The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-12-17
NEW YORK, Dec 18th 1878.

New York Appointments.
New YORK, Dec 18th 1873.
The Government in its pursuit Of revenue too
often resorts to measures, which are grossly vi
olatve of private rights aud moral principle,
as for example, when 1t takes merchants by
the throat with an effrontery worthy of high
way man and extorts from them considerable
sums of money for invoicing their goods at the
Custom House at what they cost instead Of
what some unprincipled Treasury spy appraises
thtm at. That sort Of performance is ROBBERY
pure aud simple. The fact that it is practiced
under the celor of law does not relieve it Of
single one of its odious features. That circum-
stance, indeed, rather intensifes the shame Of
the depreciation. When statutes are perverted
and distorted from their true intent and mean
ing in such way as to be used as covers for
wrong to citizens, they become the mere insrru-
ments of oppression and gross dishonesty.
But it occasionally happens that attempts are
made to iefraud the exchequer that are quite
as flagrant and impudent as ans that have ever
been devised to repenish 1t. There has been
q suit in progress for the past fortnight in the
United States Court in New York in which
one Whslen is the plaintiff and Gen. Philip
FL. Sheridan the ostensible defendant, the evi-
dencs adduced in which dissoses monstrous
conspiracy of fraud, which ought to bring all
the participants in it to condign punishment
Ten or twelve years ago Northerner mi
grated to Louisiana and invested money In the
purchase of plantation. His possession Of it
was wrested from him through some collusive
proceeding of pretended owner and q local
.a'>'NsA~A t~uesAou~rs- a~usr~A Sherldan was
then in military command at New Orleans.
The rightfal owner appealed to him for protec
tion. The gallant soldier investigated the
matter, satisfied himself that justice dema nded
prompt interposition, and he accordingly rein-
stated the actual proprietor in possession Of the
estate he had bought and paid for. The elected
squatter, needy and characterless adventurer
has since organized a combination of choice
spirits of his own kidney to prosecute . claim
for some 100000 damages for the losses he
pretends to have suffered in consequence of
General Sheridan's act Up to this time only
one side of the story has been heard, and the
testimony of the prosecutor and his accom- plices
uader the searching scrutiny Of the cross ex-
amining counsel, is conclusive in showing that
the whole thing has been concocted In iuiqaity
and supported by perjury. Knsves are apt to
be clumsy in their management of rascally pro-
jects, and these fellows have left 30 many
points exposed that there will be no d fficnlty
In baf1iDg their vile scheme. Not one of them
has left the witness stand yet without having
been riddled through and through; and the
frame work and details Of the plot have bsen
presented SO clearly to the jury that there il
very little doubt that a verdict would bs rem.
dered for the defendant If his counsel were to
leave the case to be decided solely on the facts
established by the prosecution. However, the
District Attorney apparently intends to 20 to
the very bottom Of this remarkable crusade to
gather plunder from the public Golfers, and Il
is likely that after those engaged in it are
turned out Of court they will be invited by the
Marshal to take seats In the criminal dock to
answer to the charge of false swearing.
This extraordinary trial has attracted a good
deal of attention, partly because the brave
Lieutenant General of the army is . nominal
party to it, and partly for the reason that
Gen. Butler is acting as the legal advis-
er Of the conspirators. 1t is safe to say
that the latter gentleman will not de-
rive any pecuniary advantage from the
result to offset the shame Of association with
such dsreputable clients or the modification of
being beaten, for they have nothing to pay fees
with and are not likely to be in the way Of get
ting money very soon either by fair means or
foul.
Great credit is due to Gen. Woodford, the
U. S. District Attorney, and to his assistant
Mr.. A. B. Herrick, for the energy and zeal
they have displayed in unravelling the tangled
threads of this elaborate network of villsioy
Mr.. Herrick went to Louisiana and spent some
time there IN following the trail Of Whalen
and his sccomplices, and he did his work 90
thoroughly that when they presented them
selves as witnesses he was able to demonstrate
the utter worthlessness Of their present assev-
erations by confronting them with previous
contradictions of the same, which they had un-
bushingly sworn to in earlier stages of the
conspiracy. In this he was aided by Mr.. Bect-
with, a Louisiana lawyer who had made him
self familiar with the entire history Of the
transaction, and knew enough Of the doings of
the actors in it to destroy their credibility by
their own admissions. Gen. Sheridan also has
thrown himself into this case with all the force
auu hUllitt VI us ouorkoLu uhtutcy Prov
| ing that he is as determined foe of thieves In
| time of peace, as he was Of rebels in the days
| Of civil war. The defence is entrenched ct oil
points and there isn't weak spot in it. 1t has
been conducted with an adroitness and skill
which will inevitably enhance the reputation
| of all who have had share in conducting 10.
Mr.. Herrick, whom this litigation brings into
prominencs, Is q young man from Vermont,
who has sought in the metropolis q wider field
for the exercise Of his talents in the practice of
law than his New England home Af-
forded, and who only needed an opportunity Of
this kind to achieve distinction in his proiss.
sion. He will win enduring laurels on account
of the patient industry and keen insight with
which he has mastered all the details OF this
piratical adventure SO completely as to defeat it
and overwhelm its concoctors and abettors with
irretrievable ignominy.
Gan it be possible there are no limits to the
eredulity with which people will give ear 10
preposterous statements about public men?
The other day ridiculous story got into ciica-
lation setting forth that Senator Conkling
showed some discourtesy to Mr.. Blaine on the
occasion of his late speech on the tanpsring
with the ballot in the South. Nobody here, at