New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-14
THE NEW LAWYER IN THE BABCOCK CASE.
The Hon James O. BrOadbead who is under


The Hon. James o. Broadhead, who is under
stood to have accepted the Governments re-
tanner in the st. Louis whisky cases, is one of
the ablest Democratic lawyers Of that city.
He was Union man, an active friend OF
Blair, member of the "Union Safety Com
"mittee" at the Outbreaking of the war, and
afterward Provost Marshal under President
Lincoln, and in that capacity ho was very
much disliked by Confederate sympathizers.
With the Blair party he went over to the
Democracy, and for more than ten years has
acted with that party, and it was to him, as
his especial friend, that Gen. Frank Z. Blair
addressed his revolutionary letter in 1868.
During the last year, Col. Broadhcad has been
a Democratic member of the State COnstitu-
tional Convention. He is an able man, and
his unmeasurcd denunciation of President
Grants interference in Louisiana, when Gen.
Sheridan took possession of the Representa-
tives Hall, attracted general attention. IL is
hardly probable that he would be predispOsed
to deal lightly with crimes of any near the
White House. and the President may hear
harsher language from him than he will relish.
In the selection of successor to Mr.. Hen
derson, therefore, the President has done what
he could to satisfy the country that the change
of counsel was not designed to shield Gen.
Babcock. The difficulty is, that no new prose-
cutor, however able, can acquire, within
the short time allowed, that familiar
ity with the vOluminous and complicated
evidence which Mr.. Henderson had gained
by constant participation in the inves-
tgation since the appointment of the
present District Attorney. in that respect the
prosecution would have been weakened,
no matter who had been selected. But Col.
Dyer, the District-Attorney, is lawyer of
force and energy, and unless the President
means to have it generally believed that he
intends to screen Babccck by means wholly
indefensible, he will not cause any change in
that office. We are glad that the President
has done what he could to lessen the effect Of
his grave blundcr il the removal of Mr.. Hen
derson, and presume that he will not make
another still more injurious to his reputation
while this case is pending.
President Grant has probably been reminded
before this time that nothing less than the
most searching investigation is to be expected
from the House of Representatives. There is
abundant room for inquiry. The courts can
only examine as to the guilt or innocence of
certain persons, but the House will have
power to go much further, and to ascertain
how far any neglect Of duty, any indifference
to the public welfare any error in the
selection of officials any ccnsurable
blindness to their conduct, any blame
worthy disposition to defend favOrites when
criticised, has contributed to cause this whole
sale robbery of the Government The country
docs nof he,ieye the President Cuilty of any
completely with fraud, but it finds abundant
reason, in the progress of these whisky trials,
for the belief that he is not fit to be re-
elected. This broader and more searching IN
quiry he cannot avoid, and it is well that he
does not make it more severe by his conduct
during the trials of his former friends.