Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-07-07
Ex-Secretary RristOw before the Whis-
key COMM Itee-.. easy GRANT.

Ex-Secretary RristOw before the Whis-
key Comm easy on Grant.
WASHINGTON, July 6.-Ex- Secretary Bris-
tow, was examined this Afternoon 10 regard to
his kuowiedge OF the attitude OF the admins
tratoo on The whskey trial.
The examination was conducted by Messrs.
CochraDe and Pialstcd, the latter republican,
Everything Went Oh smoothly 80 loog As the
questions were OF no general lm pUrtapce. The APP
poiotmcpt Of district attorneys and assistants IN
he cities where the whisSey trials were held was
frs. taken up. Brs!ow said that he had moth
lug TO do with their appointment. nor did he
know what Influences actualcd the President IN
the selection OF tue men he appointed. O1Iy
in one instance, that OF Henderson, did he
know aught Of the Federal appointees engaged
| in prosecuting tue whisky frauds. In hen.
dcrson's case Solicitor Wilson recommended
| solicitor jndgmc0t he urged the selection OF
ex Senator Henderson upoa he Atiorn,y Gen
cral lie did not then, nor did he now, think
| that Hendersun's selection could be the cause
of dsp pleasure
The examination then proceeded as to
whether he was supported in his work by the
President, to which Br,stow replied he Was as
lar as the returned evidence c nd show 1t.
| The next question WAS Il suag. Do you believe
| that the President was lii sympathy Tl'h these
prosecutions; was he as earnest III the work As
yourself? Did he, encourage you IN the aggres-
sive utter be saw what was the scope Ol the
ruids on the dislilters and their conlederatHs?
BristoW 10 declining TO answer said suhsl anti.
ay that his relations with the President for
TWO ycars had been that of cabinet officer,
aud il has always been held that communlca-
tons between az executive officer and the
| President were OF a privileged character The
question was then asked whether his reason for
declining TO answer Was because Il would re-
feet upon the administration. This question
MIR. Btistow thought came under the same
category as the others and declined to say any,
thing which would imply confidential relations
between tho President and himself, having
stated frankly be did not wish 10 appear III
contempt of the committee. The rule which
had been observed by cabinet officers hereto
| fore be must now observe.
Mr.. Cochraue Informed Mr.. Brstow that 1t
was matter of record before two committees
of the House this session that an ex attorney
general and an attorney general had moi shield
ed themselves behind the Secretary OF State,
and that, under the circumstances, the lnter-
ence could ouy DC tDdt the refusal ~ aus"el
was because the ex secretar! did not wish to
reflect upon the administration. Such was not
privileged matter aua be thought the wilt
pess should answer.
MIR. Plaisted took the ground that it was a
personal privilege which he could not waive
even if be was so disposed, 1t was against all
public policy to compel or require any one &C.
cupyiug confidential restioDs with high eth:
Ger Of the government to tell what had pass d
between them. After discussing the question
for an hour the examination was adjourned un-
til to morrow when the matter will be submit
ted to the full committee.
The chairman, Proctor Knott, stated to- nlght
be kuew Brstow would plead privileged com
muocstiou, but that it would DOT be sustained
by the committee ltis evident that Brstow :
refusal to answer is Intended to shield Grant.
The public has not forgotten how often during
The disagreement Of the Cabinet the Assoclat.
ed Press was used to Di-represent 'priviIeged
communication, when the President and B!ls
tow were thought to be II perfect harmon lu
the prosecution of whiskey frauds. Surely If
this was so Bristow could not withhold the 10
formation-uot that which was so generally scat.
tered to the world during the pas; ycar.-
Baltimore Gazette.