The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-03-03
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The iSabcoo,x Trial as Viewed at the Capt.
tai--Great Raid on Bristow--The Work of
Congress--The Judiciary Blil--Measures

of Finance.
From Our Own Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81, 1876.
The topic of universal interest at this
metropolis during the past weel, has
been the trial of Gen. Babcock at st.
Louis. 1t has been talked about day
and night, from the Executive Mansion
down to the basement gin-mills. pre-
sumo there has been a general interest
in it all over the country, but l doubt
whether stranger to Washington would
appreciate the all-absorbing nature of
the matter here. You see Gen. Babcock
has been not only the Private
Secretary of the President, but has stood
in close intimacy with him socially and
politically. Not only that, but Babcock
and "Boss" Shepherd have long been
on terms of intimate friendship-fre-
quenters of the same club, moving i'll
the same "society" circles, by common
rlmor members of the same associations
for speculation. So both on general ac
count and for local reasons the people of
Washington could not help feeling the
liveliest interest in the st. Louis trial.
That Babcoca has many warm friends
here no one will deny, but that the gen
eral sentiment has been heavily against
him from the beginningi equally true.
And l believe it would largely prepon-
derate against any ole known to have
been the intimate friend and associate of
"the Boss" who in spite of his great
wealth, is the most odious man who ever
stepped within the limits of Washing
ton.
GREAT RAID ON BRIsTow.
But this is not all. One of the most
formidable political intrigucs which have
ever been concocted ut this head-center
of intrigues resulted from the Babcock
trial. Or rather that trial was the occa-
sion of it. l refer to the determined
assault which was made on Secretary
Bristow, and which is still going on while
| write.
1t is known to all men that the attack
of the Treasury Department on that
numerous, wealthy, formidable and most
corrupt combination known as "the
whisky ring" has simply been tremen-
dous "all along the lines" Many men
Of influence in politics, many men of
that standing in society which great
riches and diamond breastpins give,
many sworn officials of the Government
were found to be guilty of the grossest
crimes against the revenue laws, and of
conduct utterly demoralizing to all hon
esty in business and in poll
tics. 1t was impossible that the
Secretary should deliver so heavy
an assault and maintain the fight with
such persistent vigor and unfaltering
pluck, without raising up against him
powerful opposition. THIS opposition
eliminated on the occasion of the Bah
cock trial. All the friends of men in the
whisky ring, all the toadies of power
and they are numerous in every party
even not few of the champions of GER
tain aspirants for the Presidency united,
or seemed to unite, in an attack upon
Bristow. They asserted that the prose
cution of Babcock was an attack upon
the President, and day in and day out
they have used all sorts of influence to get
up "5ad blood" between the President
and the Secretary of the Treasury. AS Gen.
Grant is known to be especially strong
and adhesive in his friendships these
men undoubtedly made considerable
impression upon his mind. And the
great question of to-day is "Will Bris
tow go out 2" This is the conundrum
everybody at Washington is asking,
while waiting for the verdict. Mean
while l beg leave to remark that, what
ever may be the truth as to Gen. Bah
cock, if these uncomfortable intriguers
shall succeed by any means in driving
the brave and honest Secretary of the
Treasury from the Cabinet, the fact will
be nothing less than appalling to all men
of all parties who demand honesty in
politics and in government. And / can
say this with the more emphasis and APP
propriateness because [ care no more FOR
Bristow's political aspirations, if he has
any, than | care for last months moon
shine.
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
The actual accomplishments of Con-
gress have not been much during tie
past week, though either house has made
considerable progress in the work before
it. The most important measure passed
by the House was the bill of the Judi
ciary Committee reorganizing the United
States Courts, by constituting an Inter
mediate Court of Appeals, between
the District Circuit Courts as they
now exist and the Supreme Court
This intermediate Court will be COM
posed of the District Judge, the Cir
cult Judge and one of the Judges of
the Supreme Court, and will have APP
pellate and final jurisdiction in certain
cases which are now taken by appeal or
writ of error to the Supreme Court.
The object of the bill is to relieve the
Supreme Court of the trial of many cases
of a comparatively unimportant nature
The docket of that court is now greatly
overburdened. 1t is very far behind,
and is getting farther behind all the time
Notwithstanding the great and constant
labors of the court. If the bill becomes
law it will accomplish the object
intended, facilitate the administra-
on of justice, and cause no additional
expenditure. 1t is regarded as wise
measure and of very considerable value
to the public. 1 believe that Mr..
McCrary, of Iowa, is the author of the
bill, but it had the hearty approval of
the whole Judiciary Committee.
MEASURES OF FINANCE.
The majority party of the House has