New-York tribune., 1875-12-11
NO ESCAPE FOR GUILTY MEN.
HENDERSON REMOVED.


A CABINET SESSION on THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OPINION IN FAVOR OF CHANGE OF SPECIAL
oouNsrI-How TIE GRAVE MISTAKE OF THE
PRESIDENT Is POPULARITY VIEWED.
Ipr TELEGRAPH To THE rRIBUNE,l
WASHINGTON, Dee 10.-The Presidents anger
over the st. Louis whisky complications has cul-
minated as many of his judieous friends feared 1t
wonld eliminate, in the peremptOry dismissal OF
ex-senator Henderson. the counsel for the Govern
ment II is already generally known that the I'M
mediate cause Of the Presidents anger was the
,peech of Henderson in the Avery trial in the course
of which the name OF Gen. Babcock was mentioned
in an unfavorable connection, and IN which the
President himself also alluded to, though he was
In no way accused of having any knowledge or sus-
pcion Of any of the frauds whatever or any connec-
ton with them Ever since the report of the speech
reached the President in the newspapers he has shown
unusual feeling on the subject; but he took no de-
esive action until the sworn statement of the words
Of Mr. Henderson reached him. The exacts words
were laid before the Cabinet by the Attorney-Gen-
eral to-day and the report goes, every member of
the Cabinet pronounced the speech an outrage, ana
ooncurred in recommending the removal of the eX-
Senator. This action goes TO show that Gen. Grant
Is superior in some respects 10 the late PRESIDENT
Lincoln who used say that he had no influence In
his Cabinet. The AttOrey-General, therefore, has
telegraphed TO United States Attorney Dyer at st.
Louis directing him TO dismiss Mr.. Henderson and
employ other counsel.
The action of the Cabinet is the subject of uni
yersal discussion this evening, and there is no mis-
taking the public sentiment with reference TO 1t.
This sentiment, among friends and foes alike, is
unouestionablv against the wisdom of the decision.
The President has suffered and every day suffers
severer personal attacks upon himself and his official
family than that made by Mr. Henderson, and 1t ls,
therefore, TO bepTesumed that he would, by tins tlme
have come to look upon them with more or less lndf
ference One attack more or less, especially if it is
without foundation, even though made i'll court, Is
not likely to injure him. and should he considered a
small matter in any light. But the counsel
was very severe on Gen. BaboOck, and
promised 10 show that he connected
with the conspiracy. The Presidents friends here
Zee LAT the country will look with suspicion upon
the removal of Mr.. Henderson the heels of that
declaration and they say that the President ought
10 have been all the more ready to give him the
chance to make good his promise, and instead OF dis
missing him should have aided him with all the
moral force of his continued support
Already people here beginning to say that it is
An unmistakable invitation 10 District-Attorncy
DYER TO select some one for counsel who will be more
careful in mentioning the names of people covered
bv the roof of the White House. People also say,
tlst in case Gen. BabcOck is Innocent the action OF
to-day will be injurious to him. and that if guilty
suspicion will rest upon the President If he is IN
noeent il were better he should be shown so under
the prosecution of Mr.. Henderson, who knows more
Of the ramifcations Of the Whisky Ring
than anybody else for, whatever may be the result
Of Gen. Babc0cks trial before the st. Louis court,
there will always be suspicion that the Adminlsra-
ton did not care have him prosecuted by the same
lawyer who prosecuted and convicted Mcdonald,
joyce Avery and others, and that il nterfered at
critical period 1t is generally supposed here that
Mr. Henderson was acting under the direct instruc-
tions of Assistant Attorney-General BlufOrd Wilson,
Solicitor of the Treasury, and Secretary BrlStow.
Great astonshment Is expressed here tonight that
Secretary Bnstow consented to the dismissal of Mr.
Henderson. it was supposed that their cause was
one-namely, the conviction of guilty persons, ana
that the Secretary would sustain the lawyer But
according TO one member of the Cabinet, Mr.. BITS
tow was as prominent as the Others in urging Mr..
Henderson's removal. In the words of the member:
"Inever saw such unanimity and earnestness III the
Cabinet" The action to-day sets at rest all rumors
10 the effect that the President and Secretary BITS
tow have had any quarrel on the subject OF the
whisky frauds.