The New York herald., 1876-02-21
Anticipated Cabinet Changes
to Follow.
Curious Attitude Of the Executive Toward the
WhSkey Ring Prosecutions.
THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
Gathering of the Clans to Influence the
Place Of Meeting.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 1876
ANTICIPATED CABINET CHANGES 10 FOLLOW
BABcocK's TRIAL-cURIoUs STATE OF FEEL
MovAL OR RESIGNATION ExPEcTED-THE DE-
MANDs or THE COUNTRY UPON HIM.
The end OF General Babcocks trial is awaited here
with interest which grows more intense continually
The mongers very busy prophesying results
to follow the verdict. ana there is singular but gen.
eral concurrence of opinion that Secretary Brisow
will be asked to leave the Cabinet whatever may be the
verdict tho Babcock case and that Solicitor Bluford
Wilson will either precede accompany the Secre-
tarys forced exit This belief is so universal that
would think il serious crime to have faithfully
and vigorously brought to justice the principals the
gigantic whiskey conspiracy, and that the persons who
have been Jealous in this work CT TO remain
in places OF trust power. plain citizen would
think that Secretary Bristow and his faithful
and able adjutant Solicitor Wilson, by their
relentless exposure of the whiskey conspiracy and
their bringing many influential plunderers
to deserved punishment had earned the praises of
Congress and the support of the President and
all his friends and Cabinet and that the mere hint that
Mr. Brstow likely leave the Cabinet would bring
showers OF protests from the White House and from
both houses OF Congress. No right minded person,
believing that public officers appointed to enforce
the laws and TO bring criminals to punishment, would
have been surprised to hear rumors that Attorney
General Perrepont would resign in consequence of his
the District Attorneys discouragng witnesses
But there is report to this effect The widest
NOR monger does not upon such guess. On
the contrary the latest 'sate circulating among per-
sons supposed TO be "we'' with the source of ''pat-
ronage," asserts that Mr. Pierrepont will be made
Secretary of the Treasury, that Mr.. Fish will so
to London and that ex-AttorneY General W lIliams will
be proposed as Attorney General, while TO Governor
Morgan of New York, said, the State Department
will be offered.
That means, of course. disgrace for those who have
tried protect the and enforce the laws and
promotion for Mr. Pierrepont 1t does credi-
be and yet 1t is believed and Secretary Bristow and
Solicitor Wilson should be allowed to remain in
Office long enough to complete their work of trying
and convictng the Influential whskey thieves in
Chicago and Milwaukee, whose trials have been
put oil for until March, the politicians
here would experience the widest surprises of
recent days. so confidently and with such comfortable
resignation do they look for the expulsion Of these two
officers To any who respects the President, the
calculations and prediction Of his nmates and OF pol
iticans influential at the Whte House sound like
suit for these persons do not hesitate to talk and
though General Grant bitterly opposed to these
prosecutions and though he would prefer have
are yet unpunished untred by the removal OF the
officers who have been so active and jealous in dis
covering fraud and Furnishing thieves 1t is
taken for granted by the Presidents friends and
est political associates that personal presentment may
justly him, and they urge openly that Brstow is
making it too hot for the party out West
Meantime so far as can be ascertained, Secretary
Brstow has no idea Of resigning. Why should he
He has been engaged in very troublesome but very
successful effort unearth monstrous conspiracy
against the revenues, in which many influential poll
ticans, some of them unfortunately the Presidents
personal riends were engaged he has destroyed the
whiskey Ring In ST. Louis indianapolis and Evans
vile; sent to State Prison good many OF the chief
conspirators and thieves aud large amount
OF money But the work is nearly done. In Chr
cago Milwaukee, New Orleans and San Francisco It is
only half done. Who complete 1t SO enectuay for
the public interest as her 1t would be very serious
matter for the President demand Mr. Bristow's re-
sgnation or TO interfere with him in any way in his
efforts bring roguos to justice But, the other
hand it would be a serious matter for Mr. Bristow
to resign while his task is unfinished. The public
would rightly regard HIM a deserter from his post
and would require OF him his reasons and very good
ones, for such course. That is what good many
persons here saying
The House Of Representatives is ready to demand
the papers in the whskey fraud Investigations and
trials but IL waits will result from the Bah
cock trial II the President should make radical
Cabinet changes 1t is possible that the House may
make its inquiry cover a wider field.
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS COMMITTEE on THE
CURRENCY Observation-Disclosures OF MR..
IAMAR's APPoINTMENrs-THE MEMoRIAL OF
THE NEW YORK BOARD OF TRADE AND IT'S
EFFECT.
Some OF the Western imitation democrats complain
privately that Mr. Lamar, in making up the Caucus
Currency Committee, flung upon the in1ationists
more serious responsibility than the prudent of
that side either desired or meant take AS chairman
OF the democratic caucus Mr.. Lamar has the task OF
naming the members Of the different committees called
for BY that body This gives him large discretionary
power and very great influence over the measures
to be prepared by the committees for the and
the House. Lamar is himself sound hard money
man. and when it became known that the Currency
Committee appointed by him contained a majority Of
soft money men outsiders surprised. From what
has gradually been revealed conversation with dem
ocratic members however, 1t probable that
he acted upon a very shrcwd theory The discussions
in the the currency question have been very
spirited Eastern have hesitated to de-
clare that they will bolt from the caucus and rebel
against its decision rather than support imitation
bill or the repeal of the Resumption act,
less something better is provided in It's place. The
Western were also hotheaded, and the
nomination Of Mr.. Ianders for Governor 10
Indiana encouraged them to very determined
stand Under these circumstances Mr. Lamar was
called to appoint committee which should prepare
bill Of whose merits should be that il would not
split the party pieces and by what may turn out to
be stroke OF generaship, he gave the control Of
this committee to innatonists II much as TO
say TO that wing Of his party,
"Gentlemen, put the responsibility you. Take
care that youd no mischief You have the power to
break the machine, but you will rest the odium
Whether not this is correct theory OF Lamar's
action is Of course, impossible to tel but It Is fact
that naatonists have been sobered by tho position
they are placed IT, What they may propose remains
TO be SEEN but they certainly staggered at their pc
culiar responsiblitv They we're ready TO make a