The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-18

. EFFECT
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
On Tuesday last the HERALD's Washington column
contained despatch from under the special corrc
spondence headed in the following words-
The Interpretation generally put upon the letter OF
Attorney General Pierrepont the Western district
attorneys in regard to the punishment OF infmers in
the whiskey cases has annoyed Mr.. Perrepont very
much especially he has been questioned about 1t by
some Of his legal friends, who have not hesitated
to express their astonshnent to him at the
positions taken in the letter His explanation
to them that he did not in fact originate the letter.
but that 1t written by special direction Of the
President. who sent for him for that purpose Mr..
Pierrepon is reported have added that he softened
the terms of the letter much possible and to such
a degree that when the President it he expressed
himself dissatisfied that 1t not stronger Those
with whom he has talked say that Mr.. Perrepont APP
pears to think that he did public service In man
aging prevent decided letter from going to
the district attorneys.
The Attorney General, to my astonishment, seems to
deny the truth of these statements note you pub
lish from him this morning The matters asserted in
the despatch are
Fxst-That the Attorney General has been annoyed
at the Interpretation put upon his letter Western
district attorneys.
Second-That he has been spoken to abou. 1t by his
legal friends
TRird-That Mr.. Pierrepont has said that he wrote
the letter by direction OF the President
Four0t-And that the President was dissatisfied that
the letter not stronger.
is no ground for dispute The Attorney General would
not be human II he not annoyed at the remarks
made everywhere about this letter. So Gar as
certain lawyers and others unconnected with the
administration pu, only ono Interpretation on it,
namely-to the cautious language of ex.Attorney
General Black that ait looks like dscouraging wit
nesses."
As to the other points do not read denial Of them
In the Attorney Generals letter repeat that they
are true He has been spoken about the letter by
lawyers, he has said that the letter written py
direction OF the President and that the President
pected it to be stronger.
For my part when this report OF what Judge Pierre
pont had said about the letter came 10 my ears, and
worthy authority, was glad admire the Attorney
General and thought that what convinced he
has said credtable to him to this extent, that 1t
relieved him OF the very grave responsibility of
having, as the chief law onlcer of the
government originated a letter which was
everywhere and at once understandable use
again Judge Blacks words-as "discouraging
witnesses" II the Attorney General reads the
papers he must know that his reputation lawyer,
and as tho chief Law ofhcer OF the government
going begging to speak. The Springfield RepnoIi
can, for instance, said Of it and him
Any man IN Mr.. Pierrepont's position and Of Mr..
Pierreponts antecedents who writes such a letter
this at such time takes his reputation in his hand.
The st. Louis Times said, on the day IL reprinted the
letter from the Chicago Times =
1--WE are not mistaken in the construction Of this let
ter it is particularly intended for those who PLEADED
guilty and upon whose testimony tho prosecution
alone succeeded securing the conviction Of those who
did not
The Attorney General now takes the whole RESPONSE
bility Of the letter upon himself and say
respectfully, so much the worse for him. But he
saws Of his letter that purey ofcia eonnden-
tial as all Official letters are and exposed by gross
Improperly" is proper for me 70 tell you that the
letter was first published in tho Washington dispatches
of the Chicago Times on February /, and II attracted
my attention there because II profaced by open
and apparently authoritative threat against all who
should turn nformers, and distinct assertion that
the President was 'dsgusted at the mercy shown 70
guilty persons who helped the OF justice by Civ
ing evidence | send you the words Of this Washing
ton despatch to tho Tim>s They amazed me at the
time and will surprise you now.
WARRINGTON, Jan. 81, 1875
Chicago Ring folks have been counting on govern
ment lenty In the pending cases. Counting too much
on this they have boasted that by bearing testimony
asanst each other they would escape the penalty Of
their wrongdoings Washington authorities have been
channg under this condition Of things The President
particularly has given expression TO his disgust He
declares that when he directed that no guilty man
should escape be meant all guilty men, and one Of
ten He has regarded with great dspeasure anything
like liberation Of the informers There is evidence
en- ,ugh against all men, without the aid Of nformers
and he resolved that further pareying with in
dicted distllers will DO allowed He has given free exs
preston his indignation lately, and believing he
does that his secretary is the victim Of guilty men
who conspring 10 ruin innocent man. he has
solved TO push the indicted TO the wall tcds in
obedience his desire Of the President that Attorney Gen
eral PieTepOnt last Friday fssHed ne oEioin0 de-
cisfUe order.
Here followed the letter. Please TO notice that here
so long ago the slst Of January, the Washington
correspondent Of Western paper, published a city
where a powerful and influential whiskey Ring was
then battling against the officers OF the law positively
and with circumstance and apparently on authority
stated that the Attorney Generals was written
sin obedience to the desire OF tho President
Finally, II you viii search your nss you will discover
tina, about the time when hs letter was sent by tho