The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-06-08
lsen Butler---A Happy Way Of
Showing Up the President tial


WASHINGTON, May 29.-Ben Butler ha
written the following conciIiatory letlcI
70 ex-Marshal Pitkin Of Louisiana.
WASHINGTON, May 20, 1877.
MY DEAR PirKIN:-l have yours o
the 18th instant informing me that whsI
you were IN Washington both the presi
uent and Mr.. Devens, attorney general
gave yon substantial assurances that voi
would not be disturbed IN your office a.
marshal. Being native OF the State ol
Louisiana and good Republican, and
against whom no Official n.alfcasance d,
personal dercliction from the paths o
right had been shown, and who. there.
fore, came within the provisions Of civil
service reform, which is the come,
stone, as understand IT, Of our Rcpuhi.
can administration. l am certain fhAtthe
president and attorney general would
never have asked your resignation as
marshal, as yon say they have done. in
contravention OF their assurances and IN
disregard Of the principles OF civil ser-
vice reform. ] am bound, therefore.
from what know Of both OF these gen
tiemen 70 believe that they intend in
good faith te carry out their assurances
aud preserve their honor. One fault
which find with your letter Is that yot
do not make sufficient allowances for
political necessity and the enfanglemcnts
bJ which good men are compelled 10 10
that which they would rather not do. II
y an open secret here, a. am informed.
that Colonel Wharton, your competitor.
sided Dir. MacVeagh one OF the com
missloners at New Orleans, very largely
~ getting . portion Of the members IN
the legislature 10 desert from Packard
and 80 over TO Nichols, by which re-
turning board legislature was put under
Of Nichols, and then that
legislature enabled the committee 10 ad-
wise that as the legislature had recogniz-
ed the Nichols government the presi-
uent was bound to withdraw the troops.
II - said that $1,000 was 10 be paid 10
the leading deserting legislators and
only $500 70 the others, disguised In the
latter case IN the shape OF mileage. 40
that Mr.. johnson, cololed man. speak :
ing In the innocence OF his heart. said on
the floor or The house. that ali he wanted
was ~ get his mileage. Ii il also assert
ca that Colonel Wharton, being The in
strument selected BY Mr.. MacVcagh 10
DO this piece Of business. had his prom
ise Of being made marshal if he success
fully accomplished Ii. Now. Wharton
performed his part OF the bargain. and
] think you ARE very unreasonable IN
OBJ ., ting that The administration sLould
AIRY out their side OF h. or al least do
The best they can. You ought "a satisfy
Wharton that they have asked YOU 10 re-
sign, aud that won't do IL. Therefore.
they have done the best they could ~
make good the Macveagh bargain. and.
~ they cant Wharton ought 10 be sa,is-s
fed, precisely like INV friend General
who, having done his best and \
succeeded In electing Mr.. Stanley Mat
Ihews TO the senate, al The request OF the
president, on an agreement that the pres
dent would make him speaker OF the
house Of representatives, will. have 10
be, and ought TO be, satisfied with a fair.
,onest, and hearty endeavor on the part
If the president to do all he can TO make
iim speaker: and ii fails, Garfield will
iavc nobody 10 blame but himself. that
,ird In the hand is worth two in the
,ush. Now, my dear Mr.. Pitkin. | call
ipon you by the love you bear 10 the
Republican party and its principles. ia
memory Of the many sacrifices You have
made during and since the war as n
inion man In Louisiana for the safety of
holding an Office under the United
states, not TO throw any impeachment in
he way OF the president, fulfilling ali the
,argains which his subordinaies fcund
'eccssary IN inauguration his southern
'olicv, which Is 70 be Of 50 great and in
alculable advantage not only TO the
'arty which you love so well. bnt for the /,
nifty and pacification OF which YOU
ave given the best days Of your man 4
God. write this 10 you because III
hought detected in your note 10 me
that seemed 10 be an unrcas casonablr tone !
{ complaint that you are thus 10 sacri.
ccd. Remember that Abraham was
bout to sacrifice his only son Isaac. the
hid OF his old aye, to what he believed !
. be the will Of God and the necessities
1 his people, and the good Look does
OF make mention OF the unreasonable
omplaints or outcrics Of Isaac on that
ccount, and so when you find that the
ountry and public sxigency for It's pac-
ication deems 1t necessary 10 sacrifice ]
on and take away your Office and give !
TO one who wore the gray, you ought I
OF q kick and squirm any more than ]
ssac did when he lay upon the altar un-
er the knife Of his father. am sorry I
cant write you any other words OF II
smfort and consola alton, but '.such as 1
ave ! give unto you.' I am yours. II
'uly, BENZ. H. Brrf.rr
\. Pitkin, Esq. United States Mar X
shal, New ORLEANS, La. d
I.