Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-11-24
FACrs ABOUT HIS RESIGNATION.

has been under steady fire of de-
nunciation from almost every quarter
The first and most important point
made against him is the fact that he
left the department of justice aud in
most indigniled way, went home with
out waiting for the president to nomi-
nate his official successor, leaving the
departm ent in the hands OF the solicit
or gsnernl. The facts are, in the first
place Gen. MacNeagh resigned his
place while at Long Branch. He new
er has been member Of the cabinet
of Gen. Arthur. He knows that the
Grant people dislike him intensely, and
he has never been guilty of the folly of
supposing for single moment that he
could associate with them upon friend
ly terms if he should have so desired.
When President Arthur arrived IN
Washington just before the funeral,
Gen. MacVeagh said to the president
that he had no desire to embarrass
him in any way, and that as a matter
of courtesy to him he would remain in
charge OF the department of justice
until the president could have time to
nominate his successor. President
Arthur said that he would nominate
his successor as soon as he could.
After II few days the star route people,
learning of MacVeagh's determination
to go out, began to say that Attorney
General MacVeagh was running away
from the prosecution. After about
weeks time President Arthur sent for
Mr. MacVeagh and said to him that he
desired him to remain and conduct the
prosecution, that he had become iden-
titled with them, and for that reason
he thought he could better carry them
through to successful result thut any
one else Mr. MacVeagh replied in
substance:
If | should stay and conduct tbs pros
ecutions for you, would represent not
your administration, but the Garfield
administration. You are entitled to the
credit of carrying through these prose-
cutions through any encouragement
of your own. There is nothing about
the case so far as the attorney general
is concerned that requires anything
more than good honest, Conscientious
lawyer.
Upon thes point Gen. MacVeagh has
said to mis- friends.
How could it be possible for me go
ahead as public prosecutor, acting for
an administration that had no sympa-
thy and friendship for me personally,
and while it would be telling me to 60
ahead and carry these prosecutions
through, would be glad to cut my throat
politically at the first opportunity? 1t
would be farcial to suppose | would al
low myself to be placed in such a posi-
ton.
SO as the days went on General Mac
Veagh insisted on his resignation; sim
ply upon the ground that he could not
act in harmony with the people now in
power Now, as to
THE CHARGE OF HIS RUNNING AWAY
from the department: The following
facts, never before published, will show
how little there is in that: On Sunday
of the week that Acknowledgement
MacN eagh went to Philadelphia, he
called upon the president and had Il
final talk with bims After asking him
again if he would not remain, and again
being informed politely and respectful
ly that he could not, the president said
to him:
II will nominate yonr successor ana
let you go"
Gen. MacVeagh asked When?"
The president said: ITO morrow or
next day / will in the name Of ex-Sena-
tor Timothy o. Howe"
''Then," said Mr.. MacVeagh, II will
wait until Mr.. Howe's name is sent to
the senate"
Monday came and no nomination
was made. Mr.. MacNeagh then went
to the president, and asked him how II
was that Howe's name was not sent in.
The president said: 81 promised to
give you 2 successor tomorrow or next
day. So | have one day yet" He
then said there was some trouble about
appointing Mr.. Howe at the present
time; that the relations of Enoch Tot
ten, his son n-law, 10 the star route
people might make the nomination Of
Mr.. Howe subject for criticism, and
that he had decided not to send in his
name at present He said, also, that
he had decided to offer the place to ex-
Senator Frelinghuysen of New Jersey,
and that his name would probably 20
to the senate the next day, with that Of
Judge Folger He added that it was so
certain that a nomination for attorney
general would go in the next day that
he authorized Mr.. MacVeagh to 60
back to Philadelphia. Mr.. Veagh
said: ~ will go back to Philadelphia,
and when Mr., Frelinghuysen passes
through Philadelphia on his way here
1 will come with him and formally
turn over the department to him"
THIS ARRANGEMENT WAS SATISFACTORY
to the president, for he made no objcc.
ton, and Mr.. MacVeagh retired and
took the train for Philadelphia. When
TUESDAY came no nomination was
made, and then the charge was made
in Washington that the attorney gen
eral had run away from his department
and left it without head, embarrassing
the president by his undignified and
disrepectful course. Neither the presi-
dent nor his friends have seen cit to
contradict this statement, and the re-
suit has been that Mr.. MacVeagh has