The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-05-22
sci out in The papers before me that eltb.

set OUT IN the papers belofe me that eth.
er in law or honor would Justify a purely
Executive officer Of the Government
IN releasing Rehm for this civil liability.
In coming TO this conclusion, have tax.
en- the statements Of the terms Of agree.
ment, as given by tue gentlemen who
conducted the case for the Government, "A
full and complete, but II must Dc
remembered that while the facts stated
by them are fully admitted by the coun-
sci representing the Government in the
civil suit, yet their completeness and
especially their application to the civil
suit is stoutly denied N an elaborate ar
gument, and that the case, after a full
argument on both sides, has been submit.
ted to Judge Drummond. To dismiss
the civil suit under the circumsta noes,
! would not feel satisfied even
II il were clear that civil immu-
nifty was promised. Nor do deem
II my duty to discuss the legal right Of
the officers Of the Government to grant
civil immunity involving the release Of
taxes as part Of an inducement in the
criminal causes 10 secure the evidence Of
the party accused. II the Secretary Of
the Treasury has not strict legal power
to do so, no doubt Congress in the
proper case would make good his
promise Of immunity. The discretion
left by law to the Commissioner Of
Internal Revenue, with the approval Of
the Secretary OF the Treasury, 10 deter.
mine what suits to prosecute, might fairly
authorize these officers to discontinue
suits when either good faith or clear pub.
lie policy demands that they should not
be prosecuted, and the United States
courts would no doubt, in proper cases,
give effect to promises OF immunity. These
remedies should not be resorted to while
the terms Of immunity, completeness Of
proof aud its application to the civil suit
are still contested in the courts. Some,
il not all, Of these points are before
court Of highest jurisdiction, where the
evidence can be best sifted, at the place
where the defendant and witnesses live,
and where they and others can be fully
examined before a Judge familiar with
with the law and facts ELECTED in the va.
rious trials growing out Of the whisky
conspiracy. When tho liability Of the
defendant ia ascertained by the judgment
Of this court, it will be time enough Tor
him to present his offer Of compromise
or claim for immunity, either to
the officers having authority to
compromise or to Congress. /
consider it my duty to decline to make
any order or request in regard to the
pending suit.
tSigued) JoHN SHERMAN,
Secretary.
A deputalion Of the United Methodist
and Methodist Protestant Churches, in
session in Baltimore, had In audience
with the President to-day. Alex. Clark,
D. D., Of Petersburg, chairman, addressed
the President, and spoke OF the happy re.
union in Baltimore, and the era Of peace
and reconciliation. He said that more
than u hundred thousand people, repre-.
sented by this deputation, were interested
in the policy Of brotherhood, protection
and good will now so apparent in the
movements otthe Administration.
The President, in reply, referring to
the desirability OF fellowship in ali de.
partments Of life and duty, spoke at
length of the other branches OF the
Church in former years, Of the recent
coming together Of the divided sections,
and Of the moral power Of union in the
Church. He.sait' the news from Balti.
more and the visit Of the committee had
impressed him deeply, and he was happy
TO receive such messages from the people.
WEEKLY REPORTS.
The Secretary OF the Interior to-day
issued an order requiring cash reports
Of the receipts, disbursements and
balances to be made to him weekly by all.
officers and other agents Of the
Department in Washington and through.
out the country. The order is issned
with the two,fOld purpose Of exercising
more intelligent supervisor and effective
control Of business expenditures, and
with y view to preventing the perpetua.
tion OF clerical and other errors.