Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-11-08

and if any of the Star Route cases we're
ready for presentation the grand jury
was at his service for three weeks,
otherwise he would adjourn the granu
jury for three weeks. The attorney
general told him that since the
Presidents assassination he had not
given the Star Route cases special
attention-that he knew nothing of
them, and he (CorkhilD need not
bother himself about them-that
/ when his services or those Of the
grand jury were required he would
be notified by the person having spe-
cial charge of them Under such
circumstances the grand jury was
respited for two weeks.
On September 23d, he was in
, formed by Cook that MacVeagh
! wished to see him, and III company
with Cook he called on the Attorney
General and was requested to sign
the criminal information. He then
protested against the abuse which he
had been receiving, and against the
/ instructions which had been publish
ed about the adjournment of the
grand jury, and that if the Attorney
General, as his superior officer, made
a statement. of simple facts, the abuse
would be at once siienced. Mac
Veagh said it was sure that he Cork
hilD had called upon him and inform
ed him of the proposed adjournment
OF the grand jury, but that he was
under the impression that he had
told him to see Cook. He (CorkbilD
assured him tia such was not the
case and the conversation ended. It
had been known to every one con-
nected with the Star Route cases
that the grand jury had adjourned
and the day of it's adjournment and
it was equally well known that on an
lntim tion to himself or to the court
the grand jury would have been re-
summoned without one dsys delay.
He desired, therefore, to state plain
ly: First, that he was now and had
been Ignorant OF every fact connec>
ted with the Star Route cases. Sec
ond, that the adjournment of the
grand jury till the first Monday in
October was decided upon and direc-
ted on July 10Th without any referene
to the Star Route clses. Third, that
it would have been callej immedi-
ately if it had been desired. Fourth,
that before the grand jury adjourned
he called on the Attorney-General
and informed him of the proposed
adjournment, and asked him the di
rect question whether any Of the Star
Route cases were ready, and that the
Attorney General s reply was that he
! (CorkhilD had nothing to do with
them, and that when his services
, wee needed he would be notified.
Judge Cox remarked that so far as
the facts stated by Mr.. Corkhill had
come within his personal experience,
the statement conformed substan
TALLY to his recollection.
The following proclamation was
issued from the Department of State
to-day:
By the President Of the United
States-A Proclamation It has long
been the pious custom of our people,
with the closing of the year, to look
back upon the blessings brought to
them in the changing OF the seasons,
and to return solemn thanks to the
All giving Source from whom they
flow. And although at this period,
when the fallen leaf admonlshes
us that the time of our sacred
duty is at hand, our nation
; still lies IN the shadow Of great
bereavement and mourning which
} has filled our hearts still finds it's
sorrowful expression toward the God
before whom we but lately bowed in
grief aud supplication yet the
countless benefits which have been
showered upon us during the pa !
twelve months call for our fervea !.
gratitude and make it fitting that we
should rejoice with thankfulness
tlat the Lord, in his infinite
mercy has most signally favored our
country and our people. Peace
without and prosperity within have
OtSu fOtCUodlttt w us. 4No pSStl-
lence has visited our shores. The
abundant privileges Of freedom which
our fathers left us in their wisdom
are still our increasing heritage, and
if in parts of our vast domain some
affiiction has visited our brethren In
their forest homes, yet even this
calamity has been tempered and
IN manner sanctiied by a
generous compensation for the
sufferers, which has been called forth
throughout our land. For all these
things it is meet that the voice of the
nation should go up to God in de-
vout homage.
Wherefore, I, Chester A. Arthur,
President of the United States, do
recommend that all the people OBJ
serve Thursday, the 24ta day Novem
Der, instant, as day of national
thanksgiving and prayer, by ceasing,
so far as may, from their secular
labors and meeting in their several
places for worship, there to join in
ascribing honor and praise to AL
mighty God, whose goodness has
been so manifest in our history and
in our lives, and Offering earnest
prayer that His bounties may con-
tlnue to us and to our children.