Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1869-03-10
WASHINGTON.

not resigned but proposes TO make an alb
soiute uanst,r Of eli the interests and
profits whch may lie derived from carry ing
On his buslne,s curing his Official term. 10
three trus,ees, Who are 10 manage the Of
fairs snd appropriate the proii,s TO the pub
| lie charities Of Ne~ York. This proposi
zion was >aomis,sd to ssy eral s0insst Law
ysss che I'll agree II ssuld not obviaie the
iaW. Mr. Bestwsll's friseds new feel eens
6dent Of his appointment.
This mosnisg 4. T. 6ts1sst prepared
ADD sssestsd . isaapfsr Of bic entire istogs
est 10 the profile end 10 the business of 4.
T. Stewsr, I 10 during bis smcial term
efo0ss. to ~ spplied 10 chasisatls pus.
poses, 70 Wa. B. Astor. james Bress.
Wo. 3. Dodge, James. 7. Roosevelt and
| dsnsy Hilton. THIS course met 9th the
general approval Of soms Of the leading
senators and members Of the House, but
did not sstisfy the others. Who insisted that
Stewart could not qualify short OF absolute
sale and disposition Of oil the property he
nov owns, connec,ed with his business.
When the transfer was yesterday pro-
posed to the Psse,debt, he approved it,
provided 1t could be done % % 20 meet
he legal obligations, and expressed high
appreciation Of Mr. Stewards purpose, but
al the same time said he felt scarcely war.
ran,ed in doing SO. because Mr.. Stewart
soud have to make % great sacrifice, and
| not only IT this time but in the evening he
| expressed bi,nself to the sams effect TO
many mstobers Of Congress Who called
| upon him with reference to the secrstsry-
chip. In this way publicity WIS given -
Mr.. Stswarts purpose. consequently there
have been mary sxpressiops Of cpicien.-
Many taking the view that although this
would meet the letter Of the statute. Il
might possibly b construed into svssien OF
its spirit. Under these ciseums taacse NJ.
Stewart vas prepared for either emergency.
aud having reflected upon the matter deter
mined to leave the question to the result 81
| . conference with rue President on this
| subject They met this evening, The con.
clusion ct which they arrived was that Il
would be less embarrassing TO the admins
trstion Of President Grant fer NJ. Stewart
TO place 10 bis hand the formal dsc,inatien
Of the sserstaryship, and in this manner
avoid any comment BY those who consider
that the Law must b strictly complied with
The interview Vas long end marked BY the
| utmost cerdialily
The following is Stewards letter:
WAsHiScfoN, d. C.,(
March .. $780,
To tho President Of the United Staes Of
America
DsAR STA: Approaching the high honor
/ conferred by your nomination and unaai.
nous cootrmstion By The Senate, Of
nysslf to she olRce Of Score tary u Treasury
| regret that circumstaoees beyond NJ con.
troll compel me to decline. Could the diff.
sultiss presented BY The provisions Of the
oct o: 1889. which. ssganizing TIE Treasu>
y, prohibtts the Secretary Nom icing d.
rsciiy Or indirectly Concerned o. intsrest, d
in carrying on business Of trade or con-
rnercr. DO overcome by any reasonable
-acr Hce personal to yself, would wills
lingly pnksit. would promptly transfer
To the hands. = gentleman in whom the
public have f1,i confidence, every inter
es, in gain and pr. Ii that could possibly
accrue 70 myself IN tho business Of my
house during my official term, 10 be ap-
piled to Auch public charities ~ their
ildgne II should dictate. | have proposed
aud sought by the execution OF
appropriate instruments TO accomplish
that tnJ. aud many Influences Of opinion
have been expressed IS ~ whs,her ,ha,
eourae would satisfy the requir. ments Of
the law, although ! will Mt hesitate to
make TINS appropriation. provided Il would
enable the I, &C ;ept Office. snd thus unite
my Efforts with YOUR own and o.hsr mems
bers Of your Cabinet 10 restoring economy,
honesty, aud strict trugai.y in the id
miaistratien Of the Government, and hit
a, RAPIDLY as pract cable from the people
tho great burd ms Of taxation, and debt Of
extravaganza yet restiug upon them, y,
tho business relation Of my Hrm is. IN its
connection With Others. largely interested
IN their continuance, and sueh that they
cannot be severed summArily, nor can my
interest in il be wholly aud absolutely dis
posed Of, without producing great embar-
rassmsnt and loss 10 those with whom ]
ha { been connected. / cannot consent to
enter into the admins, ration Of the laws
oy any ACT or course that can be constfuen
into a disregard or violation Of law. and
vhia there were. | regret that the plan
proposed will be inadequate TO relieve the
ftom legal AID. ss 1t seems to ne. technical
disability, yisd to tho better judgment OF
Others. Rather than seem to be willing TO
accept q position in disrespcct Of Law, and
haally renewing the declination which was
rendered at the outset Of these objections,
repsat to you, Mr.. President, my thanks
for the honor done me in Offering me this
h Oh position; assure you that YOU will
have my earnest efforts TO sustain your
Admin stration in carrying out the wise
and salu'ary msssures indicated BY you on
en,cr,ng upon you, ofiics.
Sincerely your friend,
(Sianed) ALsx. T. SfnwARr.
The President accepted bis.dscliuation, |
and the efics Of Secretary Of The Treasury
becomes vacant. IL 10 said that from the |
very beginning the President and Stewart |
were in daily intercourse, consulting - . !
means BY which the latter could free him>
self from disability Of the lev, and il 70 said
that no legal gentleaan Who had been spo.
ken to upon th, Subject exp -ssssd the epin.
ion that II would b. . violation Of the act |
10 Mr.. Stewart accepting the e61ce - be |
having made . transfsr; but that many
others thought it might be considered die.
to have the spirit Of the law |
10 che slightest degree svsdsd.
The President has Issued . formal order |
to-day, - Commando r-in Chief, appe' nting |
General Sherman General Of the Army.
Secretary washburne was gagged With |