New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-09
Post OmciO Impeachment.

The approaching senatorial campaign in
Michigan is attracting considerable interest
in Washington, and in the West especially.
1t has besn frequently asserted that Secre-
position to ex Governor Bagley and Senator
Ferry for the seat now occupied by the
latter. Governor Bagley has entered the
field actively and seems to be in earnest,
and Senator Ferry will be q candidate for
Reelection, but Secretary Chandler declares
openly that he will not oppose Mr.. Ferry,
because that gentleman stoOd by him in his
fight and deserves his assistance instead of
his competition. He has repeatedly as
name to be used, and he has several times
recently announced the same intention
publicly. So Mr.. Chandler may be counted
out, and the contest will remain between
the two other candidates, both of whom are
worthy and able and will divide the State.
As far as Secretary Chandler is concerned
it is we'll known, for he makes no secret of
it, that his ambition is to regain his old
seat now occupied by Mr.. Christiancy. He
plenty Of time for him to serve q pres.
idential term between now and then, but
that is the ultimate end to which HE am
bition aepires. Your correspondent asked
him the other day if he was candidate for
the senatorship.
NO." said he, 81 am not. This year 1 am
q candidate for only one Office. and that 1
think shall get"
"What is it,"
"A place on the Republican Executive
Committee" was the reply.
Jake" Thompson, President Buchanan's
Secretary of the Interior, is in the city,
stopping at the Ebbitt House. He comes
here in defense of his reputation, and has
written letter which has the true ring of
the Southern chivalry in it. This he placed
in the hands of two trusty messengers-
Representatives Lamar and Casey Young,
of Tennessee-to present to Secretary
Chandler. In the letter Thompson says
his attention has been called to Q para
graph in the newspapers purporting to be
remark of Secretary Chandler, to the ef
feet that if the Senate decided that they
had jurisdiction in the Belknap case he
should at once proceed to have his prede-
cessor impeached for completely in r0bbing
the government of the Indian trust funds,
winter of 1861. Mr.. Thompson admits
in his letter that he has no idea Secretary
Chandler made euch q remark, but if he
did not he would like to have him contra
dict it. "By acting promptly in this
matter" says Jacob, "you will oblige yours
respectfully"
When the Secretary read the letter he
laughed heartily, and then suppressing his
mirth he solemnly informed Messrs. Lamar
and Young that upon his honor as an officer
of the Cabinet he must acknowledge that
he did make q remark similar to that
printed, but it was in joking way, and he
never supposed it would get into the papers.
But he had no apology to make, or any re-
traction, for he was liable to make just such
remark again.
The leonine Lamar looked very serious
upon hearing the Secretary's reply, and ut
tered few words of caution, expressing
bis opinion in the matter and indicating G
that serious complications might arise from
such injudicious illusions concerning the
character of an ex-COnfederate.
Secretary Chandler then gave Lamar a
little advice, and showed him that Mr..
Thompson would be very liable to im-
peachment after the establishment of this
precedent if there was q Republican ma
jority in the House to adopt articles of i'm
peachment.
Mr.. Lamar insisted that Thompson did
not steal the bonds, but Secretary Chan
dler showed him that whether he did or
not he was responsible for their safe keep
ing, and he was also responsible for the
acts of one of his subordinates who did
steal them, and that while Mr.. Thompson
was not the thief in fact he was in law.
Lamar inquired what reply the Secretary
would send to Thompsons letter.
"No reply whatever" said the Secretary,
and Messrs. Lamar ard Young made their
adieus.
1t will be remembered that at the outset
of the war, when Thomson was Secretary,
the amount of $S7O,OOO of Indian trust
funds was taken BY GODDARD Bailey, the con-
fidential clerk of Thompson, who had charge
of the safe in which they were deposited.
Bailey was nephew of John B. Floyd, then
Secretary OF War, and he turned them over
to Floyd, and deposited the receipt Of Floyd
in their stead.