The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-22
Report that Big Six Has Two Mill
ions Funded in Europe.
John Kelly Retitent, Peckham Cautious, Town.
send Silent, Tweed III, Dumb.
MR.. BIGELOW'S VIEWS
What the Politicians, Great and Small,
Say Of the Controversy.
The STATEMENT" MUST BE PUBLISHED.

ALBANY, June 81, 1877.
Attorney General Fairchild was found in his Office
this afternoon entirely indifferent to the contents
Of Mr.. Townsend's letter lhat, although the Albany
Express had published = good abstract OF it,
he had not seen IL nor learned In any
way tho general tenor of the document
when first him. He awaiting the full
port in the New York papers, and after reading these
be very readily made substantially the following
misunderstanding in the report is repre-
sented coming from Except Town
sends statement OF events he sees them,
the correspondents appears to have been
entirely between Caroan, O'Brian, Bryant Tweed and
Townsend. There Is nothing from that feel called
upon to answer l met Bryant tho 10th
OF last March for the first time. He
talked ABOUT Tweed, but referred chiefly TO
the story of his escape, which l hoard then in
detail for the first tlme and which subsequently APP
peared In Hdrper's Weekly Ho appeared to come d.
recty from Tweed and Townsend, and from letter,
dated February Fl, just preceding. which is published
IN the present statement OF Townsend he seemed to
be in close relation with both. He certainly
seemed 10 be acting for them, and certainly has
never had any authority for any OF his actions
rom me. One OF Mr. Townsend's grievances
seems to be that showed the statement OF
Tweed to number of persons, especially to
Mr.. Peckham and Corporation Counsel Whitney but
l0ld him when he gave the statement to me that
must consult with others upon the matter naming
MI Tilden. In his testimony, however, before the
Woodin investigation Com mttee, Townsend himself
swearsit was agreed that should show those whom
! deemed II necessary to consult and adds Peckham
and perhaps others. am especially disappointed no
didn't publish the statement OF Tweed itself came
VI hay d0n,o ad OH a.
did ~ that Tweed could testify TO- the improprety of
leLliI him out on II.
REPORT GOVERNOR.
GAS law officer of the State could say nothing rela-
tive to the Ring while negotiations were pending
or certain proceedings being conducted court
pubc.prosccutor must exercise the discretion
in favor Of his clients the people, a private ooun-
sci in behalf OF his client; but In such matters tho
public officer is at great disadvantage, because he
tell his clients the whole public secrets Of
his the for his action without nsces-
sarily bctrayng his 10 the side and running
the risk of defeating the ends OF justice. Many
OF my predecessors have been attacked as am now;
but their vindcaton has come In time, when the
people OF the State at length perceived tho public good
that resulted from their action. have trod serve
the people OF the State as would any other clients
In the matters OF the Ring have said nothing
nor can do so until the proper time. When that
comes shall speak only in proper official report
the proper acknowledgements Robinson Mean
while am certain that the people OF tho State will not
expect their counsel 10 mako premature statements
which might prejudice interests merely for the
purpose Of individual glorincaon or party advantage
DO not think that should say anything on this
subject now"
WHAT THE POLITICIANS SAY.
Some OF the democratic politicians who congraRate
hpr In In tI,or lgs,lo y,tIt.
signed or to map out the plan for tho fall campaign
arc much exercised the subject OF the effect the
treatment OF the Ring will have on tho coming
elections. They all anxious for a gisature which
will as they put 1t, send worthy colleague to sit
with Herman in the United States Senate. and naugu-
rate responsible government in tho State by passing
bills that Governor Robinson slgn but they differ
widely as to the Tweed controversy Some say
"Fairchd Is making mischief by his reticent and
mysterious course in the Tweed busipcss Why did he
not let the whole story in the beginning and let
those who deserved It take the blamesn
In reply to this general charge the friends OF the
Attorney General declare that course was prudent
and wisc; that If he had accepted as gospel anything
Tweed had to offer, without stopping 10 examine into
It's real merits, the democratic administration Of the
State would have been justly branded over ready to
condone the great crime OF the Ring robberics which
the people will not be ready forget forgive for
many years come One Of these gentlemen said 10
me to-day
A pEFpScE OF the ATTORNEY GENERAL
ssYou ask why Attorney General Fairchild was so
slow IN the Tweed business Don't you know that It
took Mr. 0'Conor about US long to prepare for Ingsr
soll's examination in the Ring SUITS In such cases
the officer OF the law is always with quantity OF
strong statements OF the advantages OF a certain
course, which, being siitod often turn out TO DO
advantageous only to the person prosecuted and OF
Importance only in the Imagination Of his friends.
In taking charge OF the Tweed business
Mr. FaIrchild had TO deal with subject with
which he was not familiar He had previous pro-
fcasonal or Official connection with the Ring cases,
and necessarily had 10 consult men like Charles
O'Conor Mr.. Peckham and Mr.. Carter, who had acted
for tho State In them Tor several years Unless | am
greatly mistaken he has consulted those gentlemen
and others similarly employed throughout ths whole
matter and, although IT Is possible that some one Of
them may have d'sapproved or some particular STEP
there Is doubt that his course has generally met
with their approval When time came for decisive
action the Tweed papers he ceased 70 consult and
promptly and firmly returned them TO Mr. John d.
Townsend because they had proved DO Of no value
10 the State.
VINO BETRAYED cosyIDEScsf
But how" asked, edo you account for the long
delay and for the return Of the papers taking place
until after tho close OF the Swecny suts some pco.
pie seem 30 consider this sort OF Official trick an
abuse OF the confidence OF The prisoner Tweed and
violation of good faith uneer which an officer of
the law Is bound 10 receive privileged comm unica-
tionsn
'0n the contrary" was the reply, at seems TO me
that the confidence OF the Attorney General that
was betrayed. and that the attempted trickery
on the other side just consider the history OF
the affair. Tho socacd statement Of Tweed