The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-03-10
MIR. 9ssewN5.,irrt iia ad His CabIss.Appoint.

WASHINGTON, March 9.-This morn
ing Mr.. A. T. Stewart prepared and ex-
ecnted transfer Of his entire interest
in the profits in the business of A. T.
Stewart & Co. during his official term,
to be applied to charitable purposes, to
VIM. b. Astor, James Brown, VIM. E.
Dodge, James 7. Roosevelt and Henry
Hilton. His course met the general ap-
prevail Of some leading Senators and
members Of the House, but did not sat
isfy others, who insisted that Stewart
could not qualify short Of an absolute
sale aud disposition of all the property
be now owns connected with his bust
ness. r&TE
When the transfer was yesterday pro-
posed to the President he approved OF
il, provided it could be done to meet the
legal obligations, and expressed his
high appreciation of Mr.. Stewards pur-
psse, but at the same time he said he
felt scarcely warranted in doing so, be-
cause Mr.. Stewart would have to make
so great sacrifice; and not only at this
time, but in the evening, expressed
himself to the same effect to many mem
bers of Congress who called upon him
with reference to the Secretaryshlp. In
this way publicity was given to Mr..
| Stewards purposes. The consequence
of this has led to many expressions con-
corning it. .-....
Though this would meet the letter OF
the statute it might possibly be con.
strued into an evasion of its spirit, and
under the circumstances, Mr.. Stewart
was prepared for either emergency, and
having reflected upon the matter he de-
termined to leave the question to the re-
suit of q conference with the President.
lin this spirit they met this afternoon,
and the conclusion at which they ar
rived was that it would be less embar-
assing to the administration of Presi-
dent Grant, for Mr.. Stewart to place in
his hands formal declination of the Sec
retaryship, and in this manner avoid any
comment by those who consider that the
law must be strictly complied with.
The iateryiev was long, and was
marked by the utmost cordiality. The
President accepted Mr.. Stewards de-
clination, and thus the Office of Score
tary Of the Treasury becomes vacant.
1t may be stated that, from the very be-
ginning, the President and Mr.. Stewart
were in daily intercourse, consulting as
to the means by which the latter 9 Id
free himself from the disability of the
law. 1t is said that no legal
! gentleman who had been spoken to on
the subject expressed the opinion that ii
would be violation of the terms Of
the act in Mr. Stewards accepting the
Office after having made the transfer
but that many others thought it might
be considered disadyantageous to have
the spirit of the law in the slightest de-
gree invaded.
This view ey, ntually controlled Mr..
Stewart, and in order to remove all OBJ
jections he declined. @
Ever since there have been doubts
about Mr.. Stewart taking possession OF
the Treasury Department, telegran
from leading merchants have been re-
ceived urging him in the strongest
terms to make any sacrifice, even, to
abandon all interest in his business, to
retain the Office, and advising him, un'
der no circumstances, to decline. Some
of the leading members Of the TIVE
Houses expressed similar views.
At the lowest estimate, by the means
Mr.. Stewart proposed, six millions o.
dollars would have been given to char
tiles in New York within four years.
Mr.. Stewart will return to New York
tomorrow, before which he will have
an interview with President Grant.