The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-28
EX- SENATOR M'DONALD.
His Connection with tie Treason Trials-The
Cleveland Administration.

Washington Special to Cincinnati Enquirer.
l spent three days of this week at Deer Park,
Md, on the summit of the Allegheny mountains.
The altitude is 2, 800 feet Here eX- Senator Joe
Mcdonald, of Indiana, and his wife had made a
halt to escape the broiling heat. On Tuesday
last on the hotel porch l had an interesting chat
with the ex-senator which included something
of Renaissance and sprinkling of politics. l
asked Mr. Mcdonald if he did not appear as an
attorney in the celebrated Milligan and Bowles
case
Yes" he said, II volunteered my services
because OF the great questions affecting civil
liberty which entered into the merits of the
| case Milligan and Bowles had been convicted
by military court for treason, and had been
sentenced to be executed. An application for a
writ of habeas corpus had been made. The
judges of the court felt certain, owing to the
dominacy of military rule that the military
would not pay any attention to the writ. So in
order to get the matter promptly before the
United States Supreme Court they let it go up
on division of opinion. l prepared the record
in the case and came TO Washington. On
the day of my arrival | called upon Secretary of
War, Stanton, at his Office in the War
Department. He received me quite cordially,
but in the matter of an interference with the
sentence he was obdurate. He told me, however,
that had Lincoln lived day longer my clients
would have been pardoned, for the President, on
the day previous to the night he was shot, had
drafted, in the very room in which we then sat,
a form Of proclamation of pardon for such class
of offenses as that for which Millgan and Bowles
had been sentenced to DEATH
asked the ex-senator how it was that General
Garfield became associated counsel in the
case.
by an accident, almost" he said. "When l
came to Washington had with me as associate
counsel Mr. CoffrOth. Soon after nv arrival
Judge Jeremiah Black, of Pennsylvania called
on me- and volunteered his services. He said
the case involved the very essence of the liberty
of the citizen, and he desired to aid me in any
manner | might suggest to present the case to
II, Tpi+ tod toto Gol1
a great admirer of Black. The two men were
closely intimate. Garfield looked to Black as
did his pupils at Aristotle. Judge Black sug-
eested that Garfield be asked to come into the
case and he did.
when the time came to present the case the
court decided to hear but two oral arguments
This involved some of us going out AS l had
prepared the record and submitted it, agreed to
step aside. 1t was then agreed that Garfield
should argue the case. He had but little time
for preparation. He set to work, however with
a wonderful energy and made a magnificent pre-
sentation of its merits. He made great speech
one which impressed the court"
| asked the Senator if Garfield was a lawyer.
NO." he said hardly in the sense that one
would speak of lawyer. He was man, how
ever. of the quickest perception. He compre-
hended the meat of anything with wonderful in
tuition. His speech in the case was really
masterpiece
With some reserve the Senator then Dranched
off into politics. He said, while in Washington,
he had called on the President and members of
his Cabinet His interview with the President
was prOtracted.
II told him." said the Senator ''that did not
pretend to speak for other States, but so far as
Indiana was concerned, there were but two po-
lircal parties, one the Republican party, the
other the Democratic party and that [ was glad
to advise that they were both Extensively parti
SAN
l asked the Senator what he thought of the
administration of President Cleveland. He at
once became little skittish. He said however,
II think Cleveland is Democrat and will yet
come out all right. l look upon the situation in
this way: The Democratic party must support
Mr.. Cleveland in hope that he will
administer his trust with Democratic ad-
herents. Now, if we antagonize the
President and break him down, my fear is the
Democratic party may 90 down with him. This
would be calamity. | think after the fall cleo
tiOns, and | am not over confident as to Demo
cratic success, that the President will open his
eyes, and that there will be a change IL his
policy of administration"
DO you apprehend Senator" asked, ''that
| the tariff will be a commanding issue in the next
! CongressY
Undoubtedly" he replied at will be the
! iniquitous and should be revised | called on
| spent an hour more with him. | begged him
to take a strong position in his annual report in
| favor of tariff readjustment. | would advise
that all raw material come in free of duty and
an advalorem duty on such articles as are kept
Oh the dutiable list"