National Republican., 1882-12-04
A DOSE For DORSEY
Prescribed by Ex-Attorncy-Genernl Mac
Vep.rh,

Veash.
A Tribune reporter called upon ex-Attorney-
General Wayne MacVcagh, who was in the
city yesterday, to make some inquiries in re-
gard to statements contained in Mr.. Dorseys
letter affecting Mr.. Macvcagh and ex-Post-
mastcr-General James. Mr. NIacveagh was
apparently in u very cheerful frame of mind,
seeming not to regard Mr. Dorseys letter as
worthy of any reply In answer to inquiries,
however, he said:
"1f Dorsey or any of the other star-route
thieves find any real solace in their troubles
in lying about Mr. James and myself. hone
that they will continue to do so. 1t seems
about the only recourse now left to them, and
| feel about it much as the old man did about
his wife berating hint relieved her and did
not do him any HARM"
"The letter contains statements that might
be classed as startling if true" remarked the
reporter.
"To-day's letter is very tame reading" said
Mr.. MacVeagh, "after the picturesque lying
Dorsey did in the letter which he published
some time ago, and which he asserted was sent
to President Garfield before the formation of
the Cabinet"
You do not care, then, to reply to Mr.. Dor
seys statements?"
No; | must be excused from entering into
any controversy with man like Dorsey. 1t
was my official duty to examine these cases,
and the only conclusion possible from such
examination was that Dorsey is a thief. In
that opinion Postmaster-Gcneral James
agreed. Since then Attorney-General Brews-
ter, Mr. Bliss, Nh. Merrick. Mr.. Ker, two grand
jurors and ten out of twelve of the men who
tried the case have expressed the same opin-
ion. As Dorsey, therefore has been tried in
dicted, and once substantially convicted in
the result of the trial of Rerdell and Miner
it is impossible, with the most moderate self
respect, to notice anything he says, even if he
had not shown himself to be u most reckless
and shameless liar about both the living and
the dead"
"By the by" queried Mr.. NIacVeagh, al
wonder if there is another man in the United
States, who, after indirect and substantial
conviction for stealing public money, would
hold on to the secretaryship of national
cOmmittce?"
"Mr. Dorsey refers in his letter to an al
legged meeting at the Post Office Department.
at.which you were present, with Mr.. James
and Colonel Ingersoll, who appeared as coun-
sci Ior Dorsey. Was there such a meeting ?'
"A report of that alleged conference was
published at the time. Dorsey and his coun-
sci went there and Mr. James sent for me. 1t
was well known at the time that my own con-
victiOn5 were that the only proper way TO in
vestigate the frauds was before n court and
jury, and that l refused to listen to any ar
rangement for any other kind of investigation.
That was the origin of the cnmity of the
thieves toward me. They believed that but
for me the matter could have been smothered
and certificates of good character given all
round. In that they were mistaken, how
ever. They forgot that behind me was Post
master-General James and behind him Presi-
dent Garfield and back of him an intelligent
press and an aroused and indignant people,
making any such compromise with crime i'm
possible. In this regard l have received far
more credit than l deserved. | could not have
smOthercd the case if had tried"
X-Postmaster-Gencral James was at his
office i'll the Lincoln Bank yesterday, and
when Tribune reporter made inquiry Of him
in regard to the Dorsey letter he said
=" do not intend to enter into any contro-
vcrsy with Dorsey. At the proper time will
have some. My conviction of those men is
the same now as before and is well expressed
in the closing words of Mr.. Brewsters recent
letter to the President, in which, if / remem-
ber right, he said that they are the worst band
of organized scoundrels that ever existed
since the commencement of the government"