Daily Republican., 1881-11-07
ExC1r1us cAssssr nEsTIse.

BXCITIua CAD1UDI u8BT1u0s
The President enA me Galseasl
Caso-Sharp words SHskes-ass.
veaGh Worssea.
The Washington Star Of Saturday
has the following
"a very important meeting Of the
Cabinet WAS held in President Arthur y
parlor, directly after his return from
Yorktown. 1t was Of unusual length,
and the ominous looks which followed
all questions relating 70 the subjects
discussed occasioned good deal OF COM
ment at the time, particularly among
the correspondents OF pewspapers.
Putting this and that together, and
taking one consideration with another,
the Star is enabled to present n toler-
ably accurate history OF the meeting.
Every member OF the Cabinet was
present The President, ~ 5000 AZ all
were seated, stated that he had called
he mem Ders together TO consider the
question OF the prosecution OF GuiRau;
that from facts which had come 10 his
knU ledge be believed the Government
W be entirely unrrepareh for the case
He added, with good deal Of emphasis
and accump .nying his words with a
cienchcd ms, thai como down with
some force on the tabe, that he wonld
cons dor 1t pre- eILinently dlsgraceful
" the government If In the Guiteau
case, ss in the Star route cases, the
Government should confess itself un-
prepared 70 go on ~nd ne compelled TO
ask u continuance. Attorney General
MecEeagh Vas present a0d gave no
sign.
The President noticing Mr.. Mac
Vu.gh's silence, put the question to
hlln directly rs TO the preparation Of the
Government to proceed in the illtrhu
case. TIE Attorney General replied
that he did not coDsih'r II any part OF
his business To give attention 70 crlmi-
nal prosecutions The fresldenl replied
that thi. va, q great State trial, and
that the whole country looked to Mr..
MacVeagh To see thar 1t was conducted
properly and efficiently. Mr.. Mac
| Veagh said there was n law or custom
for the Attorney -Geueral TO appear in
criminal trials and said he had been sc
told by Judge jeremiah Black. The
President then quickly and somewhat
augrily asked Mr. MacVeagh how il
had been in The Aaron Barr trial?
"Oh, that was trial for treason, 'Mr
MacVeagh replied $685..
"Ye-, said the President and this Is a
trial tor mulderiug tue Chief Magistrate
| of the nation, and 10 my mind 1t is the
posltlyed duty OF the Attorney Genera
to take charge OF the case.
He said that in the star route cases
Col. Corknill had suggested desire fol
the employment OF Mr.. William A
Cook, ~ additional counsel, and Mr.
MacVcagh said he had nothing to dc
| with it, and Col. Corkhill could do AZ
he pleased in the matter. The PreSi
! dent said he was determined that thu
Government should have able counse
and he would himself direct, If Mr.
MacVeagh declined u dosO, that Judg'
John X. Porter, of New York, and Wal
ter Davidge, of Washington, be EN-
ployed M additional counsel in tn
prosecution OF Guileau. Mr.. Ma
Vcagh then said.that if the Presiden
desired it 70 be done he would emplo.
the gentlemen named.
"it is said that at the close OF thi
somewhat remarkable Cabinet seen
the President remarked that the Attor
ncy -General's knowledge Of the la,
would be greatly improved by readin
the statutes of the United States whic
define the duties of his office.
"Mr. MacVeAgh then reiterated tina
the law never cohtemplatts that as an
part Of his duty. The President replie'
That the s,atutes of the United State
authorized the Atorney-Heneral TO al
pear for the Goverlnen. at any time, i
any Federal court, il any case in whic
he might deem it his duty to do so, an
hs ref rred Nj. Ma,Veagh to the pa
ticuiar section of the Law. BY this tim
there WAS = good ueal of excittmer
around the Cabiuet table. The lawyer
of the Cabinet being appealed ~ the
agreed with the President.
GAS Mr.. Macveagh maintained hi
position that it was below the digniJ
of the Attorney General to appear in
criminal case, the President then asko
linn it he had done anything to obtai
counsel 10 assist District A1torne
Corkhill in the prosecution OF Gulteau
Mr.. MacVeagh said nc had not; tina
: that was duty which belonged 10 ia
District Attorney himself if he desire
! additional counsel. The President
with considerable warmth, salt tina
!. that was a new suggestion 10 him, an
that either Mr.. AacVeagh or hinsel
was vary ignorant OF the law, 10
. accor ling to his reading OF the Unite
States statutes, it was made the expres
!, duty OF the Attorpey-Generai to engag
assistant counsel in any case where, i
his judgment, the interests Of the GOV
D eminent required it. Mr.. MacVeag
c said he took y different view OF hi
e duty, and did not consider hlmse
7 bound to take any part in the trial
Guiteau, or to procure additional cour
sel tor that purpose.