The New Orleans bulletin., 1875-12-15
estimated by lawyers and politi-

clans.
If it be true, as held by Lord Brougham, that
the whole duty of an advocate is to protect
utmost Of his ability. then, if justified by
the facts, Mr. Henderson must be COM
mended rather than censured for sharply
rebuking even the President, for his un-
warranted conduct in the premises, if in his
judgment such course would aid in securing
the conviction of the prisoner for crime
against the government The government of
the United States was his client, not Presl-
dent Grant. The crime had been committed
against the government, not the President
1t was the law of the United States that had
been violated, not the Presidents mandates,
and pit was that law that was to be vindi-
Gated by the greatest efforts of the advocate,
without respect to the personal interests or
wishes, OF even the feelings of the individual
who CHANGED, for the time being, to occupy
the Presidential chair
1t must be borne in mind that the Presi-
dent is not the government, nor he and all
the other public functionaries combined.
They are but the agents of the government,
the sovereignty which constitutes the govern
ment residing in the States and people. 1t
was an officer Of the government the eminent
counsel was prosecuting for an offense against
and injury to his client, the government. If
he discovered in the progress of the trial any
on the part Of the President and
his private secretary with the culprits whom
he was prosecuting, oriany attempt to shield
them from the hand of Justice, or to battle
Mr.. Douglass in his efforts to ferret out their
crime, then it was his duty to his client fear
lessly to expose and rebuke. these faithless
officials; and every lawyer worthy to minister
in the Temple of Justice will approve the
act.
That Mr.. Henderson was justified in his
reflections on Gen. Babcock is abundantly
shown by the subsequent Indictment of Bab-
cock by the Grand Jury at st. Louis, for his
completely in the whisky frauds. The Presi-
dents connection with these infamous rings,
organized to defraud the government, has not
been confined to whispers in secret corners,
but it has been proclaimed from the housetop
by newspapers Of the highest respectability-
notably by the New York Sun-until it has
become great scandal to the nation. Who
knows what degree of guilt might be fastened
upon the President before Grand Jury, if
the investigation were conducted by SO fear
less and honest lawyer as ex-senator Hen
derson? II Babcock be guilty can Grant be
innocent? This question will be asked by
every one who considers their intimate and
confidential relations
But politicians of the Radical school will
take quite another view of the matter. They
practically hold that "the king can do no
and that it is the divine right of their
President to share the wages
Of sin with all the favored rings that have
Piled their craft with so much thrift under
his administration. They will, therefore, re-
gard the plain speech of the Missouri ex.Sen-
stor as an act Of impiety little less than trea-
son. 1t is rule with them to 'crook the
pregnant hinges ,of the knee" in the pres
snce of their master, since they
have found that "thrift uniformly
g follows fawning" They will not pause to
consider the high duty of the counsel re-
aimed for the government to sweep away
,very obstacle that blocked the road to Justice |
md barred the interests of his client, even
hough it be the President himself. The per-
ION of the President is too sacred to admit of |
upon his conduct, though he
nay have given aid and comfort to the cul-
,rits undergoing prosecution for their crimes,
nd of course the partisans of Grant consider
hat the great advocate has covered himself
With "shame" in daring to reprove the
scorner."
The country will approve the fearless con-
luct of the eloquent counsellor for saying to
he President, as Nathan said unto David,
: Thou art the man"-thou art the man that
las thrown obstacles in the way Of bringing
hese criminals to justice-and the country
,ill condemn the act of tae President in dis
Missing him from his high trust for such
aithful discharge Of duty. We have fallen
pom times which require great plainness of
peech on the part Of the guardians OF public
lstice.
SOHO0T, nTS0TpLTNE WANTED