Middletown transcript., 1878-03-23
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 20, 1871

w ASHIhGTOh, u. VI, MdTCu ~, 1910.
Anderson, Of New Orleans, was for
tunate in having the best lawyers in
Louisiana to defend him, and they seem
60 have labored as zealously as if they
had believed in the innocence Of their
client. They have secured his release
upon technical grounds. The State
has five days in which to demand
rehearing, but it is hardly likely that
anything more will be done. Ander-
son, at Bis worst, was only a feeble i'm
itator Of Wells, the head Of the Re
turning Board, ana the conviction Of
Wells is yet possible. There has been
the greatest robbery in all history, and
it would be gratifying to have some
one Of the thieves convicted and pun
ished. They are known. They have
not repented They still have the sto-
len articles.
The Senate is now engaged in dis
cussion Of terms Of settlement with
Pacific railroads Messrs. Matthews,
Christiancy and Thurman have alrea-
dy spoken, and the subject will proba-
bly, call out all the eminent lawyers Of
the Senate.
Years age money was appropriated
to pay mail contractors for services
performed in the South il the years
1860 and 1861. One way and anoth-
er payment had been prevented, and
early in this session a bill was intro
duced in the House to secure an early
settlement Of the claims. OF course,
after the ordinary departmental exam
ination Of the individual clair~s no
payments would have ba
those found to have been
Confederate or other govel
the fact that a few Of these CO..
had been 90 paid was discovered in -
House, and was made not only an ex-
cuse for defeating the bill, but a ground
Of attack upon the whole South. Moth
ing could be more unjust to a great
majority Of the claimants nothing
more absurd and wicked than to 50
stir up sectional feeling. No one be-
lieves that one in ten Of the contrac-
tors has been paid.
Yesterday, in our U. S. Criminal
Court the Judge called attention for
the first time to the act lately APPROX
ed making persons charged with crime
competent witnesses in their own cases.
The case on at the time was one in
which an intelligent German was to Be
tried for manslaughter The killing
was not denied, the accused simply
claiming that it was the result Of an
accident. Witnesses were examined,
the accused testified in his own behalf,
and the jury, without leaving their
seats, acquitted him. He has been
once tried and had been in jail for
year, on indictment by grand jury.
There was no day Of that year on
which, if his own statement could have
been heard at his former trial, he
would not have been free man. The
new law, therefore, has an excellent
start in this district. Mr.. Frye, Of the
House, was the principal supporter Of
the bill. If | remember rightly, Judge
Appleton, of Maine, was one of the
earliest, as also certainly the ablest ad-
vocates in this country Of this humane
and sensible practice.
All these years that McGanahan has
been at the doors Of the White House.
the Departments, the Courts, and Con
gress, he has been writing letters. His
opponent, the New India Mining Com
pany, has purchased these letters. 700
IN number, and is using them before
Congressional Committee having the
great contest in charge. It is fair to
say Of McGanahan' letters that, though
they mention numberless attempts to
control Courts and Federal offiaers bv
indirection, they nowhere admit Of any
question as to the justice and strength
Of the title by which he claimed tbe
valuable mines in dispute. Indeed.
through all of them he seems to feel
himself poor man whom a rich and
powerful enemy is endeavoring to
crush. This may yet be strong point
in the mans favor. Writing 100 let
ters to his most confidential friend, his
partner, who, if any one knew that
their claim was fraudulent, would
know it, it is hardly possible that
scoundrel shsuld not in some way use
expressions or state facts showing such
fraud. Meantime similar exposures Of
corruption on the part Of the New In
dia Company are promised by McGan-
ahan. This scandal, if it touches all
spoken Of now as likely to be reached,
will create more of a sensation than
Oakes Ames and his Credit Mobilier
dld. SoLoN.