New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-19
JUDGE PIERREPONTS LETTER.

The letter of Attorney General PIcrrepont TO
Dlstrict-Attorney Dyer, which has been so I'M
G. aritaby interpreted as n device to shut the
months of witnesses. is assuming NATIONAL
| inheritance. When that extraordinary eplste,
instructine the Government officers to prose-
cutc 10 the full extent Of the law all members
of Lbe Whisky Ring who gave evidence for
the conviction of their accOnplces, was first
published, many persons believing III "ial'
and believing in PieTepont, were wiling to
excuse il as a mere blrnder of expression,
which Mr.. Pierrcpont would correct when bis
attention was called TO it. But since It has
been stated that the letter was dictated by the
President, and that it would have been SIN
stronger IN its mcnaces to the witnesses II
Gen. Grant had not been restrained little by
the Attorney General, Mr.. Picrropont has been
stung to the indiscretiOn of writing note
about it to the editor of The NcG- York Hcrdid
rs follows:
10 the Ed,,Or Of The HcrdH:
read i'm me Her0d Of yesterday what imported 10 be
an "exse" for my letter to the District Attorneys ana
suggesting that the blame OF IL to be attributed to
the President and that TO my LEGAL friends had said
that c President was dissatisfied that the letter WIS not
stronger.
The President has expressed any such dissats
TO III Ike any never ala aud never
will excuse any set OF mine. official or otherwise. by
throwing the responsibility upon another lnrSlme al
the responsibility Imakc no excuse. ssand by what
wrote. end when the facts are exposed. "a tLey VIII De-
Mich required the letter. the community Val under
stand IT, II purely official letter conhdentlai-aS
all oica! letters areoxposed by gross improperly
only wish that those who citicise II would first read w.
oven without The light Of tle facti which induced 1t. and
he assured that take The responsibility and ask no cover
from the Presidents namN Very respectfully,
EDWARDS PIEEbEIOSr, Attorney General.
With all Difference to Mr.. Picucpont we
must say that he has made mess OF IT. lie
has given everybody good reason To infer from
this note that he did write the Dyer letter
hy express order Of the President and that The
President did wish it to be still stronger. He
has denied mono of the statements to which he
assumes ;o reply, and 80 Of course he VIII be
understood a. admitting them. What WAS his
puiDosci II was not necessary for hh 10 say
ANYTHING in his OWE vndcaiiOn. and ne surely
cannot imagine that lac has pleased the prcsi-
dent. II would have been 80 much better Tor
both if hc had only kept still. For it must bc
evident to- Nj. PicIrcpOnt, If IT Is not tn Cen
Grant, that the Ir' sidcnt occupic, a delicate
and dangtr ron, position with respect 10 this
Whisky business. and that his true friends
on.it 10 exercise q care for him winch IT Il
not in his nature to exercise for himself.
When the prosecutions began Gen. Grant
cave the Secretary of the Treasury the most
ealnes. and efficient support. The resolution
81 thanks adopted by the grand jury III -.
Louis was rat!er queer but i vas deserved
since the qualifications of The Ring have been
traced however 10 the very doors OF the
White House the President has been placed,
even against his viii, in q position of anta.o-
nism 10 the prosecution. We do not imagine
that his zeal for the breaking up Of the cor
spIracy has really abated; hut The law has laid
hands now upon persons whom hc honesty
believes 10 hc inJoccnt he has became con
WINGED that the prosecutions are to he directed
To h- own political injury; ieo.lng OF bitter
and lot unnat .ral irritation has taken entire
possession of him: hi luminosity toward tlc
Secretary of the Treasury has grown to I've
puplic scandal and il j. well understood all
through The community Oi oiice-holdfrs that
in the trial now going on nj 81 Louis the
Goycumcnt i, on the lid, of the defense, and
tic prosecuting attorneys are thwancd Iy their
OWE supcrors That the chief law officer OF
the United States should encourage such be-
lief seems 10 II, dcpiorablc; and when judge
Pi,rrcpont comes 10 reflect upon his letter We
dare say that he too will regret tina: he ever
wrot" it. Ii can only aggrayatc existing ran
cor, and hasten the threatening rupture.
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