Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-07

Some Scraps Showing What a Decidedly
Unhappy Family GarfieId's Cabinet
Was-Blaine's Schemes in the Star
Route Business-Prospects That the
Public Will be Given a Glimpse Behind
the Scenes.
st. Louis Repu6licaa's Washington Special.
There is gratifying prospect that the
recent removal from office of some of the
friends and sympathizers with the star
route gang will lead to interesting deyel-
Opments of the secret history of the star
route prosecutions. The publication of
AttOrneyGeneral MacVeagh's correspond
ence, giving his reasons for leay-
ing the Cabinet and review of
the inside facts touching the long
delay OF the President in accepting his res
ignatiOn, has stirred up the whole ques-
ton Of the real position of Garfield.
Arthur, Mac Neagh and Blaine with ref
erence to the prosecution of the plum
derers, and the discussion may now 90 on
without the embarrassment of much of
the restraint imposed by confidential COM
municatiOns. Mr.. MacVeagh's publica-
ton of his correspondence with President
Arthur has loOsened tongues that would
otherwise have remained silent
The prime reason why Mac Neagh left the
Cabinet is to be found in the fact that he
distrusted Blaine. Throughout the earlier
stages of the prosecution he was convinced
that he saw Rlaine's restraining influence
exercised upon President Garfield to save
from trial and disgrace men who were in
innate and powerful friends of himself
and the President, and MacVeagh feared
that if Blaine should remain i'm the
Cabinet of President Arthur that willy
schemer would be able to thwart
the ends of justice. Garfield's Cabi-
net had not, been a happy family,
Notwithstanding outward appearances,
and had the President lived to return from
the New England tour which was cut
short by the assassin, it is believed by
many that he would have re0rganized his
Cabinet by displacing James and Mac
Neagh, The Attorney General and Secre-
tary of State were friends only so far as
courtesy required. Their methods, aims
and objects were totally at variance. and
each was jealous of the influence eXerted
by the other over the President
On the very night after Garfield pledged
his word to Conkling that no New York
nominations would be made without con
sulting him Mr.. MacVeagh called at
Conkling's residence and informed him of
Blaine's intrigues through certain New
York politicians to induce Garfield TO
break his pledge by the nomination of
Robinson for Collector. 1t will be remem-
bered that Mr.. Blaine caused the Presi-
dent to nominate Wm. E. Chandler for So
hcitOr General, and that no man more
Objectionable than he could have
been offered 70 MaeNeagh as his
chief assistant in the Department of
Justice. MacVeagh threatened to re-
sign unless the nomination should be
withdrawn; but Garfield protested that
he was pledged to make the nomination.
and could not withdraw it, Finally. bv
way OF compromise, Garfield intimated
that ne had no personal preference about
the matter, and MacVeagh might rally
his friends in the Senate and defeat the
nomination if he could. This accounts
Tor the singular spectacle of a member of
the Cabinet appearing on the floor of the
senate ana lobbying 10 defeat a nomina-
ton made by the President. Secretary
Blaine did not forgive or forget the author
OF this defeat, and he pursued more Wig
0rOusly than ever his scheming 10 ret
Mac Neagh out of the Cabinet.
Inc star route scandal came out and
some OF Blaine's friends were involved
therein, MacNeagh and James were
pushing them to the wall and in June of
last year Blaine's friends here openlv said
that Garfield had determined 70 get rid of
the two reformers, There is good reason
10 believe that this was the subject of con-
YersaFfon between Garfield and Blaine as
they rode to the depot on the I'd of July.
although Mr.. Blaine has declared with n
nourlsh that they were chatting about the
harmony In the Cabinet. 1t is certain that
Garfield and James had an appointment to
discuss the reorganization Of the Cabinet
on the train upon which Garfield was
intending TO go TO Long Branch. During
Garnelds illness and after his death. Mac
Neagh proclaimed his determination NOT
to remain member of the Cabinet. and In
order to drive Blaine out OF II he sought
te lead public sentiment by declaring to
members OF the press that it would be un-
wise and improper for any of .Garfield's
advisers to remain. in President Arthur's
Cabinet. 1t was during the early davs
of Arthur's term, while Blaine Ne
manned at his council board, and
when Arthur's attention was diverted
by the many affairs of state which
had heen suddenly thrust upon him.
that, through Blaine's influence. it was
arranged that some of the worst of the
star route cases should be settled bv arbi-
tratiOn, instead of by trial in court. and
1t was by this means that EIkins, the
Salisburys and the Barkers escaped. Dor
sey also would have escaped by the same
means but for the unexpected appearance
OF Walsh, with damaging testimony that
stirred up public sentiment to such a
pitch that 1t was not safe to let Dorsey 20
free without at least the form of trial, 1t
is remarkable and significant fact that
from the time he entered Garfield,s Cabi-
net till now Mr., Blaine never made any
public declaration regarding the star
route scandal. The prospect is that the
time is rapidly approaching when the
force of the developments will compel him
to saw something