New-York tribune., 1876-07-12

Attorney and TO his refusal to employ snch assist
ance would insure proper presentation OF the
case. He complained of Fisher to the President
and on strictly public grounds demanded his re-
moval. In this demand he was joined by Attorney
General Pieuepont, and the reasons they presented
were of such character that the President could not
ignore them. Ex-Gov. Shepherd appeared as the
champion of District-Attorney Fisher, and at one
time supposed that he had succeeded in preventing
his removal but it is understood that Postmaster
General Jewell blntlv told the President that un-
less Fisher was removed, he himself should resign.
This threat had the desired effect. hew District
Attorney was at once appointed.
Senator Spencer has many grounds for his enmty
against the late POstmasterGeneral. In the first
place. a particular friend and cO-workcr with Mr..
Spencer eX-Congressman Sheats, was appointed
Sixth Auditor of tho Treasury Department. an office
which il more intimately connected with the
Post-Ofiic Department than with any other.
Before he had been long in the office
the P0stma tcr-Gcneral discovered his utter in
competence for the position, and for this and
other reasons sufficient in themselves, he was
removed. Subsequently the criminal operations OF
Hines and Kettle were discovered, and were fol-
lowed by their indictment in the criminal court Of
this District. POstmasterGeneral Jewell did every
thing in his power to secure the conviction Of Hines,
Spcneers most intimate friends and was most useful
to the Senator from Alabama as wlrcpullcr i'll that
State. The result of his Indictment was also
his removal from the position of United
States Marshal for the Southern District
of Alabama, an Office to which he had been ap-
pointed by the President only few weeks before.
When an attempt made last Winter by the
more respectable portion of the Republican party in
Alabama to reorganizc that party many of the mos.
prominent Federal oficeholders in that State joined
in the antI-Spcncer movement Mr, spencer AT once
demanded the removal of them ALL But delega-
ton of leading Republicans, headed by eX-O0V'
Smith, came TO Washington and represented the
case to the President and to the heads Of the
several departments. They asked for 10 patron
age but simply requested that 10 person holl-
ing a Federal office in Alabama should he
removed solely because he was in sympathy with
this anti-Spencer organization. The delegation re-
ceyed assurances from Secretary BrlstOw and Post-
master-General Jewell, and probably from Attorney
General PieTrepont that they would not itciitfclh
the controversy within the Repubicah party IN that
State. Since that time Mr. Spencer has been untir-
ing i'll his efforts to secure the removal ot certain
officials who have been prominent i'll the Reform
partv and has been specially bitter IN his war upon
Col, Wickersham the Postmaster at Mobile. MI
merous aiidavits accusing him of disioyalty to the
party and of other crimes of similar nature
have been filed in tie Post-Oiiino Department; br'
Postmastcr-General Jewell. after thorough invcs-
tigaton OF the case has held that sufficient cause
for Wickersham's removal has been shown, and has
therefore refused to compy with SpenceT's request.
Another of PostmasteT-General Jewels enemies Is
Senator Conking, and the reason for his opposition
has already been referred TO- Special Agent Morton,
who was removed on the 1't of July, was Mr. Coak-
lng's apDcntee, and had been engaged exclusively
i'm setting I'D conventions in Mr.. Conllings interest
in virginia. Col Nosby OF Virginia, who Is
one Of the most influential men in Gen.
Grants administration, is another of those who
have d,sapprOvcd of the manner in which Post
master General Jewell has managed his department.
One ca .sc OF his opposiOnwas the removal oi Capt
Chap an, who served as a bushwackcr under
Mosbv during the Rebellion and vino, on his recon-
mcndatop was appointed to be route agent between
this city ard Lynchburg. Chapman was remoyedto
mako place for Bradley, gallant Union soldier
formerly employed i'll the pos-oice OF the House ol
REPRESENTATIVES but displaced on the assembling Of
the Democratic House. Mosby demanded that his
ex- Confederate friend Chapman shoud be replaced,
but in the mean time evidence had been
shown to the Postmaster General conclu-
siycly proving that during the war Chapman
had been engaged in sort OF black-iiag crusade
against the Union forces, and that be had been
guilty of great barbary i'll the treatment OF prison
ers who fell into his hands. Mr.. jewell therefore
refused to Teiusjatc him. wEcreupon Mosby went To
the White House and obtained "a PeTemptory order
from the President. This order remained Ia the
Post Office Department for several days or weeks
before il was executed, but finally Capt. Chapman
was reinstated and still holds his place.
From these facts it will be seen that Gov. Jewell
BY his administration of the P0s-Oficc Department
had incurred the ehmity Of several of Gen. Grants
most intimate and influential friends, and that when
the political exigcncy arose the Presidents mind
had been prepared for this change.
The unanimous verdict Of those who have been
most familiar with Gov. JEWELS administration of
the Post-Olicc Department Is that its business has
been conducted as far was possible on strictly
business principles. The late Postmaster-Generll
leaves the Department with fewer rings
in and about it than he found there.
Attorneys and claim agents have been banished, and
those who have business with the Department, OF
claims against it, have been shown that nothing was
to be gained by the employment of professional De
partment lawyers. Their business has been just as
promptly attended to when presented by Themselves
"a when they have employed persons supposed to be
possessed of influence. Straw bidding has, through
Cow JEWELS efforts, been i'll a great measure broken
mn MANY dishonest officials have been removed,
and it is reported at the Department that the last
drunken clerk was discharged few weeks ago. While
these many reforms have been effected III the De
parfmcnt under Gov. JEWELS administration,
Numerous improvements in the postal service have
been introduced, which have greatly increased it,
efficiency and usefulness to the people. Many OF
these will be recalled without being mentioned.
Among them are the establishment of the fast mail
trains and the extension of the railway postal sys-