Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-02-10

A Cu,RAcrEK1srIc EXPLANATION BY
THE New YORK Sun.

THE New YORK sun.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3o.-"Harpers
Ferry hasn't prospered since old john
Brown was hanged said an aged citi-
zen of that unhappy municipality few
months ago, and begin to think he
was right, The Government sold its
property and the very valuable water
power there in the winter of 1869; and
in so doing made very serious blunder
concerning the title. John w. Garrett,
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
had set his heart on the property, and
because he could not buy it at his own
figures, resolved, with characteristic
obstinacy, to make it of as little value
as possible to any one else.
No sooner had the purchasers begun
making improvements than Garrett set
Up 4 claim TO certain portions Of 1t; and,
indeed, assailed and threw cloud over
the governments title to any OF IT.
Bills aud cross bills were filed Ill the
State courts, and hearings and rehear-
ings had for nearly two years without
a satisfactory result. Finally the GOV
crnment. conjontly with the purchas-
orS, fled bill in the United States
District Court Of West Virginia to
surtan its title as against the railroad
company. The real object Of this
movement was TO have the question OF
title finally decided by the Supreme
Court OF the United States. The case
was argued before Judge Jackson at
Wheeling. who decided against the
Government and in favor Of the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad. Upon this
decision Attorney General Pierrepont
ordered the case appealed.
This appeal was serious impedl-
ment in Mr.. CARROTS way, and it be
hooved him to get it set aside, at any
cost, or suffer in heavy damages. The
services OF a noted West Virginia pol
itician were called in, but they were oil
no avail against Pierrepout's determine
ton to have the case carried up and
decided on the law and its merits. 9th
CT friends of the railroad importuncd
Pierrepont to set aside the appeal and
have the property resold, but met with
no success. The strangest part OF the
strange case is that President Grant
ard Secretary Belknap were called II
10 aid the railroad company in getting
the appeal set aside. While the appeal
was pending, the following notice mp,
Feared in the Evening Star of this city
president Grant, Secretaries Robe
son aud Belknap and Postmaster Gen
cral Jewell spent the day at the conn
Try seat of John w. Garrett, near Bal!
1imorc, Md"
Garrett is a careful reader Of charac
ter, and could measure Grant at !
glance. Now, have the very best o
reasons for believing that during tina
yiSit, which lasted from Saturday moor
until Monday morning, the Harper
Ferry property question was discussed
ana The whole thing made perfect!
clear TO Grants mind. Indeed, he wa:
made TO SEE the question exactly a:
Garrett saw it. Garrett knew that nc
outside party would purchase the pro
perry with cloud hanging over Its
lltle, and hence the opportunity would
be afforded him of buying it at his OWE
price.
Only n short time after Grants visit
TO Garrett, and day or two after
Pierrrpoat had declared that under nc
circumstances would he order the ap,
peal set aside, ii became evident that q
change had come over lis feelings and
his actions. He had simply weakened
to Grant. When asked to explain hi:
strange action, Mr.. Pierrcpont, witt
some reluctance, acknowledged that hi
was influenced by the President, who
had become very much Interested in tho
matter, and desired TO have the appea
set aside and the property resold. Mr.
Pierrepont said he should bring The
matter up in Cabinet meeting, and h'
did; but as usual. Grant had his owl
way. The restraints of law were ignor
ed. the appeal anuuiled, and the pro
perry advertised and offered for sale OF
lie decree Of Judge JaCksOns court.
And now for the curious sequel
Nobody wanted to buy the propert,
except Garrett while the cloud he ha<
placed there was hanging over the Uue
and CARROTS bid was so small that thu
Government declined to accept 1t. Ii
that dilemma the Government was com
PEELED 70 again become the purchaser
and thus it made itself responsible 10
all encumbrauces, claims tor which art
coming in thick and fast. The United
States District Attorney for West Nlr
ginia is a chiruppy young man OF TIT
name of Golf, Republican OF the trn
" loyal stamp, who ran for Governo
last fall and was badly beaten. Gotf
in his capacity Of District Attorney, hal
charge of the sale of the property a
lIarper's Ferry, and now brings IN
bill OF costs against the Government o.
nearly eight thousand dollars, three
thousand five hundred of which he
charges as commissions. This Is ex-
elusive of bis personal charges. If am
rightly informed, the Department Of
Justice refuses to allow this account
while at the same time both Golf and
Jackson refsse to complete the transfer
deeds TO the Government until the
money is paid. 1t will be seen what an
embarrassing condition the Govern
ment is placed in through Grants folly,
10 use the mildest expression permissl