Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-12-01
MACVEAGIl TO ARTHUR.
MacVcagh Reports Garficid's lnstruc.
lions 10 HIM, and Gives Reasons
For Seasing To Act In the star Prose-
CMiiOna.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 3..-A letter from
MscN,aSh TO President Arthur, written just
before the formers retirement from the Cab
met, las been made public, In il MacN eagh
says; Your letter has just reached me, aud
| will come and see you, and talk over once
more the subject of which it treats in the
same spirit OF Cancellation in which we have
heretofore discussed it. In the interval
wish you to consider again the reasons why
car 10; share your opinions upon this sub.
ject. As have already told you | knew
comparatively nothing about the Star-route
frauds until President Garfield chilled my al
teutiop 10 them lie spoke very earnestly Of
his duty to have them thoroughly invostgat.
ed, to remove all persons who ought to have
prevented them and TO see that all the per-
sons were prosecuted against whom Tcgsoua-
| Ulc grounds for such a course were developed
by investigation. lie said he had explained
10 the POslmastcr-General the same views
and also why he wished hun to consult me
rather than Inc district attorney Of the dis
| trlct. He said he intended to remove Brady
| as soon as the Postmaster General Conld find
| Il satisfactory successor. AT later inter
view he regI, tied the delay in that matter
and urged his Immediate removal as he held
HIM principally responsible for the great
frauds which lie evidently was convinced
hud Teen committed He spoke of the
frauds rs unparalleled vilanics loath.
some ucer on the body polite needing to be
cut Oul with all its roots.
went on advising with the President and
Postmaster-gencral as occasion urJsc. My
w., oil md ..fr
ward was the special agent of the posloffice
department best acquainted with these frauds
and most jealous in their investigation.
Woodward thought itdesiiabe thai h. should
have the ASSISTANCE Of Gibson, and Garfield
dll ccttd tue employment Of him. When
subs queutly Wuodw ard and Gibson agreed
IN requesting the employment Of Cook, lie
was Lired under the same direction.
Whatever responses were received to my
inquiries TUNED over to the gentlemen
charged with the inquiries, which
were progressing. also insisted from
the first aud upon all proper occasions that
there was no possible vindication for anybody
10 be secured except in open trial before
court aud jury, or by abandonment of
cases by the government If the evidence
II not in the opinion of the President JUS
lify the prosecution. That was my whole
connection with the cases up to the w1nndiug
Of Garfield, except that the day before he was
shot he repeated to me his Efforts to have
Riddle appointed district attorney and direct
cd me TO offer Riddle the place in his name,
and # he accepted to advise him by telegraph
and he would reply asking me 10 request
Corkhlli's resignation.
The writer here states thut he did moi for a
moment entertain the idea of remaining IN
the cabinet If Garfield should die.
As however, Garfield continued to live
continued to do whatever was necessary. hut
nothing more. When we were considering
the removal Of the President to Long Branch,
Curkhill asked me if knew whether any of
these cases would he ready for the grand
Jury. told him that knew nothing of the
details If the cises and that Cook, his own
SD cal assistant Ia the cases, was the person
to give him the information he desired. As
felt sure the responsibility of Government
would devove upon you at an carly day
desired to do nothing could avoid to en-
barrass or commit you and my successor.
therefore p ,stponed the selection Of leading
counsel until was assured by gentlemen in
charge Of this matter that II ought To be de-
layed no longer. Thereupon the postmaster
general and sgreed that we on hit to select
men not only of the highest ability and char
acter but gentlemen whose personal and po-
litical relations would very probably be not
only cordial but confidential with you and
my successor, SO that you should appear