Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-29
THE STAR ROUTE VILLAINY.
MR.. MacVEAGTs EXPERIENCES.
How He WAS Crippled by the Thieves
and Their Tools
From the Philadelphia Times.


General, Wayne MacVeagh, his resignation had
been verbally accepted and the date fixed for Mr..
MacVeaghs return 10 Philadelphia free from the
cares and responsibilities of the Department Of
Justice. The successor TO Macyeagh was named,
and his nomination to the Senate definitely fixed
for the day of McVeagh's retirement. Thus re-
leved from all public duties he paid his final re-
spects to the Supreme Court as Attorney General
and returned the same day to resume his business
in Philadelphia. For reasons satisfactory to the
President the expected nomination was not
made at the time fixed, and the position remained
vacant for some time thereafter. few weeks
after MacNeagh's retirement, the President met
him by appointment when passing through this
city TO New York, and urgently requested him to
resume his position IN the Cabinet until the STR
route prosecutions could be disposed of, which
was respectfully declined. with the request that
his resignation should be formally accepted in
view of the unexpected failure to appoint sue
CeSSOr. The President then urged MacYeagh to
aid in the star route prosecutions as one OF the
private counsel OF the government, which was
also declined for reasons very clearly stated in the
letter herewith given Instead OF sending Mr..
MacNeagh the acceptance OF his resignation from
New York, the President wrote him renewing his
request that MacFeagh should return to the Cab
met until the prosecutions could be disposed OF or
act as private counsel for the government In con-
Quoting the cases. To that letter, Mr.. MacVeagh
answered as follows:
PHILADELPHIA, November 8, 1884,
MY DEAR Mr. PRESIDENT: Your letter has just
reached me and Will come to see you and talk
over once the subject OF which 1t treats in the
same spirit OF Cancellation in which we have here
tOfOre discussed 1t. will telegraph you in advance
OF my coming, which will be just as soon as can
free myself from engagements here.
In the interval wish you TO consider again the
reasons why cannot share your opinions upon
this subject. AS have already told you, / knew
comparatively nothing about the star route frauds
until President Garfield 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 to
see that all persons We're prosecuted against
whom acknowledgements for such course were
developed by the Investigation. He said he
t na y1aT 1 TO tle General
consult me rather than the District Attorney Of
the District. The Postmaster General called upon
me, ana we went together to the President. He
was quite as emphatic as before In the expression
or his own opinion upon the subject He spoke OF
the frauds as unparalleled villalnies; as loath-
some ulcer on the body polite, needing to be cut
out, with all its roots, no matter where they eX-
tended. He stated that, while 1t did not belong to
any department-certafny not at all at that stage
or the matter-yet he wished to associate me with
the Postmaster General to the extent of having the
latter feel at perfect liberty to consult at any
time about it, He said he intended to remove
General Brady as soon as the Postmaster General
could find a satisfactory successor At a subSe-
quent Interview he regretted the delay in that
matter ana urged his immediate removal, as he
held him principally responsible for the great
frauds which he evidently was convinced had
been committed.
THE STAR ROUTE ASSAULT.
AS soon as Gen. Brady's resignation had been
demanded his newspapers, not unnaturally, began
abusing President Garfield, the Postmaster Gen.
eral myself and everybody In any way connected
with the Investigation. On this subject 1 speak
without the slightest personal warmth for thence
forth / ceased reading them, and / only know
what have been told by Others or read In other
newspapers President Garfield subsequently, eX-
press regret that he had exposed me to such at
tackS by connecting me with matter not neces-
sirily part OF lay duty at that stage: but | told
him that regarded it as an honor to be abused
In his company. 1 added the general proposition
do hn hue
the only decoration in our public life worth win
ming, and Is the surest possible passport to the
good opinion of honest men.
In this spirit and in this cOmpanIonship went
on advising with the President and the Postmaster
General as occasion arose My functions were
special agent of the Post Office department hest
acquainted with these frauds and most Jealous In
thelr investigation. He not only possessed the en-
.lre commence or the Postmaster General, but had
been commended to me personally by Senator
1iawley as man OF excellent judgment and not
only only OF undoubted but OF aggressive honesty.
When, therefore, Mr.. Woodward thought 1t desira-
Die that he should have the assistance of Mr. Glib
son and the Postmaster General conceded In that
opinion, went with the latter to President Gar
fled explained the matter to him and received his
directions to employ Mr.. Gibson. When, subse-
quently, Mr.. Woodward and Mr.. Gibson agreed
In requesting the employment OF Mr.. Cook pre-
clsely the same course was pursued, with the
same result.
THE ATTORNEY GENERALS ADVICE
Whenever they brought me any person supposed
to possess knowledge OF these frauds 1 advised
him TO tell the truth. and whenever received let
tiers suggesting sources OF information wrote to
the parties Indicated expressing the desire OF the
government to obtain any knowledge or papers re-
at1ng 10 the subject under their control and what
ever responses were received /, OF course, turned
which were progressing I also insisted from the
FIRST ana upon all proper occasions that there 7roS
no possible rlndicatio'a FOR doody accused except
an open n'tdt befOTe q court and jury, or a frank
abandonment of the cases by the government II
the evidence did not, In the opinion OF the Presi-
dent, justify prosecution. That was my whole
connection with the cases up to the wOundtng of
President Garfield, except that the day before he
was SHOT he repeated to me his efforts to have Mir.
Riddle appointed district attorney OF the District
by President Hayes, and directed me to see Mr.
Riddle, offer him the place In his name and II he
accepted IL, to advise him by telegraph and he
would reply, asking me to request Mr.. C0rkhiIrs
resignation / wrote Mr.. 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. / then
told Mr.: Riddle in one OF the upper rooms of the
White House what had occurred.
THE SELECTION OF COUNSEL.
AS you had the best Of reasons for knowing
never expected President Garfield to recover and
as did not for moment entertain the idea OF
remaining in the Cabinet after his death. I sub
posed such connection as had had with the star
route cases was substantially ended and that anv
further relation which the department might have
with them would devOlve upon my Successor as
however, President Garfield continued to live I
continued to dOwhatever was necessary but mo-
thing more. When we were considering the re-
moval OF the President to Long Branch Mr. Cork
hill asked me il knew whether any OF these cases
would be ready for the grand jury. / told him I
knew nothing OF the details OF the cases. and that
of course, Mr.. Cook, his own special assistant in
the cases, was the person to give him any infor-
nation he desired :
AS ! felt sure the responsibility OF the govern
ment would deyOlve upon you at an early day
desired TO do nothing which could avoid to en-
0arraSS or commit you or my successor. I there
fore postponed the selection of leading counsel
until was assured by the gentleman In charge of
these matters that IL ought to be DELAYED no
longer ThereupOn the Postmaster General and I
met and discussed the subject We agreed that.
In view OF the circumstances, we ought to select
from the leaders OF the bar gentlemen not only of
the highest ability and character, but gentlemen
also whose personal and political relations would
very probably be not only cordial but confidential
with you and with my successor, so that Won
should approach these cases with every pOSSible
advantage. II was In this spirit we selected Mr.
Bliss and Mr.. Brewster, and with the selection of
those gentlemen / considered my relation to the
star route matters as ended
MACyEAGHs WITHDRAWAL FROM THE CABINET
AS soon as President Garfield died informed
you OF my determination to leave the Cabinet ss
soon as you could conveniently appoint my success
sor, and few days afterwards made a public
announcement OF that determination After vour
return from New York you kindly asked me tn re-
consider it, and /, kindly explained to Won WIN
Il 10 6nr.S 1nA.