The daily gazette., 1878-03-23
SHERNIAN'S DILEMMA.

1t will be remembered that upon re-
ceiving the news of Andel sons's convic>
ton, early in Febr barry. Secretary Sher-
man waxed very wroth and reviled every-
body connected with the trial, from the
judge down. He denounced the prose-
cutting attorney as white Lacquer, charged
that the jury was packed,and declared that
"the judge who tried the case is a public
defaulter for over 5000, 900. An accusation
like this could not of course, be allowed
to 60 unrefuted, and an examination of
the official records showed, first, that
while holding the position of sub-trea-
surer at New Orleans Judge Whitaker
had not appropriated one cent of govern
ment money; second, that the defalca-
ton in question had been the work of
his predecessor in office; third, that he
had been formally tried before a republI-
can judge and promptly acquitted, and
that republican attorney acting under
a republican administration had there
upon stetted all the cases pending upon
the issue of this test prosecution. These
facts were made public through the press
but Secretary Sherman has never with
drawn his charges. We are compelled.
thereof, either TO believe-what is prob-
ably tine case-that this audacious apollo
gist OF fraud lacks the manliness to con-
fess his mistake, or that he possesses some
stronger proof OF the truth of his asser
tlons than has yet been given to the
public. Upon the latter supposltion,
however the question Immediately arises
How comes it that Secretary Sherman
does not order the defaulter 10 be prose>
cuted? 1t is not the charge equivalent to
an admission that he (Sherman) has
been derelicit in his duties?
Upon one horn or The ether of this
dilemma the Secretary cannot escape
being impaled, if pressed to a choice.
1t will be seen from this brief statement
that the following resolution, introduc-
cd ill the Senate en- Wednesday by Howe,
of Wisconsin, though apparently only
a formal call tor information, is really
cruel attack upon the head of the trea-
sury
Resolved, That the President he re-
quested, If not incompatible with the
public interest, to inform the Senate
whether n. K. Whitaker. who recently
presided in the Superior Criminal
Court OF the parish of Orleans, was
formerly employed either in the internal
revenue service or as an assistant trea-
surer at New Orleans if so, during
what period of time i: whether IN either
OF such capacities he said Whitaker is
defaulter to the United States, and to
what amount and under what circum
stances whether legal proceedings have
been taken against said Whitaker, either
civil or criminal, and with what result !:
whether such proceedings are still pend
ing or If discontinued, and by whose
direction.
So far as Judge Whitaker is concern
ed it is of small account to ANYBODY
whether Sherman's charges are sustained
or not, but it is of some importance to
have it ascertained whether high pubs
l'c Official has taken advantage of the
opportunity afforded by his position to
publish slander against a citizen in res
yenge for his refusal to condone fraud.
W do not hesitate to say that man
who would resort to such means to vent
his malice, is unworthy to fill any office.
however humble, and the public ought
to know whether such a man now oc-
cuples seat in the Presidents cabinet.
BY all means let Senator Howe's resolu
ton be adopted. The Presidents answer
will be awaited with profound inter
est.-Baltimore Gazette.
General Longstreet is pleasantly spok.
n hN fh.a Aa.z,