The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-11-23
From washington.

Nh. JOHN W. FOSTER has resigned as United
States minister to Russia.
THE new British minister to the United
States, Lionel Sackville West, has arrived from
England.
In the star route cases George Bliss, of New
York, argued for the government and R. g.
Ingersoll for tho defense.
Mr.. FRENCH, assistant secretary ofthe treasury,
has given notice that the assistant treasurer at
New York will redeem weekly 81, 600, 900 of any
uncallad continued three and a half per cent.
bonds
COLONEL DUDLEY, commissioner of pensions,
has submitted to the secretary of the interior q
recommendation that Congress be asked to
appropriate 500, 600, 900 for disbursement by
his ofics during tho next fiscal year lending
June 80, 1889 in payment of annual and accrued
pensions, and also that an immediate deficiency
appropriation Of $40, 600, 900 be requested for
the purpose of paying all arrears of pensions.
CAPTAIN HOOPER, Of tho recently returned
Arctic exploring vessel Corwin, reports his
inability to find any trace Of the missing Jean.
nette during his cruise Of over $4,000 miles.
He ia not satisfied that she ia lost, and he
recommends that new expeditions be sent out
in the spring.
REMARKABLE scene Is said to have taken
place OF q recent cabinet meeting between the
President and Attorney General McVeagh.
According to the published account of the
affair the President took the attorney-general
to task for not being prepared in the Guiteau
case and personally pushing it to trial. The
Encouragement replied that he did not con-
slider it any part of his business to give atten-
ton to criminal prosecutions. The President
replied that this was q great state trial, and
that the whole country looked to Mr.. MacVeagb
to sec that it was conducted properly and eff.
GENTLY. Mr. MscVeagh said that there was no
law or custom for the attorney-seneral to appear
in criminal trials, and said he had been told 81
by Judge Jeremiah Black. The President then
quoted the case of Aaron Burr, and the attor-
ney-general replied that that was a trial for
treason. "Yes," tho President is reported to
have said, 'and this Is a trial for numbering
the chief magistrate of the nation, and to my
mind it is the positive duty Of the attorney
general to take charge Of the case" Mr.. Mac
Veaeh then reiterated that the law never
contemplated that as any part Of his duty.
Finally, the President said he was determined
that the government should have able counsel,
and he would himself direct, if Mr.. MacVeagh
declined to do 30, that Judge John X. Porter,
of New York, and Walter Davidge, of Washing
ton, be employed as additional counsel in tho
prosecution of Guiteau.
ALL of tho late President Garfeld's effects
were removed from the White House a few
days ago and sent to Mrs. Garfield at Clevc-
land, Ohio.
Ex-SEcRETARY WINDOW denies the correct
ness of the reported scene in the cabinet be-
tween President Arthur and Attorney General
MacVcaeh. He says tho President did not take
Mr.. MacYeagh TO task for not pushing the Gui-
teau case, as was reported, and that there was
the best OF feeling between the President and
all the members of the cabinet.
IN tie star route cases Judge Cox, OF the
crimina. court, rendered a decision adverse to
the officers of the United States government,
and released the alleged star route conspira.
tors from all proceedings then pending agains'
them. The Judge, in q long decision, argued
that the crimes charged were "infamous" un-
der the statutes and legal decisions touching the
subject, and that under the Constitution pro
ceedings could not be begun By information in
cases where crimes Of an Infamous nature were
charged. Mr.. Cook, special counsel for the
government, addressed the court in explanation
Of the circumstances which had made such {
course OF procedure necessary, and in vindica
ton of himself and the encouragement
Counsel for the government stated the decision
was but q temporary embarrassment, that thf
process by Indictment could still be employed
and that they now proposed to employ it.