The New York herald., 1876-02-22
Latest Movement Of the Politicians
Against Secretary BriStOw.
JUDGE PIERREPoNT's POSITION.
(
SThs Military Committee and the Expenditures
Of the War Department.
Trouble in the Unhappy Fam
lily Of Democrats.
The Centennial Appropria-
tion in Danger.
The Contest Over the Place Of Meeting
Of the Democratic Convention.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.


Tow-A BLOW AT TIE SECRETARY THROUGH
SOLICITOR wILsoN--FEARs OF THE REPUB-
LIcAx LEADERS FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE
PARTx-'THIs THING MUST BE STOPPED,
MR."
The people who are determined to get Secretary
Bristow out Of the Cabinet comprehend the extreme
Awkwardness OF forcing him out They have been for
good many weeks trying TO worry him out by petty
annoyances, OF which the constant false rumors Of
disAgfeemShis between himself and the President of
high words and violent scenes, have formed a part.
Prominent Senators, close friends Of the President
have tried to make trouble, and all kinds Of means
have been used disgust the Secretary with his posi-
tion- As, however Mr.. Bristow has gone quietly
with his work. and gives sign OF desire to retire
before the whiskey prosecutions are completed the
whskey Ring and the baser kind of politicians have hit
upon a new plan, one which shows the extremity OF
and the urgency with which they pursue
ther object They propose to persuade the Presi
dent to remove Bluford Wilson, the Solicitor Of the
Treasury.
AS this intrigue may succeed is well for the public
to understand precisely what IL means The Solicitor
OF the Treasury ofcer under the Attorney Gen.
eral but with special duties which defined
tion $40 Of the Revised Statutes which in these
words
The solicitor OF the treasury under the direction
the Secretary Of the Treasury shall take cognzance Of
all frauds attempted frauds upon the and
shall exercise general supervision the
for their prevention and detection and for the
ton OF persons charged with the commission thereof
He has thus limited but very important range Of
duties imposed upon him. in the performance Of which
he amenabe to the orders OF the Secretary Of the
Treasury alone and to the Attorney General. He
is the right Of the Secretary in all
relating to the detection, prevention and punishment
Of frauds the revenue concerning all which matters
of the Revised Statutes give the secre
tary OF the Treasury the control to the exclusion Of
the Attorney General. -
The Solicitor OF the Treasury is appointed by the
President by with the consent Of Senate and
he may OF course, be removed by the President It
easy to that make the once effective for the de.
lection, prevention and punishment OF fraud the
It IL absolutely necessary that the Secretary
and the Solicitor shall be In the closest harmony, ana
there Is no DOUBT that the thoroughness with which
the whskey thieves have been prosecuted under Mr..
Brstow's management is due, in great measure, to
thS fact that the Solicitor has been earnest zea
1hs and indomitable the Secretary himself and
has very ably executed whatever the Secretary
planned To remove the Solicitor without the consent
OF the Secretary would any be cripple that
onhcer. To Solicitor Wilson would bc TO
strike fatal blow the efficiency OF the Secretary
and those who to force Mr. Bristow out OF the
Cabinet comprehend this perfectly. They take IL for
granted that he will resist Solicitor Wilson's removal
and that II the President be brought insst upon
10 and does actually Mr.. Wilson, this win
make Mr.. Bristow resign at once. There is good
deal OF reason believe that they right Il In
easy TO see how he could retain his ONCE when his
chief lieutenant who has under his orders carried
10 courageously and thoroughly the against the
vhiskey thieves, is flung out in Disgrace
The real question not what would Mr.. Bristow do
the Solicitor were removed, but viii the President
take the serious responsibility Of removing himf This
responsibility would be very nearly grave and swk-
ward as to force the Secretary himself out Of the
Cabinet II has for Its only object to do that and IL
would cripple a. once the whskey prosecutions in
Chicago, Milwaukee and elsewhere, for
could effectively take up the tangled threads of the
Investigations which have gone for months in those
places. The country may well understand that the
election OF Solicitor Wilson protection TO the
prominent and influential whiskcy thieves in the North
west and at New Orleana VIII the President take
the responsibility and the odum Of such stepf And
can he persuade his Cabinet share both with him.
they II they consenti Can the Attorney General
OF whose stan the Solicitor Is a member afford, in
view Of what has passed. to his sacrinceS
These are questions which eagerly discussed
here because they vitality interest great many per-
sons. revolt in the Cabinet for instance, leading
to the resignation Of its most important members,
would be uncommonly Interesting event to good
many ambitious souls here, who would like places
for themselves their friends though t Is difficult
TO see how any reputable public man could be per-
suaded 10 take place vacated under such circum-
stances
A disoreanizaton OF the whiskey prosecutions,
already mysteriously stopped at Chicago though
waiting upon some coming event, would relieve the
fears great number Of persons, some Of them OF
mot slight political Importance
Finally 1t is lamentable fact that the disappearance
OfMr. Brssow and the soppage Of the whiskcy prose-
cations would grieve some prominent republican
candidates for the Presidency who have got very tired
OF this everlasting cry OF ECONOMY, SIR, and re-
trench menl srl" Of them is reported TO have
sardonicaly remarked The theory OF these persons Is
that u they can only get Mr. Bristow out or the
Treasury-no matter howthe scandal will be forgotten
before the Cincinnati Convention meets and they
expect that Mr Bristow will sink into obscurty
soon as he loses power and public position. II you
taik with the follower and echo Of OF these pot
clans he will tell you that
1T is high time TO stop this thing" and be win
add that there is no statesmanship in 80 and that
'h 10 hurting the party, SIR" and that 'tnere is
higher kind OF stalesmanship than going about with
informers and spies, SIR"
And you don't take care when this ELOQUENT patriot
gets excited, be will spit tobacco juice all over you
while be covers poor Brisiow with curses Please to
understand that his principal does talk SO much
random, nor in the hotel Iobbies at all
Meantime do not believe that either Mr. Br,stow or
Solicitor wilson is going Out l DO not believe the
President will ask them do not believe thov viii
10 out unasked. General Grant no doubt felt Bit
tsry indictment and trial Of General Babcock He
may for aught know, have resented the convic
sion Of Of his old friends in ST. Louis but he can
not mean 70 do that which would destroy both his own
good name and hrs party's hope OF success and shall
continue 70 believe, spite Of the rumor moneers and
IN spite Of what really 70 be the probabi,les that
shs President viii resist tho ImDOrunites Of hs flss