Year: 1876

part Of men interested in shielding influential per-
sons who already undor indictment and 70 prevent
any further progress in uncarthing prominent in
the frauds


The President has been urged by these men 10 step
In and interfere and to insist that the conduct of the
trials belongs properly to the Attorney General and the
differences which have, as a consequence, sprung up
between the Attorney General and the Treasury De-
partment such a contest Of this character
and gravity would naturally occasion The
Attorney General seems willing to have this
duty imposed upon him, but as a matter
OF course the Secretary Of the Treasury that the
explicit provisions OF the law obliged him to retain
charge Of these wrts and TO direct their prosecution
whether he personally should desire control Of
them or not Tho letter Of the Attorney General to
District Attorney Dyer made public in St Louis and
hereto appended, is understood there it seems
to favor the policy which those politicians who
are urging this change ofjurisdicon have urged 1t
exctes much remark here The politicians engaged in
this intrigue urge that it absolutely necessary in
order prevent further scandal the party
some influential men already under Indictment but
tried, to threaten the iniormcrs They insist there
fore, that all who, being themselves guilty. have yet
given testimony to the government which has
been of value to the prosecution, shall
be Immediately sentenced and such a way as TO de-
ter others from following their example They insist,
also, that so far as the government control the
prosecutions, these sentences shall be severe and
promptly enforced


This would probably deter many from giving
evidence, which hope OF clemency for themselves
would otherwise lead them give and those who urge
this policy here boast that the Attorney Gen
erals letter means TO enforce such policy and is
warning to all who might shield themselves by act
ing informcrs States evidence that they had bet
spI,o oiis
letter first public in the West and the
inc given to 1t there stated by the ST. Louis Times,
which says


five not mistaken in the construction this letter
II is particularly intended those who pleaded guilty
and upon whose testimony the prosecution alone sue
ceeded IN securing the conviction of those who did not
That is to say, II is there understood TO be a threat
against those by whose confessions the government
has been enabled to detect and bring to justice the
influential and important members of the Whlskey
Ring.


DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 1876.
Hon. D. p DYER, United States District Attorney ST.
newspapers, stating that there would be further
prosecution against many guilty persons who con
fessed their crimes in st Louis, Chicago and Mil
waukee cannot believe this to be true; but the
assertion has been made that so many guilty persons
arc To remain unpunshed have forwarded letter to
each OF these cities to inform each District Attorney OF
the fact


know that many rumors find crcdence In these
times OF excitement and trust that your sound Judg
ment will prevent any wrong, and anything that might
look like iavoring protecting who have de-
rauded the government 1t is the repeatedly expressed
wish of the President that guilty man should
escape. | am not aware that any of the officials
charged with the execution OF the laws contem-
plato TO favor protect any of the accused and
even the appearance OF such favorable treatment
should be carefully avoided


write this as matter of caution for am deter
mined to have these prosecutions conducted that
when they over the honest Judgment of the honest
men Of the country which generally fails TO hit
the right, will DO that has been malicousy
prosecuted; that no has escaped through favor
ittsm Partially, and that guilty person who has
either been convicted who has confessed his guilt
was left unpunishcd. EDWARDS PIERREPONT,


Attorney General.


This intrigue has for object to drive the Secretary
OF the Treasury of the Cabinet and may succeed
unless IL is successfully resisted