The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-17
Phe Currency Question as the Great
Presidential Issue.
PERPLExlTIES OF BOTH PARTIES.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.


VINO was surprised al the character OF the letter. and
being here, took occasion to ascertain its history
There doubt OF the correctness of every part of
the statement and it is understood that the Attorney
General does not deny that the President sent for him
and directed such letter TO be written.
Judge jeremiah Black, having read the Dyer letter
OF Attorney General Pierrepont this evening said
his grave and precise manner:-
do not like to say anything rejecting the Attor.
ney General or TO become involved in any controversy
with him, but criminals cannot be convicted without
evidence. Those who produce the necessary evidence
arc public benefactors. Where a party cannot give
evidence against others without duplicating himself
and nevertheless does So he goes far TO atone for
his share in the crime. 1t has, therefore,
been the policy OF all governments to encour
to who make shem and ho Informant IS bed
ipso fdcto, not amenabe to prosecution. This is es-
peciay true in cases Of extensive conspracies The
United States have always recognized the necessity and
propriety OF acting thus. The principle embodied in
an act OF Congress relating to Investigations before
the letter OF tho Attorney General but IL looks like
encouragement of witnesses. TO prevent witnesses
from testifying by threatening them with punishment
is protection TO guilt
Judge Black said this slowly and in very cautious
manner and he emphasized the word Encouragement
LETTER OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PIERREPoNr.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
read in the HERALD OF yesterday what purported
to be an "excuse" for my letter to the district at
torneys and suggesting that the blame of it was to
be attributed to the President and that to my legal
friends had said that the President was dissatisfied
that the letter was not stronger.
The President has never expressed any
such dissatisfaction, nor have made any
excuse" nor do 1 intend to make any
excuse. l never did and never will
excuse any act OF mine, Official or otherwise, by
throwing the responsibility upon another. assume
all the responsibility. make no excuse l stand
by what wrote, and when the facts are exposed as
they will be, which required the letter, the commu-
nifty viii understand it 1t was purely Official let
ter, conndential-as all Official letters are-exposed
by gross improperly. 1 only wish that those who
critcise 1t would first read it, even without the light
of the facts which induced it, and be assured that
take the responsibility and ask no cover from the
Presidents name. Very respectfully,
EDWARDS PIERREPoNT, Attorney General.
ATTITUDE OF THE DEMOCRATS UPON THE LEAD
ING QUESTIONS BEFORE THE HoUsE-DHFI-
cULTIE5 or THE LEADERS WITH THE CUR
RENcY PROBLEM AND THE RETRENcHMENr
PROGRAMME
The democratic party in the House is not In very
happy condition. AS it face face with its pro-
and its duties there signs OF disorganiza-
tIon and the leaders, who in earnest begin find
q disposition in their followers not only to stragge
but to kick out OF the traces. II may be taken for
granted that the Speaker and the chairman Of the
Ways and Means are determined to carry through a
measure for sound currency and resumption In this
they have not probably the sympathes Of Mr. Holman
nor OF many other prominent men Of their side. Mr.
Payne is understood TO favor compromise measure,
which he hopes to concentrate a sufficient vote.
The Western democrats become defiant for soft
money, and Mr.. Lamars appointment Of a majority OF
soft money on the currency committee,
which has surprised many of hts friends here taken
that he believes the South also whose senti.
meut he represents is for imitation
Whatever measure the caucus committee may re-
port however, at the meeting morrow IL it reports
at all there is no likelihood Of immediate action in
the House. The men who control the order in which
measures are brought forward are disposed to delay.
They are conscious that the Eastern democrats will
break from the party bonds II an imitation N easure
should be brought In and forced 10 vote, and II is
probable that whatever Is done about the currency
will not be done until very late in tho session.
The question Of retrenchment is another cause Of
misunderstanding and confusion There tolerable
harmony in cutting down the West Point and dipo
matte appropriations because these touched constt
ucnces bodies OF voters But the step devel-
ops opposition and Ill feeling Mr.. Randall and
Mr.. Holman sincerely TO enforce rigid econ
omy, and they already in mess OF
trouble The estimate for public buildings
before the Appropriation Committee yesterday,
and Mr. Randall proposed to cut II down from $780, 900
Aok0 tl,,se
spread the smaller over the principal buildings,
the design being not to stop work at any important
place but to spread the completion over a longer time
This is undoubtedly wise In view OF the poverty Of the
country, but Mr.. Wells, Of Missouri, demanded
$50 oo nearly half tho proposed total for the pub
lie buildings In St. Louis and this a very lively dis
cusson took place hessrs Randall and Holman were
willing to give him $50 000 but he insisted on $4,000
and finally got that, not however. until there were
signs Of rebellion against the economical temper Of
Messrs Randall and Holman, and It is not improbable
that the quarrel may find vent in the House next
week
Meantime the House INDUCES Itself In an occasional
extravaganza regardless OF parties and OF the protests
Of Mr.. Randall As for instance, to-day II voted
$40 900 70 pay the expenses Of Colorado Constitu
tona Convention, In spite OF Mr. Randals declaration
that such thing was done before. Neither
pubcans nor democrats cared 10 oppose an appropria
ton, refusal Of which might lose them Colorado in
November.
In the administration Of tho Internal Revenue De-
partmcnt Mr. Randall saves handsome sum-over n
milnOn-Over last years appropriations, and when the
Legislative Judicial and Executive bill is brought II
will found that there very considerable savings
Tho tarin rests for the present Many democrats
say that Is extremely Imprudent In the party TO
wise or in any way change II the Of Presiden-
lal election, because such changes sure to
III feeling but there leading in the party who
say that, commerce and industry cannot revive
without change, belongs to the democratic party
to do what II 10 bring renewed prosperity, and
that party cannot be injured by such measures. The
republican leaders indsposcd TO touch the tariff
but on that side Of the House there Is considerable
number OF men who will vote with the democrats for
revision and there sensible protecionists on
both sides who will vote thus when the time comes.