Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-11-07

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.-The Star publishes
the following: very important meeting OF
the cabinet was held in President Arthur's
parlor directly after his return from York
town. 1t was of unusual length, and the Sc
crecy maintained by members and OMNIBUS
looks which followed all questions relating to
the subjects discussed, occasioned good deal
of comment at the time, particularly
among correspondents of newspapers.
Putting this and that together, and
taking one consideration with another, the
Star is enabled to present tolerably accurate
history of the meeting. Every membe- OF
the cabinet was present. The president stated
that he had called the members together to
consider the question of the prose-
cution of Guiteau; that from facts
which had come to his knowle dge
he believed the government to be entirely un-
prepared for the case. He added with good
deal of emphasis and accompanying his
words with clenched fist that came down with
some force on the table, that he would con-
slider it prominently disgraceful to the
government if in the Guileau case, as In
the star route cases, the government should
confess itself unprepared to go on and become
compelled to ask a continuance. Attorney
General MacVeagh was present and gave no
sign. The PRECEDENT noticing MacVeagh's ST.
lence, put the question 10 him directly as to
the preparation of the government to proceed
in Gulteau's case. The attorney general re-
piled that he did not consider it being part
of his business to give attention to criminal
prosecutions. The, president replied that this
was a great state trial, and that the whole
country looked to MacVeagh to see that it
was conducted properly and efficiently. Mac
la Or Sf0
the attorney general to appear in criminal
trials, and said he had been
told SO by Judge jeremiah Black.
The president then quickly and some
what angrily asked McVeagh how it had been
in the trial of Aaron Burr. "Oh! but that
was trial for treason" McVeagh replied
eyes" said the president, "and this is trial
for numbering the chief magistrate of the ma
tor, and to my mind it is the positive duty of the
the attorney general to take charge of the case"
MacVeagh then reiterated that the law never
contemplated that as any part OF his duty.
The president replied that the statutes of the
United States authorized the attorney general
to appear for the government at any time, in
anv federal conrt, in any case in which he
might deem it his duty to do SO. and
referred Macveagh to the particular
there was good deal of excitement around
thu cabinet table The lawyers of the cabinet
being appealed to, they agreed with the presi-
dent. As Mac Veagh maintained the position
that 1t was below the dignity of the attorney
general to appear in criminal
case, the president then asked him
if he had done anything to
obtain counsel to assist District Attorney
Corkhill in the prosecution of Guiteau. Mac
Weigh said he had not; that ''that was
duty which belonged to the district attorney
himself, if he desired additional counsel"
The president, with considerable warmth,
said that was a new suggestion to him, and
that either MacVeigh or himself was
very ignorant of the law. Accord
ing to his reading of the United
States statutes it was made the express duty
of the attorney general to engage assistant
counsel in any case where, in his Judgment,
the interests of the government require 1t.
MacVeagh said that he took different view
of his duty, and did not consider himself
bound to take any part in the
trial of Guiteau, or to procure
additional counsel for that purpose.
He said that in the star route cases COL Cork
hill hai suggested desire for the employ
ment of VIM. A Cook as additional counsel,
and MacVeagh had nothing to do with him.
Col Corkhill could do as he pleased in the
matter. The president said he was determined
that the government should have able counsel,
and he would himself direct, if MacVeagh de-
clined to do so. that Judge John K. Porter, of
New York, aud Walter Davidge, of Washing
ton, be employed as additional counsel in the
prosecution of Guiteau. MacVeagh then said
that if the president desired it to be done he
would employ the gentlemen named. 1t is
said, that at the close of this somewhat re-
markable cabinet scene, the president re-
marked that the attorney generals knowledge
of the law would be greatly improved by read
ing the statutes of the United States, which
defined the duties of his office.
CONFEDERATE BONDS.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.-There has been con-
siderable speculation and guessing as to the
amount of confederate bonds held by the
United States government. These bonds to-
gether with about s5O,OOO,OOO in confederate
property of the rebellion in the treasury, and
were never counted until the last few days. A
count shows that there are about s., 600, 900 of
confederate bonds now in the treasury. These
bonds were captured at different
times and places during the
rebellion, and are all duly signed aud in prop
er shape, precisely as the bonds that are now
being sold. There is no intention to sell them,
nor indeed could this be done perhaps without
authority of congress. The confederate notes,
or many OF Inem, DelOnR 10 Tue issues IQaI
were cancelled by that government, but many
millions of dollars of them are of issues
in use at the end of the rebellion.
Besides these bonds and notes there is large
quantity of certificates of Indebtedness which
were issued by the confederate government.
These certificates were issued before the con-
federate bonds were printed and could be con-
verted into bouds or money at the will of the
owner. These certificates range from $50
to 100000, aud wer captured at
Richmond and other places. The officers in
charge of the division of captured and aban-
doned property say they DO not believe there
isany balance in England belonging to the con-
federate government. Among the effects in
this division are numerous letters from Mason
and Sliddell, agents of the confederate
states abroad, and they were
constantantly begging for money,
up to the collapse. Notwithstanding this,
higher treasury officials assert that there is q
balance ia the Bank of England that belonged
to the confederate government, and a little
over two years ago Secretary Sherman made
contract with banker to collect it for the
United States.
Indications are, however, that the bottom
has dropped out of the confederate bond spec.
ulation. There are no more orders to bankers
here from New York, and few are purchas
ing at their own risk as low as one dollar and
half per thousand.
STAP poT-TE