New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-03


town and there only a few clerks in the of'cca.
Tie United States Commissioners 'yerr at their
Offices but beyond routine business They hal moth
Ing TO do, and lhers was a solutoly excitement
in the Offices. OF course the news of The ass;,sSua-
ton fell like huncrbolt upon those who were on
dnty, and express 4ions Of sorrow and aympaty were
everywhere heard. The idea OF the decd being the
result of a conspiracy, secuted by all. II WAS
felt that the act was thGt OF inadman and that
politically it bore no Significance.
Postmaster Pearson received the news little after
10 o'clock. Ii came to him a General dispatch
from the telegraph office which is in the Post Office
buiid'g AZ first he refused TO believe it, bat
CONN ratory reports received Speaking of
che crime to TRIBUNE reporter, Mr.. Pearson
marked that this country getting to be pretty
nearly as bad as Russia. What result would follow
the assassination he WAS unable to say, because the
event was of so recent occurrence 'hat he had not
ha9 'lnl' to tuily consider he situation:
80 am beginning to think added Mr. pcaSon,
" that our Government is mistake. In theory it
means liberty of conscience of thought and OF
snI' 6 Out 4 n aI' c 9o +? M not be amy
the President is the result OF any political conspir-
aacy; It WAS undoubtedly the act Of some hair
Drained man who has been deprived of position
worth II 200 or ~ 400 year. | love right and
dec'ncy, but should thiS he ihe result of political
conspiracy, tal to see that thcrc is any right ana
Ncccncy left III our Government. As 10 the effect
This may have on the future of political
government will not fall into the hands of plumber
ers and spoilsmcn Politics seem to have ceased TO
he matters of principle, but of men, and what they
are worth Toy polite purposes.
nat VIII be the action of rostmasterGencral
| am !nahl 10 say. Speaking for myself however,
l should imagine that as he is Il gentleman and a
the services of the man who has hcl Ped him. MIR.
Conkilng, however, may not desire his
tinYance in office, and as the ex-senator viii
his wishes will he complied with BY Vicc-prcsiicnR
Arthur, who Will become President But speak only
Tor myself. know absolutely nothing from Colonel
James. In my own ease am simply Pos; master.
want to manage the Post Office conscicntousy. No
influences from the outside have extended into it, |
am aware that have offended politicians, because
have been unable 10 conduct the affairs of the Office
III heir interest rather than in the interest of the
public at large
GENERAL woODFORD's GRIEF.
General Woodford was found in his office. ats
a double sorrow to me-" said he, and | can't well
reprcss my feelings. have been intimate with Cen
eral Garfield from youth. | knew him in college
days, in fact, since 1875. when met him on a visit
to a friend at Williams College. The acquaintance
rpcncd into friendship when we met in Congress to-
gcther'
"What will he the effect al Albany in case Cen
cral Garfield does not 2" asked the reporter
1t is too soon to form any intelligent Judgment
as to what the political result Will be, and in the
shadow of so great sorrow am unwilling to spec
uate as TO the effect the event would have upon men
| or parics'
SHOULD President Garfield survive what offence
i'll law has been committed 7"
The crime in law is no greater than if COM
| mittcd upon the humblcst man in the country.
| 1t does not partakc of the nature of rcgicidcn
Marshal Knox heard of the shooting early in tho
| day. " The news as il reached me was that tho
| President had been killed outright said Mr. Knox
Il subsequently, learned that he still alive, but
could get no further information | az once M |.
usual u such cases, warned all my deputies 10 re-
main on duty, and rs precautionary measure sent
| word to General liillhonse of the sub-Trcasury,
that IN the event Of great popular excitement and
possible riot. he might call uponmc for assistance in
protecting the sub-Ircasliry. held the Marshas
| "A al nttIt hay
day To act rs messengers If their services should be-
desired.
president Garncld,' continued Mr.. Knox, "was
| clasSmatc oi mine and We had agreed to meet at
Williams College on "Wednesday next. It will bee
the t"cn N-ttiti nyersary OF our rraduatinn aud
gu IN" members oi ne class who could hc found
! had agreed ~ assemble at the college with their
families 10 celebrate the quarter OF century We
| nave been out IN the word. OF course this Ia,
| frustrated our rlans. There would be no pleasure
IN meeting under the present terrible crcuIn-
| stance
There was report current to-day that you had
sent some OF your Deputy Marshals act asa guard
Non" whateycr' replied the Marshal. " | have
not seen General Arthur to-day nor lave | had any
communication with him.
COMMENTS ABOUT TIE CITY HALL.
| THE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT RECEIVED WITH IN
CEEpULrr-GENARAL EXPRESSIONS OF sORRow
AND REGRrr-WnAr MAYOR GRACE, CONTROLLER
CAMPBELL AND OTHERS SAY.
In the various departments of the City Govern
ment the news received with aston.hincnt and
profound sorrow II was hardly credited for a time
Mayor Grace was personally acquainted with the
President. having made his acquaintance on "A vow
age from Liverpool in the steamer Hclyctia of the
National Line, few years ago. When Mrs Gar
field, III company with some friends, visited the
CITY Hall short time after the inauguration of
the President, Mayor Grace recalled the fact, of
their voyage and personally showed Mrs. Garfield
and her party through the city Hall The first in
tclligencc received that the President was
killed. Mayor Grace directed Colonel Tracy his
chel clerk to cause the flags to be placed at half
staff on the City Hall. A little later came the intel
ligcncc that the President WAS still alive althouqh
dangerously wounded and the ilags were taken
down.
The invest CATION Of the charges against the Po-
lice Comnis siOncr' to be rcsuiaod nj o'clock
Messrs Root and BARTLETT counsel for the Commits
Sioncls. Assistant Corporation Counsel Andrews and
Police Commissioner Mason appeared at the hour
named All expressed their horror AT the assassina
ton, and thcir asi0nishncnt that ii should have
been pcrpetratcd at time when party spirit was
not intense, and when there was an absence of any
motive for II crime OF such far-rcachirg consc-
qucnces.
TALKS WITH CITY OFFICIALS.
In conversation Mayor Grace said: can harIly,
express my horror and dctcstation of the crime |
knew President Garfield well and believe him an
honorable, upright gentleman. | was so thoroughly
convinced OF his honesty and stateslnanlike quail
ties that, on hearing Of his nomination. | declared
at once TO some friends that would be no party to
any tilng IN the way OF abuse utilization of Gen
cral Garfield. The country can i'll afford TO lose
such man. His example rc,leems politics from
much OF the odium that is cast upon them
The shooting has undoubtedly grown ont
Innl HAT