The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-17
Phe Currency Question as the Great
Presidential Issue.
PERPLEXITlES OF BOTH PARTIES.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

who was surprised at the character OF the letter. ana
being here took occasion to ascertain its history
There doubt OF the correctness Of every part Of
the statement and it understood that the Attorney
General does deny that the President sent for him
and directed such letter to be written.
Judge jeremiah Black having read the Dyer letter
OF Attorney General Perrepont this evening, sad in
his grave and precise manner:-
do not like to say anything rejecting the Attor-
ney General to become involved in any controversy
with him. but criminals cannot be convicted without
evidence Those who produce the necessary evidence
are public benefactors Where party cannot give
evidence against others without duplicating himself
and nevertheless does So he goes far TO atone for
his share in the crime. 1t has therefore,
been the policy of all governments TO encour-
to persons who make them and the Informant is held
ipSo tdctO, not amenable to prosecution This is
pecially true in cases Of extensive conspraces The
United States have always recognized the necessity and
propriety OF acting thus. The principle is embodied in
an act OF Congress relating TO Investigations before
the letter Of the Attorney General but IL looks like
encouragement of witnesses. TO prevent witnesses
from testifying by threatening them with punishment
is protection to guilt
Judge Black said this slowly and in a very cautious
manner and he emphasized the word encouragement
LETTER OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PIERREPoNT.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
read in the HERALD OF yesterday what purported
to be an "excuse" for my letter to the district at
torneys and suggesting that the blame of it was to
friends had said that the President was dissatisfied
that the letter was not stronger.
The President has never expressed any
such dissatisfaction, nor have 1 made any
excuse. l never did and 1 never will
excuse any act Of mine, oflcal or otherwise, by
throwing the responsibility upon another l assume
all the responsibility. make no excuse. l stand
they will be, which required the letter, the commu
nifty viii understand it 1t was purely Official let
ter, conhdential-as all Official letters are-exposed
by gross improperly. 1 only wish that those who
of the facts which induced It, and be assured that
take the responsibility and ask no cover from the
Presidents name. Very respectfully,
EDWARDS PIERREPoNT, Attorney General.
ATTITUDE OF THE DEMOCRATS UPON THE LEAD
ING QUESTIONS BEFORE THE HoUsE-DHFI-
cuLT1rS or THE LEADERS WITH THE CUR
RENCY PROBLEM AND THE RETRENCHMENr
PROGRAMME
The democratic party in the House is not In a very
happy condition. As 1t comes face to face with its pro-
LESSONS and its duties there signs OF disorganiza-
tion and tho leaders, who in earnest begin to find
q disposition In their followers not only to stragge
but to kick out Of the traces. 1t may DO taken for
granted that the Speaker and the chairman of the
Ways and Means determined to carry through a
for sound currency and resumption In this
they have not probably the sympathies OF Mr. Holman
nor OF many other prominent OF their side. Mr..
Payne is understood to favor a compromise measure,
which he hopes TO concentrate a sufficient vote.
The Western democrats become moro defiant for soft
money and Mr. Lamar's appointment of majority Of
soft money the caucus currency committee,
which has surprised many of his friends here taken
to mean that he believes the South also whose senti-
meut he represents, is for imitation.
Whatever measure the caucus committee may re-
port however at the meeting tomorrow, IL 1t reports
ALL there is likelihood Of immediate action in
the House. The men who control the order in which
measures are brought forward disposed to delay
They are conscious that the Eastern democrats will
break from the party bonds II an imitation
should be brought in and forced to vote, and 1t
probable that whatever Is done about the currency
will not be done until very late in tho session.
Tho question Of retrenchment is another Of
harmony in cutting down the West Point and diplo.
matte appropriations because these touched constit
ucnces bodies OF voters But the next step devel.
ops opposition and Ill feeling Mr.. Randall and
Mr.. Holman sincerely mean TO enforce rigid econ
omy, and they already in OF
trouble The estimate for public buildings
before the Appropriation Committee yesterday,
and Mr. Randall proposed to cut down from $780, 900
$3.50 900, thus saving $500 O00 1t was intended to
spread the smaller sum the principal buildings,
the design being not 10 stop work at any important
place but to spread the completion over longer time
This Is undoubtedly In view OF the poverty Of the
country, but Mr. Wells. Of Missouri, demanded
$50 00O nearly half tho proposed total for the pub
lie buildings in st. Louis and this very lively dis
cussion took place hessrs. Randall and Holman we're
willing to give him $50 OoO but he insisted on $4,000
and finally got that not however. until there were
signs Of rebellion against the economical temper Of
Messrs Randall and Holman, and It is not improbable
that the quarrel may find vent in the House next
week.
Meantime the House INDUCES itself In occasional
extravaganza regardless Of parties and Of the protests
Of Mr.. Randall As for instance, to-day It voted
$40 10 pay the expenses Of Colorado Consttu
tional Convention In spite OF Mr. Randals declaration
that such thing never done before. Neither re-
pubIicans democrats oppose appropria-
tion refusal OF which might lose them Colorado in
November.
In the Administration Of tho Internal Revenue De-
partmcnt Mr. Randall saves handsome sum-over
millon-Over last years appropriations, and when the
Legislative Judicial and Executive bill is brought IN IL
will be found that there very considerable savings
The tariff rests for the present Many democrats
say that IL extremely imprudent in the party TO re-
wise or in any way change on the eve OF Presiden
tia election because such changes sure to
III feeling but there leading In the party who
say that, commerce and industry cannot revive
without change, II belongs to the democratic party
to do what Il can TO bring renewed prosperity, and
that party cannot be injured by such measures The
republican leaders indsposed TO touch the tariff
but on that side OF the House there Is considerable
number OF men who will vote with the democrats for
revision and there sensible proectonists on