Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-11-28

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 27.-The following
letter from Attorney General Wayne Mac
Veagh to President Arthur just before his
retirement from the cabinet will appear in
the Times tomorrow:
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. s, 1SS1.-MY DEAR
MIR. PRESIDENT: Your letter has just
reached me, and I will come to see you and
talk over once more the subject of which it
treats in the same spirit of cOnciliatiOns in
which we have heretofore discussed it.
will tele graph you in advance of my COM
ing, which will be just as soon as 1 can
free myself from engagements here. In the
interval 1 wish you to consider again
the reasons why I cannot share
your opinions upon this sub
ject As have already told
you, I knew comparatively nothing about
the star route frauds until President Gar
field called my attention to them. He
spoke very earnestly of his duty to have
them thoroughly investigated, to remove
all persons who ought to have prevented
them, and see that all persons were prose-
,cuted against whom reasonable grounds
for such course were developed by the in
-vestiyation. He said he had explained to
the postmaster general the same news,
and also why he wished him to consult me
rather than the district attorney of the
district. The postmaster general called
upon NE and we went together to the pres
ident. He was quite as emphatic
as before Ill the expression of
his own opinion upon the
subject He spoke of the frauds as IN
paralleled villainies, as ioathsome ulcer
on the body polite, needing to be cut out
with all its roots, no matter where they
extend. He stated that. while it did not
belong to my departments certainly not at
all 1T that stage Of the matter-yet he
wished to associate with the postmaster
general to the extent Of having the latter
feel at perfect liberty to consult at any
time about the matter. He said he in
tended to remove Gen. Brady as soon as
the postmaster general could find a salts
factory successor. At subsequent inter
view. ne regretted the delay in that matter,
and urges; immediate removal, as he held
him principally responsible for
the great frauds which he
evidently was convinced had been commit
ted. As soon as Gen. Brady's resignation
had been demanded, his newspapers, not
unnaturally, began abusing President Gar
field, the postmaster general, myself, and
everybody III any way conn ecteG with the
investigation. On this subject I speak
without the slightest personal warmth, for
thenceforth [ ceased reading them, and I
only know what I have been told by others
or read in other newspapers. President
GARFIELD subsequently expressed MS regret
that he had exposed me to such attacks by
connecting me with a matter not necessa-
rily & part Of my duty at that stage: but
told him I regarded it as an honor to be
he abused in his company. I added the
general proposition that in these days the
abuse OF thieves is about the only decora
ton il our public life worth winning, and
Is the s.lrest passport to the good opinion
of honest men.
In this spirit and in this companionship
went on advising with the president and
postmaster general as occasion arose. My
functions were slight and infrequent.
Woodward was special agent of the post
Office department, best acquainted with
these frauds and most jealous in their in
vestigation. He not only possessed the
entire confidence of the postmaster gener
al. but had been commended to me per-
sonaliy by Senator Hawley as man OF
excellent Judgment and not only Of I'M
doubted but of aggressive honesty. When,
therefore, Woodward thought it desirable
that he should have the assistance of Glib
$50 L, and the postmaster general conceded
in that opinion, went with the latter to
President Garfield and explained the mat
ter to him and received the direction to
employ Gibson. When sub
;sequently, Woodward and Gibson
agreed in requesting the employment of
n ,at,- ~
sued with the same result. Whenever they
brought me any person supposed to pos
ssess knowledge Of these frauds. l advised
him to tell the truth, and whenever l re-
ceived letters suggesting sources Of infor-
NATION L wrote 20 the parties indicated, ex-
pressing the desire of the government to
obtain any knowledge of papers relating
TO the subject under their control, and
whatever responses were received L of
course turned over to the gentleman charged
with the inquiries which were progressing.
[ also insisted from the first and upon all
proper occasions that there was no posi-
BILE vindication for anybody accused ex-
>cept upon an open trial before court and
Jury or a frank abandonment of the cases
by the government, if the evidence did not,
in the opinion of the president, justify a
prosecution.
That was my whole connection with the
cases up to the wounding of President
Garfield, except that the day before he was
shot he repeated to me his efforts to have
Riddle appointed district attorney of the
district by President Hayes, and directed
me to see Riddle, offer him the place in
his name, and if he accepted it advise him
by telegraph, and he would reply, ask
ing me to request Col. Corkhilrs resigna-
ton. 1 wrote Riddle, asking to see him,
but he did not see me until the night of
the day President Garfield was wounded,
and when we were expecting him to die
very shortly. I then told Riddle in one of
the upper rooms of the White house what
had occurred. AS you had the best of
reasons for knowing, l never expected
President Garfield to recover, and as
did not for moment entertain the idea of
remaining in the cabinet after his death,
1 supposed such connection as 1 had had
with the star route cases was ended, and
that any further relation which the depart
ment might have with them would devolve
upon my successor. AS, however, Presi-
dent Garfield continued to live, continued
to do whatever was necessary. but nothing