Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-27
rHE DIsrRIor R1NG,s nEFEA1


An effort is being made by the Ad-
ministration journals of the country to
misrepresent the whole Fisher case, in
order to save the President from odium
fOr his vaciIlation-though it should
Be called by a stronger name. The
fact that at ons time there was a good
prosp ct of a rupture between Grant
and the best men Of his Cabinet has
been called a sensation" but the real
history Of the cas-, as given by the
Washington correspondent of the CHI
cago Times. shows how far it partakes
of that character:
In the first place, the President is
the one Who is credited with the order
ing Of the removal Of Fisher, and it is
said that the Attorney General was
only an instrument in his hands to Sc
cure this removal. Secondly, it is
claimed that, when Grant temporarily
revoked the order, he only did it for
the purpose Of allowing Fisher to de-
fen himself The facts, however, put
down all such assumptions. If it had
depended upon Grant alone, Fisher
would have been in the Office until the
end of this administration.
The move against Fisher comes from
the Cabinet officers, who had especially
suffered at his hands Jewell was the
most active, and when he presented his
case, Pierrepont, Belknap and Bristow
Joined him with similar charges. This
was some time ago. As it began to be
whispered that the Attorney Gen
eral was investigating Fishers Office,
with view Of recommending
change, leading lawyers in
Washington went to the aid Of the
investigation. Pierrepont was new to
the District and ito ways, and before
making any move against Fisher, he
commenced a careful investigation that
continued over two weeks. At the ex-
piration of this investigation, Pierre
p5It came to the most positive conclu-
sion that Fisher must be removed, in
order to secure the proper management
Of district criminal matters. a great
quantity of testimony was taken by
Pierrepont, and he reported on it that
he found nothing to show against
Fishers personal integrity. He, how
ever, recommends that he be removed
upon the ground of incapacity.
This was very mild, coming from the
Attorney General, when he knew that
Fisher had placed bis son in charg e of
the prosecutions of the police court,
and that the younger Fisher had driven
an open trade with the gambling and
bawdy houses OF Washington.
The report Of the Attorney General
was sent over to the President on Fri
day, the 9th If this month. 1t was
accompanied by a request that Pierre
pont be empowered TO summary dis
miss Fisher frol. Office, and appoint a
successor. So strong a case was pre-
scented that the President, after wait
ing until the 18Th, the following Tues
day, acceded to Pierrepont's request.
The President sent an order to the
Attorney General for him to request
tie resignation of Fisher, with the
suggestion that Pierrepont should
make no delay in ;he matter, but make
al possible haste This looked as if
he anticipated trouble.
On that Tuesday, Fisher was notified
Of the Presidents order The next
day, Wednesday, he left for Long
Branch. That day, also, the Office was
rendered to ex-Gov. Wells. Fisher re-
turned on Thursday, and brought back
a verbal order from the President to
suspa md matters for a short time. On
Friday Boss Shepherd, Safe, burglar
Harrington, and Mrs. Fisher visited
the Branch. On Saturday, Mrs. Fish.
er telegraphed to her husband, DO not
resign-ebe President is very kind"
The representations OF the District
people secured from the President d
note written on Saturday, addressed to
the Attorney General, directing him to
still further suspend proceedings.
The Shepherd Fisher Harrington
clique now wereperfectlyhappy. They
were sure that they would carry the
day. The note Of the President did
not reach the Attorney General until
Tuesday morning, on accOuft of his
absence from Long Branch. The first
notification he had of the prospective
triumph Of the District people was in
the statement Of the Star Of Monday
| evening. He at once held a consulta-
| ton with Bristow and Jewell. The
whole forces Of these mon were united,
and such strong representations made
10 the President that he saw he had
gone too far. He telegraphed on Tues
dag, through Gen. Babcock, that he
would have stood by Fisher, but the
| support would have cost him his Cabi-
ret. He realized The situation in time
to retreat in good order. This IS the
history Of the case that one time threat
ened such serious consequences; and,
for once, Grant has been forced to do
right.
And now that Fisher has been ousted
and can be of no further service to
, them, the mercenary organs at Wash
ington all set up a howl at his heels
and let out some Of the truth about
his corrupt admins tration. One of
them says:
F Ever since Fisher resigned his life
position as Judge of the Supreme Court
| of the District of Columbia to accept
the District AttOrneyship, the Office
has been conducted in a manner that
gave offense not only to the bar, but to
| the citizens generally. No sooner had
| bs baa1, Amounted than he surrounded