New-York tribune., 1885-03-27
HoNoRING AN UNPARDoNED REBEL.

ACTION oP THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT IN THE
CASE OF Mr.. THOMPSON CRITICISED
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, March 26.-Whenever o man
ds who has been at any time the head OF an Executive
Department it is the close that Department
the day Of the funeral and give the officers and clerks
a holiday The National flag which floats over the
Department buildings and outside offices kept at half
from the time the fact of death becomes known to
the Secretary until after the funeral There are times
when this custom would be more honored In the breach
than In the Observance, and Secretary Lamar Is
severely censured for showing special honors
to his Epredecessor, Jacob Thompson, who was
Secretary under Mr. Buchanan. and WHO became such
vruent rebel Thompson left the Interior Department
in disgrace after ugly TRANSACTIONS in connection with
stolen. He did not retire from the Cabinet, how
before he had informed the Secession authorities at
Charleston of the decision TO reinforce and provision
Fort sumter and OF the sailing from Newlork OF e tne
steamer re star OF inc west 10 perform ha ssees
sion Commissioners of Mississippi, and in order
their guard he used the telegraph, Immediately after
Cabinel meeting at which hc present, to INFORM
the Rebels OF the action taken During the rebellion he
was Canada, al active member OF that colony
OF traitors who were accused or plotting TO carry sna
TO be actively engaged in the ncendiary and inhman
scheme TO create cOnlagratons in the same cities
by the use OF Greek. fire. thompson was
under such dark suspicion Of possessing guilty know
edge of the conspiracy to assassnae President Lincoln
that Andrew Johnson immediately after his accession 70
the Presidency o"rod by public proclamation reward
of S25 600 for Thompsons Thompson was never
pardoned, and had his political disabilities re-
moved.
When Howell Cobb, Buchanan's Secretary OF the
Treasury, and John Floyd, his Secretary OF war
died, notice taken of them. Now Washington
has been shocked by seeing the United States nag
the Interior Department lowered, all business
suspended and 1858 officers and clerks given holiday
with In honor OF this traitor and consprator Bet
ter things hoped OF Mr.. Lamar, but his conduct
shows how deeply the virus OF the rebellion IL imbeded
in those who part In it, The feeling this subject
has been greatly increased by the report that Mr. Lamar
is not alone responsible, but that honor 10 ThOnpsons
memory was decrecd by the entire Cabinet the Presi
dent approving.
MR. LAMAR's IDEAS OF ECONOMY
WASHINGTON, March 26 (SpeciaD - The
horses and wagons belonging to the Interior Department
to be sold at auction for the sake Of econ
omy II is estimated that the keeping Of the horses the
repair Of the wagons and the pay Of the driver have cost
nearly $4,000 q year. considerable part OF which
amount will thus be saved to the Government II is to
be feared that Secretary Lamar ideas of economy have
undergone considerable change since he took Office three
weeks ago The brigade OF officers and clerks belonging
the Interior Department that idle to-day numbers
1865 persons and while the Government has lost their
services for day. by order OF Secretary Lamar II Is
compelled pay them II they had worked the usual
number OF hours. one days for these officers ana
clerks amounts to the pretty sum OF p Dbl or enough
to have kept the horses and and drivers nearly