The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-11-28

possessed the entire confidence of |
the postmaster general, but was
commended to me personally by |
Senator Hawley, as a man of excel |
lent Judgment, and not only of I'M
doubted but aggressive honesty. |
When, therefore, Woodman thought |
it desirable he should have the as
sistance of Gibson, and the post
master general conceded in that |
opinion. / went with the latter to
President Garfield, and explained
the matter to him, and received his
direction to employ Gibson.
When subsequently Woodward |
and Gibson agreed in re-
questing the employment of |
Cook, precisely the same course was
pursued with the same result.
Whenever they brought me any
person supposed to have any knowi- |
edge of these frauds, l advised him
to tell the truth; and whenever [ !
received letters suggesting a source
of information, ! wrote to the par
ties indicated, expressing a desire of
the government to obtain any
knowledge of the papers relating to
the subject under their control, and
whatever responses were received, /,
of course, turned them over to the
general in charge, with inquiries of
how progressing. 1 also insisted
from the first, and upon all proper
occasions, that there was no possible
vindicatiOn for anybody accused ex-
cept open trial before a court and
jury, or a frank abandon
ment of the cases by the gov
eminent, if the evidence did not
in the opinion of the President JUS
tify prosecution That was my
whole connection with the cases, up
to the wounding of President Gar
field, except that the day before he
was shot he reported to me his eff
forts to have Riddle appointed dis
trict attorney by President Hayes,
and directed me to see Riddle and
offer him the place in his name, and
if he accepted it to advise him by
telegraph, and he would reply ask
ing me to request CorkhilPs resigna-
ton. l wrote Riddle, asking to
see him, but he did not see me until
the night of the day that President
Garfield was wounded, and when
we we've expecting him to die very
shortly. l then told Riddle in an
+, upper room Of the White House
what had occurred. As you have
best reasons for knowing, [ never
expected president Garfield to re-
cover, and as l did not for a mo-
, ment entertain the idea of remain
ing in his cabinet after his death, l
supposed that such connection as /
had with the star route case sub
stantially ended, and any further re-
! lation the department might have
Z with them would drop upon my
| shoulders. AS, however, President
! Garfield continued to live l endeav-
Ored to do whatever was necessary,
|. but nothing more. When ave were
! considering the removal of the
! President to Long Branch, Corkhill
asked me if l knew whether
any Of these cases would be
ready for the grand jury
; [ told him l knew nothing of the
. details of the case, and that, of
! course, Cook, his own special as
| sistant in the case, was the person
to give him any information he de.
:, sired. AS [ felt sure the responsibility
of the government wound devolye
upon you at an early day. | desire
to do nething which l could avoid
to embarrass or commit you or my
: successor, [ therefore postponed the
selection Of leading counsel until
was assured by the gentleman In
charge of these matters that it ought
l to be delayed no longer. Thereupon
: the postmaster general and | met and
i discussed the subject. We agreed
| in view Of the circumstances we
. ought to select from the leaders of
> the bar, gentlemen, not only
: of ability and character, but gentle
u men also whose personal political
! relations would very probably be
y not only cordial but confidential
= with you and with my successor SO
4 that you should approach these
y cases with every possible advantage
" 1t was in this spirit we selected Mr.
. Bliss and Mr.. Brewster and with
J the selection of these gentlemen
u consider nay relations to the sta
d route matters ended. As soon as
u President Garfield died l Informed you
q ofmy determination 10 leave the csbi
d net as soon as you could convenient.
II appoint my successor a few days aftel
Is l made public ny announcement OF tia
s determination. After your return 20
N kindly asked ms TO reconsider
ar an l as kindly explained why coul
20 not do 50. You then decided upon m
% successor and upon your assurance tbs
q he would be nominated te the Senate nc
u later than October 18th, l left Washing
S ton on Tuesday, October 18th, havin
TX mada my sdiens,. and leaving the aolicitc
al general, with your approval, in charg
ID Of the department. Ga Thursday last s
W the depot you explained to me why 20
Or had not been able to do as you expected
nj and why you had decided to leave ib
o. solicitor general in charge until ii
- ms etieg of Congress. l really think
W therefore that the Fl st thing in orde
10 is the acceptance OF my resignation
q assuming that this had been done, wi
L relate why was convinced it was desl
or able, on public grounds alone, If tie sta
/ route cases are tried, they must be prlI
at cipally tried In the District OF Columbl
es aud Jurors must be. selected from Its res
On dents Now in that district am assure
nd twice each week day and once eac
~ Sunday, newspaper is puDll!ne
~ and circulated among the people fro
IL vDhOn1 tho inrOrc aro tn bn enlnQtPQ nile