The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-06-25
Established IN 1048.
Commissioner Rolling letter
TO Secretary 1GcCullocl.


to Secretary 1EcC Culloch.
The following il copy Of the lot
ter addressed BY Commissioner Rol-
Inns TO the Secretary Of the Treasury.
WASHINGTON, Juno 8.
SIN: / have the honor herewith t0|
transmit through you TO the Prcsi-
dent the resignation Of my Office, to-
take eiSeCt upon the qualification Of
my successor nominated By him and
confirmed BY tho Senate. Justice to
myself and respect for you, require
that should give you briefly my
reasons for 90 doing. Immediately
after the Philadelphia Convention il
1860, there was numerous removals
Of Assessors and Collectors through
out the country. They were induced
by political considerations and pro-
duced . sad blow to the reputation
and efficiency Of the revenue service.
They were made during recess Of
Congress, and in all cases, regardless
OF my wishes as Commissioner. /
should havc resigned my Office long
ago, had Inot yielded to the judgment
Of friends, who believed the public
good would be promoted by my r0~
maining in it. During the session Of
Congress next after the oonvention
referred to, many nominations ofrev-
enue officers were made to the SEN
ate by the President, a. there since
have bcen, all Of them without refer
ence to any opinion had of their fit
ness, while my numerous recommen-
dations for removals of Assessors and
Collectors, even for t he grossest mis-
conduct, have been almost universal
" disregardcd. In accordance with
the long continued practice Of the
department, the appointment by the
Secretary cfthe Treasury ofassistant-
Assessors and Inspectors, and other
subordinate officers in the several dis
tricts, are made upon the nomination
of Assessors and Collectors.
This practice is just to those off,
GERS when faithful, insures to them
harmony and cooperation, and lo~
Gates responsibility for success Of the
revenue laws. / do not object to this
practice, and refer to it only to illus.
trate the Importance Of the Office of
Assessor and Collector, and my ina
bility under existing circumstances
to elevate and control the character
and efficiency of the service Of which
! have the ostensiblo charge. The
revenue laws are enforced in the
courts through the agency Of the Uni
ted States District Attorneys and
Marshals Of these numerous changes,
of the character referred in what l
have said Of revenue officers, have
been made, and in many localities
with like results over their appoint
ment and continuance in Office. Il lie
needless to say that / have no con-
troll, whatever, and have no assurance
that the services they will render to
the future will be moro thorough and
effective than they have been in the
past. In brief, Mr.. Secretary, the
revenue laws, oven in the most i'm.
poftant localities, arc badly admins
tered by officers either dishonest or
incompetent, appointed without my
approval, and whose removal / see
no hope of securing. While I con-
tinue in Office / am sought to be made
responsible for their failures, al
though l am absolutely powerless to
prevent them. For these reasons, as
well as to seek the rcst which my
health demands, and which my efforts
to discharge my public duties have
hitherto denied me, / am constrained
to retire from the bureau in which /
have labored since near the date Of
its organization. With full ap-
probation of the kindness you have
extended to me in all our personal
and official relations, / am, sir, very
respectfully your obedient servant,
E. A. ROLLINs, Commissioner.
To the Hon. III. McCULLocH, Secreta-
ry Of the Treasury.