Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-09
LAWT0N'S APPOINTMENT.
GARLAND RENDERS THE OPIN-
ION EXPECTED.


The Attorney General on the Same
Footing as the Savannahian-NorwO
Coming Eome-rhe Guard at Gar
tieid's Grave-A Bogus Interview with
the President.
WASHINGToN, April S.-The Attorney
General has rendered his opinion in the
Aawton case. He holds that the pardon
granted by President johnson to Gen.
LaWtQn removed all his political disabili-
ties. He reviews a case in which the
United States Supreme Court has touched
upon the questions involved, including
ex parte Garland, and comes to the con-
clusion that the law is well settled. AT
the time when Gen. Lawton obtained the
pardon that was the only way in which
his political disabilities could be removed.
He availed himself of that means. The
pardon removed all disabilities. The
fourteenth amendment was not retroac-
tive, and if it was it could not
touch n p9rdoned OtIense. The At
tOrney General believes firmly that this
IS the law or he would have had Congress
remove his own political disabilities. He
IS holding his present Office under John
son pardon similar To that which Gen.
nW lOA AGCEiFGus Aub tESiUEul NAli
issue Gen. LawtOn a commission as
Minister to Russia at once, probably to-
morrow after the Cabinet meeting. Gen.
Lawt0n will accept. il was because
Gen. LaWtOn did not regard Congress
sional action as necessary to relieve him
OF political disabilities after having Presi-
dent J0hnson's pardon that he failed to
ask for such relief Gen. Lawton had a
conference with the President this after
noon.
NORW0OD's RETURN.
Representatiye-elect Norwood will leave
for home tomorrow. He has made no
other recommendation respecting the Sa-
VanGah Offices than in favor OF Capt. John
+. Wheaton for Collector.
THE GUARD AT GARFIELD's GRAVE.
Ever since Garfeld's burial Lieuten-
ant and sixteen men Of the regular army
have guarded his grave. President Gar
fields friends in Cleveland are to be asked
by The War Department how much longer
they desire the guard to remain. They
are expected by friends of President Gar
field in this city to reply that they would
like the guard continued until the pro-
posed monument shall have been erected
over the remains.
GIFTS FOR sIBERIANs.
0ulEA EUEElEeI AlEAflliEs VI bIC INV 8
would like to take to Siberia the gifts au-
thorzed by Congress TO be presented by
the President to various persons of more
or less prominence in Siberia, in reCOgni-
tion Of their services to the jeanette sur
viyOrs; but the State Department, and
not the Navy Department, is to select the
bearer of the gifts, and the State Depart
ment rather leans to Lieut.. ScheutZe, of
the navy, who, it is thought, will be Sc
lected for this duty. He is man Of cul-
tivation, and speaks several languages
fluently.
bogus INTERVIEW.
Last Sunday a Washington paper pub
ished what was alleged to be a state
ment coming from the President through
a Cabinet officer, setting forth his reasons
for the nomination Of Postmaster Pear
son. The Presidents words were put in
the first person and the statement pur-
ported to give his exact language. 1t
was telegraphed from here to several
prominent papers. tt was scarcely neees-
sary to make inquiries in order to find
justification for a denial of the accuracy
of the publication, but inquiries made to-
day have resulted in obtaining the posi-
tive information that the statement is
bogus from beginning to end, so far as
the President is concerned.
DEMOCRATIC HAPPINESS
Democrats here are quite happy over
the general result Of the State election in
Michigan. They regard the outcome as a
bright promise Of coming supremacy in
the Wolverine State.
SENATOR BECK, THE CANNY SCOT.
Much amusement has been created at
the expense of Senator Beck, the canny
Scot, because. after he had declared his
-f og
lister to Peru, and his disgust at the ap-
pontment, it was found that his sigma
ture was attached to Mr. Bucks recon-
mendations. There is nothing eXtraordi-
nary or novel in this. 1t has for years
been the custom of many Senator's and
Representatives 80 sign without question,
and often without looking at them, the
papers of applicants for Office. The
original patentee Of this mild form OF
deceit was one of the most distinguished
Senators that Maryland or any other
State has ever sent TO Washington. He
invented it to save himself trouble and
ANNOYANCE, and he had distinct under
standing at the White House and the de-
partments that his signature to the petit
lions was to count for nothing, but when
he really took an interest in any appoint
ment he would come in person.
MANY FOLLOWERS.
This distinguished example has since
found numerous followers, and anxious
ofiee-seekcrs, who are frequently de-
LIGHTED at the apparent ease with which
they obtain the coveted signatures would
not be so joyful if they understood its
true inwardness. Almost any one who
has not a criminal indictment hanging
over him can come here and carry around
his petition for Office and get any number
gr. a. f0Fa0r "a