The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-09-27
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsHNoroN, september p, ISL

WASHINGTON, September %, 1881.
All that remains OF James A. Garfield is borne
from Washington towards his last resting place.
His lifeless body has lain in state under the dome
Of the Capitol, near the scene OF his former tri-
umphs, but so changed was 1t that those who had.
known him during life could scarcely have recog.
nized 1t.
There is considerable discussion as to what
shall be done with the wretch Guiteau. 1t seems
to be mOoted question whether he can be tried
for murder in this District, as death occurred
outside the jurisdiction OF our courts. Whatever
the condition of the statutes in this respect it is
certain that the authorities must find some way
to deal promptly and decsively with therpTison-
er or the people will take the job off their hands.
There must be no trihlng in the matter. Guiteau
must die and that without unnecessary delay.
The miserable wretch prates abouta fair trial and
says that when the excitement cools down he
thinks he will have justice done him. ! think he
will too, but perhaps his ideas of justice in this
case will not correspond with those OF most peo-
pie. He is, besides being worthless creature,
poor miserable coward and stands in constant
fear of summary treatment at the hands of the
people When informed that his victim was dead
he sank down on the bed in his cell very much
agtated-not from regret or remorse, but from
fear for his own miserable carcass. Tolook upon
the scenes OF mourning here and then reflect that
the wretch who, without reason, caused it all, is
alive and well and guarded by United States SOL
diers is a commentary upon the patience and for.
bearance of the American people.
OF the political results Of this great tragedy it
Is perhaps too early to speak. Chester A. Arthur
Is President and the people have faith that he
will rise to the situation. He is not now the rep
Iresentative OF any faction, but the President OF
the whole country, with an opportunity to earn
for himself place as high in the esteem Of the
people as that occupied by him whom he succeeds
1t is not known here yet whether he will retain
the present cabinet any part of it; but there is
q general wish that no sudden or radical change
will be made. 1t is no time for any but a care.
full considerate policy II the administration that
the country had reason to expect under President
Garfield could be realized under President Ar
thur, it would meet with the almost universal ap-
proval OF the country. An extra session of the
Senate is expected to be called in few days. and
then perhaps some foreshadowing of what is to
come will be developed 1t is understood that the
new President will not live in the White House.
for time at least At present he is to reside
with Senator Jones in the large stone mansion
erected by Gen. Butler ON Capitol Hill.
4 Gen. Arthur is the first President who entered
upon the duties of the office elsewhere than at the
seat Of Government, but there was Vice Presi-
dent who took the oath of office in foreign land.
Hon. William X. King, of Alabama, was elected
Vice President in 1852 on the ticket with Presi.
h dent Pierce. He was in feeble health, and early
in January, 1858, his physicians advised him to go
4 to Cuba. Congress passed a special act under
which he took the oath of office before the Con.
4 sui General at Havana, March 4th. 1858. He died
soon after returning to his home.