The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-12-24
rmE DISMISSAL OF GIN. HENDERSON



lFrcm the ST. Louis Republcan
The behavior Of President Grant in
the Babcock case may, with a slight
stretch If charity. be regarded az a
blunder; a bad blunder, indeed. vet
not entirely unsuscepiiblc Of some toll
erably satisfactory explanation. But
his treatment Of Gen Henderson puts
him beyond the reach II charity; for il
j. a crime. not a blunder.
When the whisky cases came TO trial
in this city. the United States District
Attorney. approaching the vast import
ance If the issues involved. requested
additional legal assistance. The Gov
eminent assigned Gen. Henderson to
the task. lie did not seek il, he did
not even desire IL but il was ihurst
upon him, and recognizing his dur, as a
citizen and A. Il lawyer, he accepted il.
Once enlisted in the work. he perform
ed il as AL such work should be per-
formed thoroughly and well. He had
no friends 10 reward and no enemies TO
punish. but a. the representative of the
people in their struggle with monster
ring II thieves and cOrrupiionists, he
fought the peoples fight with all the
energy in him. He did no more than
his duty. but there are not MANY men
who have the stuff 10 DO as noblv a. he
did We dc not hesitate 10 say that his
speech on the trial OF Avery was one
Of the finest efforts ever made M the
American bar. IL not only carried con-
viction to the minds of all who listened.
but stamped Gen. Henderson a. for
ensic orator Of the first class. la that
speech these words were used
What right had Babcock 10 20 to Douglass
10 induce him 20 withdraw hi. agents.
Douglass wa placed in his position 70 see
that the revenue laws ~ the Government
Were properly enforced. Wha; business.
then. had Douglass with HIM. When an
official goes into office. he should he free and
independent Of al influences except that II
law. and II he recognizes any other master,
then ibis Government j. tumhiing down
What right has the President Ia Interfere
with Commissioner Douglass in the proper
discharge % his duties. or with the Treas
urert None: and Douglass showed a lament-
able weakness Of character when h. listened
10 Babcock's dictates. He should either
have insisted that his orders. a. they exist
ed. be carried out. OF should have resigned
his office. Now. why did Douglas bend the
supple hinges ofthe knee and permit any in
reference by the Presidenty This wa
Douglass own business. and he stood re-
sponsible for IL under his official oath. lie
wa bound - listen 10 no dictaiion from The
President. Babcock. or any other officer.
and II was his duts "a see that that order
was carried out. or 10 resign. Would that
we had officials who possessed more Of that
sterner stun 20 which the Office -holdcrs ~
olden times were made. Why do they not
leave their Office when they cannot remain
Their, honorahlyf l. II ~ continue that he-
A.. N. a..
another be l. be a bonded .ia,cs
And for these words Gen. Henderson
is informed that the Government has
no longer any need Of his services. :"
For "the Government read ..the
President. and the contemptible bust
ness will be considerably more intelligi-
bic. The Government has very great
need Of his services but the President,
as we can easily understand, desires 10
dispense with them a. soon as possible.
But since when did Il become an ofiense
in the eyes Of executive majesty Ia de-
nounce illegal Interference with the
functions of the servants Of the people?
Since when has il become an unpardon-
able sin for counsel engaged In prose
cutting a criminal To speak Of the agen-
Tvs WHICH lhaA SiAnAiAi eiHploNtu -
they deserve? Since when has ii been
" ineXcusable violation II official
etiquette TO say that Commissioner Of
Internal Revenue has no right 10 run 10
the White House for instrnctionsP Since
when has IL been grave misdemeanor
for legal champion of the Government
10 present facts necessary for the sue
cess " the Government cause? Since
when has II been species Of treason
for an American citizen 10 look with
uudazzled eyes At the President, aud tell