Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-03-10
MIDNIGHT DISPATCHES.
WARRINGTON.

Issued the order to-day to General She
man to assume command Of the armit
Of The United States.
Large crowds were present at the Pre-
idential reception this morning.
There was a great crowd at the Senate
mostly Office seekers. The House gall'
ries were crowded with strangers.
Secretary Washburn was engaged wit
the President on official business tbi
morning, and at an appointed hour
regular Cabinet meeting was held, q
which Secretaries Washburn, Cresswel
aud Schofield, and Assistant Secretaries
Hartley, of tie Treasury, Faxon, OF the
Navy, and Otto, of the Interior, and
Assistant Attorney General Ashton, were
present. The Cabinet meeting was moi
long in duration, the President stating
that there was no particular business
demanding attention. Several Of the
Representatives were present
General Rawlinss, late Chief Of staff
to General Grant, returned from New
York last night, and was engaged with
the President this morning.
Mr.. Boire was qualified as Secretary
of the Navy this morning and entered
upon his duties this evening
Commissi9ner Rollins was at the Elk
ecutive Mansion in consultation with the
President to-day, and it is understood
that the subject of the conversation was
the condition OF internal revenue affairs
in the various districts throughout the
country.
Mr.. Delano will qualify and enter for
mslly upon his duties tomorrow. The
impression is that many changes in i'm
portant Offices connected with the inter-
nal revenue will be made very soon.
Mr.. Stewart has declined the appoint
ment of Secretary of the Treasury, and
the President has accepted his declina
ton. This morning Mr.. A. 7. Stewart
prepared and executed transfer of his
entire interest in the business of A. T.
Stewart & CO., during his official term,
the same to be applied to charitable pur-
poses, under the direction of William B.
Astor, James Brown, william 7. Dodge,
James T. Roosevelt and Henry Hilton.
This course met the general approba-
ton of some of the leading Senators and
members of the House, but cid not sat
isfy others, who insisted that Mr.. Stewart
could not qualify short Of an absolute
sale and disposition of all the property
he now owns in connection with the
business. When the transfer was pro-
posed yesterday to the President, he ap-
proved OF it, provided that it could be
done SO as to meet TIE legal obligations,
and expressed his high appreciation of
Mr.. Stewards purpose, but at the same
time said that he felt scarcely warranted
in doing so, because Mr.. Stewart would
have to make 30 great sacrifice and
not only at this time, but 10 the evening
be expressed himself to the same effect
to many members of Congress who called
on him with reference to the Secretary
ship. In this way publicity was given
to Stewards purposes, and the conse-
quence of this has led to many express
sons of opinion, concurring in the view |
that, although this would meet the let
ter of the statute, it might possibly be
construed into an evasion of its spirit,
and under these circumstances Stewart
prepared for either emergency, and hav-
ing determined upon the matter, be con-
cluded to leave the question to the result
of conference with the President, and
IN this spirit they met this afternoon,
and the conclusion at which they arrived
was, that it would be less embarrassing
to the administration Of Grant for Mr..
Stewart TO place in his hands formal
declination of the Office, and in this
manner avoid any comment by those who
considered that the law must be strictly
complied with. The interview was long,
and marked by the utmost cordially, and
thereupon Stewart wrote to the President
a very amiable letter, declining, under
such circumstances, the Treasuryship
The President accepted the declinOtion,
and thus the Office became vacant
David G. GOoding, United States Mar
shall for this district, has resigned.
Msjor General A. Ames has been
assigned to the command of the Sixth
Military District.
Stewart returns to New York to MGR
row, but will have another interview with
Grant before leaving.