Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-17

BREWSTER BULLIED.

Al ASAA/
BREWSTER BULLIED.
REMARkABLz "REMINISCENCES OF 20.
A Strange story About Brewsrer's Sudden
Retirement From Governor Geary's
Cabinet.
Erie letter In the Pittsburgh Dispatch.
The harbor of Erie, as is very we'll
known, is fenced in from the lake by the
peninsula of Presque Isle, which is Joined
to shore by strip of sand at Massasauga
Point, and extending eastward. The
entrance to the harbor at the extremity of
the peninsula is almost opposite tho Gar
rison property of the hospital. The
Legislature of 1869 passed bill fathered
and pushed through by Senator Morrow
B. Lowry, granting to tho hospital all this
peninsula, containing 1924 acres, covered
in the main with . growth of cedar
and hemlock. This property had previously
been under the control of the councils of
the city cf Erie and tho preamble of the
bill set forth that they had so neglected
the management and supervisor OF it AS to
prevent any adequate revenue arising
therefrOm. The act of February 1, 1869,
therefore abrogated all contracts or agree
ments made by councils, by contract or
otherwise, and turned the peninsula over
to the board of directors Of the hospital,
to exercise such supervision, disposition
and control of the same, by leasing or
otherwise, as to them shall be deemed for
the best interest of the hospital" The
primary usefulness of the peninsula, to
protect and preserve the finest harbor on
Lake Erie, was entirely ignored. This act
also conferred on the directors the right of
eminent domain, with power to enter upon
and occupy any lands adjoining the hos
pital grounds which might to them seem
necessary " for carrying out the plan and
arrangements of the said hospital grounds
and identifying the same."
The HarbOr Threatened
Feeling themselves secure in possession
the peninsula, the managers of tie hOspi-
tai began cutting the hemlock and the
valuable cedar timber. The people of
Erie woke up to the danger that threatened
them. The trees which were being cut
down, in serving as wind brake, and
preventing the washing away Of the PEN
insula, performed an important part in
preserving the harbor. There were rumOrs
that it was a scheme of Buffalo capitalists
to ruin their rival lake port. Councils
passed strong resolutions against the
| spoliatiOn which was being committed, and
| employed Wilson Laird, esq.,, prominent
member of the bar, as special council to 60
to Harrisburg in the interest of the city.
"When l reached the state capital" "
| narrated Mr.. Laird, 81 found that the
patent for the peninsula had been drawn
| up, signed and sealed, but had not been
delivered. laid the true state of affairs
before Governor Geary and he at once
sent a message by ME to Surveyor General
| Campbell, notifying him to not deliver it..
| He said his signature had been secured by
Misrepresentation and that he would not
| be party to the outrage, but would have
| proceedings instituted to annul the grant
Benjamin Harris Brewster, now attorney
| general of the United States, was then
attorney general of Pennsylvania. He was
also the private counsel and intimate
friend of Morrow 3. Lowry, who had by
this time become president of the hospital
corporation. A few days after l took the
message from the governor to the surveyor
general, | ascertained that the patent had
been delivered. l was informed at the
surveyor generals Office that it had been
done by instructions of Attorney General
Brewster, who had represented that Gov.
Geary had changed his mind.
brewster Under Lock and Key.
81 we'll remember the Indignation of
Gov. Gcary when he became convinced
that the attorney general had surrepti
tiously advised the issue of the patent to
the marine hospital in violation and direct
contravention of the instructions of his
superior. He Immediately sent for
Brewster. l was present during the stormy
interview which followed in the executive
| Office. The governor demanded to know
if Brewster had directed the delivery of
tho patent. Tho attorney general
acknowledged that he had. Gov. Geary
then broke out with torrent Of indiSna
ton, told how he had been imposed
upon and denounced Brewster as faithlcss
to his superior and to the commonwealth
whose interests he was sworn to protect.
Brewster attempted to justify or excuse
himself, but the governor demanded his
immediate resignation. Brewster then
boldly took the stand that he had not ad-
vised the surveyor general to do anything
which was not authorized by the act OF
the Legislature. He declared he would
not resign and detied the governor to re-
move him. Without hesitating moment
Geary went to the door of the Office, locked
it and put the key in his pocket. There
was 4 revolver lying on the table. How it
came to be there, or when it was put
there, do not remember Tho governor
laid paper on the other side OF the table,
dipped a pen in the ink, and stepping back
a pace said to Brewster Now, sir, you
will sit down at that table and write out
your resignation before l let you out of
this roOm.'
Brewster Resigns Under Pressure.
Brewster looked at tho door, at tho
revolver, at the wrathful face of the gov
ernor and sat down at the table. He wrote
his resignation rapidly, signed it and was
allowed to walk out. TO make his resig-
nation as painful to him as possible, Gov.
Geary Immediately sat down at the table
and wrote telegram to F. Carol Brews-
ter, Benjamin's half brother, whom he
hated, appointing him attorney general in
his stead. took the message to the tele
graph Office, and F. Carroll Brewster ac
cepted tho position at once. This was on
tho Goth of October, 1869. Tho patent
had boon issued on the 2Sth.
"It IS duo to the memory Of Governor
Gcary, who was pure man, to say that
he entered heart and soul into the move =
ment to set aside the patent surreptitious-
ly obtained through tho Intervention of
his attorney general. Upon consultation
with his new attorney general, F. Carroll
Brewster, l, as special counsel for the
commonwealth, introduced and prosecut
ed in the supreme court q bill in equity
,,ro v;no for on inin ocfiou raQtraininv tho