The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-02-12
GENERAL BABCOCK'S TRIAL.

The trial of Gen. Babcock, the private
secretary of the President, on an indict-
ment charging him with conspiring to de-
fraud the Government in connection with
the whisky ring began on Monday last at
St. Louis. The high personal standing of
the defendant, and his intimate personal
relations with the President excite unusual
interest in the case. While the opposition
press has endeavored to excite popular
feeling against Gen. Babcock by the publ
cation of unfounded stories of "stormy
interviews" and "serious troubles be-
growing out of the fact that the latter was
pursuing policy in the prosecution of the
whisky cOnspirators calculated to involve
seriously those so near the President, yet
the latter has shown no disposition to shield
Gen. Babcock, or to interpose executive
influence in his behalf So far as Gen.
Babcock is concerned personally, he is emit
tied to especial consideration by virtue of
his official relations with the President
Gen. Grant fully appreciates the necessity
of having the prosecution of the case pro
coed, unaffected by any other considera-
ton than that of equal justice alike to the
Government and the defendant. Deeply
mortified as the President doubtless is, that
an inmate of his immediate household
should be implicated even, in transactions
so discreditable as those brought to light
in the recent trials and convictions, yet
Gen. Grant is not the man to allow per-
sonal feeling to palliate or excuse official
dishonesty, or to induce him to throw his
protecting Presidential mantle over guilty
partisans If Gen. Babcock has betrayed
the confidence with which the President
has honored him, painful as the discovery
of the fact may be, Gen. Grants soldierly
sense of honor would forbid his condoning
SO objectionable an offense. On the other
hand, if the charges against his Secre-
tary be false, the President has right to
expect that his vindication will be as COM
plete as clear and unanswerable evidence
can make it. While the most powerful
influences have been at work, to break
down the prosecution, by Intellectual at
temps to beget hostility between the Presi-
dent and Mr.. Bristow, by misrepresenta-
ton and falsehood, yet no one has been
base enough to charge Gen. Grant with
any attempt to disturb the harmony that
has existed between himself and his Cabi-
net in the conduct of the case. Nor has the
President intimated what course he will
pursue in the event of his testimony being
required at st. Louis. Whether he will &c
there in person, or make a deposition be.
fore the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
to be forwarded to st. Louis are matters oil
speculation. In the prosecution, the Gov,
erument is relaxing nothing of the vigol
displayed in the cases heretofore tried
Ex-Collector Mcguire, who was allowed tt
plead guilty on certain counts in the in
dictment against him, is one of the most
important witness against Gen. Babcock
While the progress of the trial will bt
watched with unusual interest, no impair
tial man can doubt, that the verdict to be
rendered, whether of acquittal or convic
ton, will be such as the facts elected al
tho trial will f1llv iuStifv