Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-31

and top OF the W. B. Il was written to
Louis, about o the time left Hone Bra az
and the time which you therein seemed To
Indicate as necessary for extra vigilance was
nnderstood VI was To remain e "1 sberen T Hs
| asked me what explanation had TO make OF
| it, stating that Mr.. Dyer and Mr.. Henders On
were personal enemies OF his, and that it was
| Important TO him to know just what atti-
| tude the prosecution meant 10 ASSUME with
| references to those trials. He expressed TO me
bis confident belief in General Babcock's in
| nocence. He said that the telegram hal been
satisfactorily explained 10 him, aud ia at he
thought that that ought to stop the matter;
that IL ought to rest there.
WHAT HE THOUGH OF 1T.
he added, however, " IL General Babcock
is guilty, which / don't believe, he is the
mcst guilty wretch in the world. he has be.
tray ed my confidence In the most infamou ;
way, and besides has betrayed his official
trust, and no punishment would be too severe
1or him. My relations with General Bah.
COCK" ne said, " have been of long standing
and he referred to their army associations
and TO the generals subsequent positions 10
connection with public works in which as
large sums of money, and, as the President
believed, with entire fidelity, aud he said
that as his private secretary he had every
opportunity to know and judge the man,
and could not believe that he was involved
in the ring.
When the President had finished / ex-
pressed my surprise and indignation at be-
ing confronted with the forged letter, aud
asked him who told him about 1t, and ne said
TO me that he had not known of IL until Cen
eral Porter had explained the matter to him
the Sunday before. 1 said to him, ais it
possible, Mr.. President, that General Porter
you that he and had had an explanation
touching it? That he had expressed him self
as satisfied OF the forgery aud as satisfied
wholly with my conduct in the premises 20
PRESIDENT said
ter had said to him that I claimed that the
letter was forgery aud that IL SCENE II be
the President that we would let sop pse
rest there until could 90 aud get my letter
books and my records, as contained 10 my
whole Babcoc matter, ana he coosented to
that. got my letter press book. L got bis
Barnard letter. got all the other matter
M which T. thought t,, would Id, throw any light
and went back.
READING EXTRACTS
I showed the President In the hrst place
tract from IL in which Normile was credited
with having said substantially: "rhe Presi
Dent Dare not go too far with Mcdonald AMI
i 10y or B I. be Is lost l read TO him
was referred 10, and turned over the letter
and ON the back Of 10 read TO him with great
deliberation the Endorsement in which he
had said: "These newspaper clippings and
this letter are sent TO the department to the
end that II they throw any light upon new
witnesses to be summoned they may be
can be avoided"
read to the President Of the United States
the concluding sentences in his letter, in
which he said: BE especially vigilant, or
charge those in authority TO be, against all
those who claim TO have high authority TO
prot .ct or TO protect them," meaaing to pro-
tect Others or 10 protect them selves, and in
which he finally said that personal COZ
siderations should not stand In the way OF
the performance of public duty" and 1
said to him: "Mr. President, what l have
done 10 the premises touching Gen. Babcock
/ have done under the warrant and In
full pursuance OF your own instructions TO
self" He said, Certainly; had Babcock
and Jim Casey in mind when made that
Enforcement, and expected you to do your
duty" I'D to him, "Mr. PRECEDENT, that
is precisely the reply which / expected ycu,
as President OF the United States, TO make
to me-"
the original, and sho we'd him the forgery,
and on that he expressed himself as entirely
and wholly satisfied. l explained TO him
that IL was Gen. Babcock that L meant In
the letter aud not himself; that it never
entered my mind for one moment that under
any possible combination of circumstances
was IL possible for him to have had any i'm
proper relations with those parties or with
any other party engaged in violation OF the
laws OF the land; that when 1 fixed the period
made in st. Louis had reference to the fact
OF Gen. Babcock's sojourn in that city aud
not his own, and that when referred to the
we'll known and familiar associations OF
Mcdonald and Joyce with Gen. Baocock.
HENDERSON AND DYER.
called the Presidents attention to post
raj Henderson that If Judge Miller should
sustain motion Quashing the indictments
against Mcdonald and Joyce he should i'm
mediately move for detention OF the par.
mi ma hv Ind fr1r
as evidence Of the fact that there was q crisis
then pending In McDonald's and Joyce's
cases, and that there was necessity for ex-
traordinary vigilance, not only on my part,
but on the part OF the local officers there,
and said to him with reference 10 his rela.
tons TO the prosecuting officers, Messrs.
that they would do him an Injustice, that
had met those gentlemen in frequent confer.
ences; that had lately been to the city OF
81. Louis and seen them there as well as In
the city OF Washington, with reference to
Babcock's case, and that neither OF them
had expressed. either directly or indirectly,
of the United States, but what was In every
way and degree what IL ought to be, and re-
spectful to him as the chief executive OF the
land. That with reference to General Hem
derson's appointment TO aid in the prosecu-
lions at st. Louis, for the first that day
learned from him lthe President that his
States were not personally friendly. i said
to the President that did not believe that
either General Henderson or Mr.. Dyer would
do anything but his duty In the premises;
that as far as the President himself was con-
cerned he should not permit personal con-
siderations or his personal attitude toward
these gentlemen TO influence him.
By Mr.. Plaisted: Was that said with refer
ence 10 the hostile relations between them
and the President?
"A. Yes, sir; between the President and
Gen. Henderson.
also showed to the President that under
the instructions OF the Attorney General,
but without the approval OF the Secretary OF
the Treasury, had gone to st. Louis for the
purpose Of urging upon the local officers,
Henderson and Dyer, the Importance of
making no mistake In reference to Babcock's
Indictment, telling them that he should not
be indicted, 30 far Is their influence was con-
cerned, except upon the fullest and clearest
testimony satisfying them OF his guilt, and
that every precaution should be taken on
their part 70 do him no injustice, and If facts
were developed to his credit TO give him the
benefit OF them throughout. 1 told the Pres
ident that all the officers had assured me
that such was their nxed, settled purpose,
and that / came away from st. Louis feeling
that no injustice would be doae Babcock,
and said to the President, 81 do not be.
lieye, Mr.: President, that any injustice Will
be done him."
TuH uosrrru mr. Aryovo