The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-18
nExDrRsoN,s views.
What he Save About the Washington Au-
thorities and the Wbiskcv Ring.

Ex-senator John u. Henderson, whose
manly and indeI endent course In prosecuting
the whiskoy Ring In st. Louis, was found In the
Westminster Hotel Yesterday, having arrived In
New York on Sunday last on a business mission.
Tho ex Senator thought tuat he occupied
rather delicate position. lilo feared that some
persons In or out Of Washington might miscon-
strue ANYTHING he might say the sub
ject OF his recent trouble with the President.
In reference To his removal from the post he
cupied In prosecuting the vhlskey cases, the ex.
Senator said ~ have no doubt. whatever. that
In the end the President ana Mr.. Perrepont will
sec aud acknowledge that was right and they
were In the wrong. As said IN 81. Louis, | say
now. have nothing to retract. In the trial In
which made the speech said to have reflected
upon the President. mentioned that the Presi-
dent had no legal right to violate the revenue
laws. He did violate them In certain case
and i said 40. say so now. But tine question
has about narrowed down to this. One OF the
Presidents Cabinet officers, with whom con
vcrsed, admits that was right, and ked me n
did not In my speech say Grant had no right
TO do so and So" and then he charged me with
a violation Of etiquette. This ofitcer said |
should have referred to the President as the
President Of the United States.' IL seems TO
nave given offence 10. ause did not.
Ex Senator Henderson, ADDS that the trial
Mr.. Picrrepont and the Prcsl lent saw only Tow
paragraphs of ms spcech, and on this they based
their action Ia ordering his removal.
Ia answer to the question whether he thought
the prosecution OF the wnlskey cases would be
iniuriousiy affected by his removal. Mr.. Hen
dersOn replied m the negative. He thought
they would DO prosecuted q vigorously as ever.
He had fun confidence In the ability and integ-
rity Of his successor.
In Washington on Friday and saturd ~ tho
OK senator mad a long interview with Mr.. Pierre
ppnt. and called also upon Secretaries liristOw
interview Pierre
pOnt related partly 10 his connection with the
prosecution Of the Ring. II was cordtii So
was his interview with Nr. DIist0w. hut he had
no conversation with the latter relative to this
business.
II see that some Of the Western newspapers
nave spoken or you Ia connection with the
Presidency, Mr.. Henderson," said the reporter.
Mr.. henderson, have PAID - attention to
the reports. nave had enough ns once, for
am always get ing into trouble. / got IN trouble
during the lnpcicnment triI or Pre- ident
johnson on account Of my vote. Hooked upon
the trial from a legal. not a partisan standpoint.
di1 not agree with my party associates there.
Tie last once / held / should have given up
about the lit OF February next, after bad dis
charged NV duties. | was not sorry 10 be
lieved. Seven months la0ored in the prosecu-
ton u these SUITS worry ardunusly
third term Mr.. henderson said that he looked
uuon the opposition TO a third term as a part OF
the unwrittcn law OF the country lie thought
that the Western people did not favor "a third
term, and nc could hardly reconcile himself to
the nelief that the President actually expected
" huN Jfhtfr'h dNi hf-
cned third term. and no succeeding Presi-
dent ever yet had occasion to do so. The action
OF these Presidents looked like settlement Of
the question.
Mr.. Henderson said that there seemed TO be
an IMPRESSION ABROAD that he was hostile to, Or
In other words, DerscCutor of the Administra-
ton. He sorry that any one should look
upon him in this light. He siinply did his duty
wnen II was required to 90 done, without fear
Or lvor, or hone Z reward. He had the knde-t
feelings for those who had been In ornamental in
his removal. and thought they would that
his conduct ia ST. Louis was right and that they
were wrong, In due time.