovided for, Mr. Godfrey falls back OH the
statesman who gave him the appointment of
purvcyor, and calls the Hon. Peter Campbell
| into court
From the documentary evidence Offered it
| appears that on the Odd of June the following
communication from the Speaker was received
by the purveyor:
HOUSE DELEGATES.
DISTRICT COLUMBIA, June 3d. 1873
CHARLES GODFREY Please send over to Speakers room
porter house steak, green peas raw tomatoes. and po-
| tatoes for one. p. CAMPBELL, Speaker.
Observe how formal and dignitied this was
worthy tho Private Secretary of the President
ordering the diversion of $4,000 from the APP
preparation for tho State Department Building
| XL,o ~ atnhlrg
| And "for one" too. There sat Peter Campbell,
Speaker of the House of Delegates in
solitary and perhaps gloomy grandeur, eat
ing zone pOrter-hOusc steak, green peas,
raw tomatoes and potatoes for one"
ut the expense of the District of Columbia.
And not alone of the District; for it was
to come out of the United States of America
in the end by Congressional appropriation.
Behold him adding to tho National debt the
expense of steak peas, tomatoes, and potatoes
for one, in the grand and magnificent way
of legislator of the period; giving
to all of us-even to the most
ordinary tax-paycr-the privilege Ofpaying for
his little lunch. That was the sort of man
Peter Campbell was. Nothing mean about him.
"For One!" Consider it, And ho the Speaker
of the House of Delegates. Three days LATER
with increasing familiarity with Godfrey, he
writes:
GODFREY Four fried chickens, &C., six bottles Of wine,
one box Of cigars, two bottles stag. CAMPBELL.
June 26, 1878.
"Stag!r That was what they lcgislatcd on
Stag Whisky. 1t explains much of the wonder
full legislation of that bOdy-it WAS done on
the inspiration of Stag whisky.
The same day he sends this. 1t must have