Daily Kennebec journal., 1876-02-26
GEhERlL BABC0CK.
Everyone Expresses Pleasure
at the Verdict.
He Receives an Ovation al
St. Louis.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

ST. Louis, February Is. Last evening General
Babcock received what can almost be called an
ovation, after his acquttal. His rooms at the
Lindall Hotel were crowded with callers for sew
eral hours. Some of the most prominent citizens
offered their congratulations on the result of the
trial. Among these were Generals Sherman and
Harvey, Judge Treat and Colonel Hatch of Nc
KEGS counsel Postmaster Felley and most Of the
army officers stationed here.
About o'clock last evening the officers at the
Arsenal accompanied by the Arsenal band,
called at the hotel and gave the General a sere-
made.
Colonel Hatch made brief speech in response
in which he congratulated General Babcock on the
result of the trial; said the verdict was another
evidence of the closing of the gap between the
North and South, and the restor alton of peace and
frateynal feelings, and called on the band to play
"Dixie," which was done.
General Babcock, who was then loudly called
for, responded in about the following words.
"Gentlemen Of ST. Louis,-I thank you for all
your expressions of kindness towards me; my
heart is too fnll for me to make speech to you
tonight, even if could do so under other cir.
cumstances. must thank you all most deeply"
He then introduced Mr.. Storrs. who made few
remarks to the effect that they had never believed
that General Bsbcock could not have fair inn
partial trial in Missouri; they had never encour-
aged the idea that the so-called rebel influence
would operate against them here. In fact some
of the most friendly and sympathetic letters re-
ceved By Gen. Babcock since his indictment have
come from ex-confederates, Eand everyone ex-
presses pleasure at the verdict. They always be-
lieved they had strong case, and the result has
proved that their opinion was right.
Judge Chester Ii. Krum was then called out and
after saying he WAS proud that Missouri jury
could try an important case and give just YER
dict, he referred in few words to the great value
of pure personal character and unblemished
integrity. 1t was better, he said, than anything
else . man could possess in the world, and would
serve him above all things in the time of trou-
BILE.
Shortly after this, another band appeared At the
hotel and serenaded the General but 0 more
speeches were made.
About IL O'Clock Chas. H. Tandy, colored
man. somewhat noted as politician, at the head
Of 80 or 40 colored citizens, called and paid their
respects to General Babcock and congratulated
him upon his acquittal.
There i. strong and apparently sincere and
all classes of citizens, irrespective Of political SEN
timent.
New York, February 25. The Herald says the
acquttal of Babcock will be gratifying surprise
to the country, and congratulates the President
upon it, as Babcocks conviction would have been
considered Q moral conviction of President Grant.
The Times says the country will receive the
acqu,tal with qualification as his conviction would
give a serious shock to public virtue.
The World says it is legal acquittal at the cost
Of moral convection.
The Tribune says the country is to be most
heartily congratulated ON the acqnittal OF Gen.
Babcock. 1t would be an almost ntolerabe NOR
tification to every patriotic American, If the pri
yate secretary of the President of the United
States had been found guilty of conspiracy to de-
fraud the revenue, and none will be more sincere
" glad, that We have escaped this shame, than
those who are politically opposed to the present
administration.