Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-12-17
VAE HANCOCK CASE.

TBE BABCOCK CASE.
When it was announced that Presi-
dent Grant was heartily supporting
Mr.. Bristow in his raid on the Western
Whiskey Ring, it was held very gener-
ally, says the Baltimore Gazette, in
spite OF ugly rumors that Were atioat,
to be satisfactory proof that he, at
least, had not knowingly used his
great office to promote the schemes OF
The conspiritors. When, too, in add
ion to this, publicity was twice Off
cially given TO his famous injunction -
Let no guilty man escape" law
officers Of The Government might well
feel encouraged TO pursue vigorously
the offenders and bring them to JUS
tice, even though they might be found,
in the course of the investigation,
among the Presidents old associates
or the trusted members of his own
military household. ....--
We do not consider that General
Grant would be entitled to special
commentator, even if he had main
tajut firmly the position he had as
Sumcd. 1t is a part of bis duty to see
t"at the laws are fa thfu'ly executed
but those laws only relate to such a.
G me properly wI'nIu the functions Of
he Executive. They do not cover
heir administration by the civil t,I-
bunals. With these he had Little %
nothing to do, except to stand asli'e
aud let them take their course H
Vas not cited upon to 'ihort the li,F
Ulcers III the. ST. LOui~ trials to Il Ia
enc. IL Certainly exceeded his "a +
hDrty Wien he iusistea on the DIS
ni>sn Of General Henderson, as
pecial counsel, for some structures IL
tie Av ry trial 'mputing negl gepce TO
the Administration, aud which were
iustitiab.e in tke light of tie. fac-s
-licited ard by the u~ages OF the pa.
fession. Il was FOR the Court, aud not
| the President, to take coghizanco of
any improper Language, and his int, r
| ference las hid him open to t. rave
suspicion that he is deter mined to inter
pose the strength of his prerogative-
or what he assumes to be his prerogt-
tive--between an offender and tile rs
tice of his country if that offeuder
shall be traced to the interior of the
White House
When Commissioner Douglass, first
IN the public journals and afterward
in his testimony at st. Louis, stated
that tine President rescinded the order
removing Joyce and Mcdonald from
the latter city, a year ago, General
Grant closed his lips, and so taciti Y
admitted that the story was true, with
all its damaging differences. Wher
his former associate, Mcdonald, wal
convicted, he silently acquiesced in the
righteousness of the verdict. WheI
the kilograms that passed between
Babcock and Joyce were made public
he avowed and still avows-h1s belle
in the innocence of Babcock, but lie
Joyce be sent to the penitentiary will
the utmost unconcarn. Il hen al in
dict ent became imminent agains
Babcock, he assisted the latter to par
ry the blow by calling a Militar,
Court of inquiry, AID when an indict
ment was found he procured the re
, moval of General Henderson, the spe
cial Government counsel for the pros
ecutlon, and who had conducted tn
trial of the chiefs with singular vigo
and ability, and dictated the appoint
ment Of Mr.. Glover as his successo,
By this course he has endeavored t
EN- barrass, if not to defeat, the prose
. cutiop of Babcock and other partie
whose trials are yet to come off; ha
I revived and intensified those suspi
| clons IN respect to himself which hi
previous warm apprs val of Mr.. Bris
lows action had measurably, if 70
, entirely, dissipated, and if Baboock
now acquitted, when his case cnme
o up for trial, the efforts that have bee
| made to shield him will deepen til
I Onviction Of his guilt.