The daily Argus., 1876-02-16
,eial Dispateh TO the Baltimore Gazette,

Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Gazette,
WASHINGTON, Feb 10-The Babcock
trial continues to absorb the attention of
public men of both parties, because upon
its issue events of great pith and moment
will turn. For, Notwithstanding the reit-
Grated depials which have gone out from
here, every well-informed man knows that
there is an irreconcilable feeling toward
Secretary Bristow on the part of the presi
dent and majority of his cabinet. There
is a fair exterior presented to the public,
but underneath the placed surface a vol
cano slumbers which may burst forth at
any moment There have been scenes 10
the presidents cabinet and the utmost eff
forts of interested parties to deny the
Gazette's dispatches on this subject only
excite a smile of contempt in well-informed
circles. Of course there were no high
words, fierce accusations and hot-headed
ordinations and recriminations, The de-
corum of cabinet meetings can be preserv
ed and still there may be a row. Grant is
not given to words on any occasion, and
those who know him best, say he never
expresses his anger in that way. That he
did plainly indicate coolness toward Bri-
stow at the cabinet meeting last Friday, l
ALL this is an immaterial point. The rela
tions of the secretary of the treasury and
the president have not been cordial for
several months, and the indictment Of
Gen. Babcock caused almost rupture.
To use the language of the president to a
friend to whom he talks freely. "Bristow
would have been asked for his resignation
Immediately had he not thought that such
action on his part might prejudice Bah
cocks case" The president believes that
Babcock is Innocent, and he so told Bri-
stow at least a month before Babcock was
indicted, and at the same time plainly
indicated his desire that the matter
be dropped then and there In pur-
suing different course Bristow gave Grant
mortal offense, because he interpreted his
action in following up Babcock to be not
only disregard of his expressed will, but
deliberate attempt to bring reproach
upon himself. This feeling upon the part
of the president has been encouraged most
assiduously by certain enemies of Bristow,
at the head of whom stands Rufe ingalls,
one of Grants oldest and most intimate
army friends There is another coterie oi
of enemies to the secretary, men who both
fear and hate him as a rising politica
power, and this crowd has also fed the fire
which burns in Grants breast. But this
last combination is more discreet than the
former one 1T would not do," say the
politicians, ITO throw out the secretary
while Babcock' S case is pending In tht
courts. The whole power of the admins
tration must be brought to bear to acqui
him, and then Bristow can be decaptated
without danger" But" say the othel
party. what if Babcock is convicted? ?
This should not be considered among thO
possibilities, reply the politicians; "ther
are ways of influencing iuries more poten
than evidence and argument, and it woulc
be singular thing indeed if man VIII
has the sympathy and active assistance o
the executive of this great country eoul'
not be acquitted, no matter what tn
whisky ring conspirators might prov
against him." THIS being the situation,
is quite natural that the utmost interes
should be manifested each day in the pre-
gress of the trial 1t is the turning poin
both in Grants life and the career of th
the Republican party. There are som
things connected with Babcock's cas-
which are very singular, to say the leas
Everybody. doubtless, has noticed the trt
quent mention in the dispatches from S
Louis of the name of E. G. Brearley, on
Of Babcock's attorneys. First it is al
nounced that Hon. f. g. Brearley, one c
Gen. Babcock's counsel, will arrive froi
Washington on such day, and then th
coun ry is told that the Hon, L. G. Brea
ley has arrived, but that he is sufferin
from a severe cold and is confined to h
room, aud then the intelligence is SCI
abroad that Brearey returns to Washing
ton, Now this f. c. Brearley is spec
assistant attorney general Of the Unite
States, detailed for service at New Yor
City. How does it come that the depar
ment of justice supplies attorneys ft
Babcock?