Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-02-20
PIERREPoNT's MISTAKE.

New York Herald.l
WASHINGTON, February 16.-The
statement made in these dispatches that
Attorney General PlerrepOnt's letter to
district attorneys in regard to informers
was written at the request of the Presi-
dent, who sent for him to direct this,
and that upon seeing the letter the Pres
ident expressed dissatisfaction that it
was not stronger, was made upon the
authority of New York lawyer of high
standing, who was surprised at the CHAR.
acter of the letter, and, being here, took
occasion to ascertain its history. There
is no doubt OF the correctness of every
part of the statement, and it is' under.
stood that the encouragement does not
deny that the President sent for him aud
directed such letter to be written.
Judge jeremiah Black, having read the
Dyer letter of Attorney General Pierre
pont this evening, said, In his grave and
precise manner: AZ do not like to say
anything rejecting on the attorney
general or to become involved in any
controversy with him, but crimi-
malls cannot be convicted without
evidence. Those who produce the neces-
sary evidence are public benefactors.
Where q party cannot give evidence
against others without duplicating him
self, and nevertheless does 50, he goes
far 10 atone for his share in the crime.
It has, therefore, been the policy Of all
governments to encourage all euch dis
closures by granting pardons to persons
who make tnem, and the infOrmsnt is
held ip8O tdctO, not amenable to prose-
cution. This lie especially true in cases
of extensive conspiracies. The United
States have always recognized the ne
cessity and propriety Of acting thus
The principle is embodied in an act of
congress relating to Investigations before
committees of either house. have no
right to criticise the letter Of the attOr-
ney-9euersl, but it looks like discoUr-
sgement Of witnesses. To prevent wit.
nesses from testiIying by threatening
them with punishment is protection to
guilt" Judge Black said this slowly
and in 8 very cautious manner, and he
the word encouragement.
LETTER CT ATTORNEY GENERAL
PIERREPONT.
To the Editor of the Herald:
1 read in the Herald of yesterday
what purported to be al "excuse" for
my letter to the district attorneys, and
that the blame of it was to |
De attributed to the President, and that
% my legal friends had said that tine |
President was dissatisfied that the letter |
was not stronger. Toe President has
never expressed any such dissatisfaction, |
1or have 1 made any EXCUSE" nor do |
intend to make any excuse. never did |
md never will excuse any act of mine,
official or otherwise, by throwing the re-
poDsibility upon another. I assume all
he responsibility. l make no excuse.
stand by what wrote, and when the
acts are exposed, as they will be, which
equired the letter, the community will
understand 1t. 1t was q purely official
etter, confidentisI-as all official letters
're-exposed by gross improperly. l
My wish that those who eritieise it
would first lead it, even without the
light OF the facts which induced it, and
'e assured that take the responsibility
nd ask no cover from the Presidents
lame. Very respectfully,
EDWARDS PIERREPONT,
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