Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-04-07
WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
Lamentabie Effects OF the lnyesti
eating Mama.


his transgressions. In a previous
letter I have described how rage for
retrenchment had prevaded Washing
ton society aud made it uncomforta
BILE. / should be lacking in my du y
as a correspondent and an official as
yet, SO far as [ can ascertain, uninves-
tigated, did I fail to denounce vehe-
mently the present system of investi-
CATION introduced by the ex-Confed
crate brigadiers. During a residence
of fourteen years in Washington, in
which have by rigid economy saved
up $3.50 out of my salary of
$1,8G0 year, it has been my fortune
tions. Perhaps had better say to be
unconcerned in them, for there was
about them decorousness, an alb
sence of those personalities and dis
plays of partisan spirit, above all, an
absence of that prononess to suspect
the motives of public servants which
is so disgracefui comment upon our
public spirit in this centennial year
that cannot describe as anything less
than charming. I have sat before an
Investigating committed but little more
than a year ago, the members, the
witnesses and myself all smoking
cigars from the same box and splitting
into the same cuspidor in manner
that was truly fraternal and showed
how far the animosities of the late war
had been healed and how we all were
striving to soften the rancor of party
and work together for the good of our
common country. How Mr.. HALL
bone, from the thirteenth Idaho dis
L.;
cation, would, with infinite tact, di
vert the examination whenever it
wandered toward the subject, how the
witnesses would decline to answer any
relevant questions put by the members
of the D mocratic minority, how the
person investigated always wrote the
majority report-these things are
pleasant to remember. Alas that
they should be changed. These ex
Confederate brigadiers who fought
against he old flag are laying their
Uzziah hands upon all that Is highest
and hottest in the departments. Hal
lett Kilb0urEe, a cuntumacious wit
ness, who refused TO pauder to
their depraved taste for scans
dial, languishes in an American
bustiIe, and has actually-I blush to
prison cell aud dine III prison fare
Besides, these Investigations are con-
Quoted n the strictest and most un-
Americ an secrecy, than which nothing
can be more radically opposed to the
genius of our Institutions or more in
human, 1t is safe to say that han
dreds of our pure5t and most prOml-
nent men are daily kept upon mental
l. oh tho Of
cru team bed was comfort itself. If
the ex-Confed9rate brigadiers would
but have the mauliness 20 investigate
IN the broad daylight of truth-and
why should they fear to do so if their
motives are honest and their methods
clean ?-we should have chance, we
could tell exactly what evidence 1t wns
desirable to have or which witness it
might be we'll to send to Canada. Bat
under the present star chamber sys-
tenn we are robbed of the dearest
privileges of American freemen. No one
knows when he will be Investigated, or
what course the investigation may
take TIL re was Jimmy Maclepin, of
the Bureau of Internal Revenue. He
got IA hint that this committee was in
vestigating him, for he listened at the
keyhole till rebel, who had been ap
pointed doorkeeper in place of a one
armed Union soldier, took him by the
ea1 and led him away. By and by the
committee sent Tor him. Jimmy en-
tered. The members looked very
grin. Jimmy's conscience made d
coward of him, and when the chair
man sand Mr.. Maclepin you of
course know the painful circumstances
l.. L. ~, 4, f.
be turned pale, his knees smote to-
gether aud he could hardly gasp:
"Gentlemen,I was, [ will admit, con-
cerncd i'll that whisky ring, but if am
promised immunity | will give away
ten or fifteen more important assO-
ciates."
Says the Chairman-What associ-
ates? What whisky ring? This is
the first We have heard OF 1t.
And so it was The committee Just
wanted to ask him some unlmportaat
quest on about office routine and re
duciug the expenditIre, and now hr
and a whole herd of prominent Repub-
iicans are in trouble.
Tire was Lem Gushing of the
Inferior Department.. He found he
was to be Investigated, and SO he ship
ped a fellow who knew a goou deal
about mis- transactions with the Indian
agents to Honololu. with wears sai-
ary, plenty of pocket money and his
travelling expenses all paid In advance.
When the facts came out Lem found
that all the committee knew was I'M
important and hadn't any connection
whatever with the indians, ard that
be had shipped off the very witness
whose testimony would completely
exOnerate him. These things are a
disgrace to tie American name.
Look at the positive loss to the civil
service, not alone through this uncer-
tainty which naturally prevents men
from working efficiently, but from the
resignation of many of the most trusted
and valuable of our public servants,
and yet every morning while Grant is
at breakfast people come rushing in to
him to resign; often when the commit
tees haven't taken any action in their
cases; often because some foolish or
m llevolent person has set afoat the
most baseless rumors. Indeed, so
has this become that the
Pres dent has had printed several thou
sand little blanks, as follows:
'WAsHINGTON, - =, 1876.
"ZO the PRESIDENT:
"SIR-CircUmsta which I need
not here pacticularize render it advisa-
BILE that should instantly resign my
office as -. Trusting that you will
accept nv resignation, and thanking
you for your uniform courtesy during
our official intercourse, L am, very re-
ape ctfuily. --.'
Whenever you are indicted, or i'm
peached. or anything, you rush to the
White House, fill up blank and hand |
it to the President, who hands you
back autographed letter. as fol |
10 rs:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHNGTON 1876. |
Dear Sir /: Your letter of this date,
containing your resignation of the of
ice of ---, at ---, has been re-
'elved, and is hereby accepted. With
great regret, yours resrectfullv,
q. S. GRANT.
There have been some very lively
DOT races between people who had