The true northerner., 1871-08-18
suspension of Commissioner Pleason
n tOu.

The President, on Tuesday, Aug. Sth,
sent the following note to Gen. Pleason-
ton:
"ExEcurIvE MANSION, Aug. s.-You are
hereby suspended from the Office of Com
missioner of Internal Revenue, in accord
ance with the terms of the act approved
April 5, A. ID. 1859, TO amend an act regu-
lating the tenure of certain civil Offices,
passed March 2, 1867, and subject to all the
provisions of the law applicable thereto.
az. S. GRANT.
"To. Gen. PLEAsoNToN."
On receiving this notification, Gen.
Pleasonton vacated the office, leaving
for his successor the following order
"To. j. w, DOUGLASS, First Deputy Com
missioner of the Internal Revenue Bureau.
| Sir Having this day been suspended from
this office by the President, | turn the same
over to you. Respectfully,
"A. PLEAsoSroN."
Mr.. Douglass Immediately entered
upon the duties of his office. Gen.
Pleasonton is suspended until the end
of the next session of the Senate, and
Mr.. Douglass is to perform the duties OF
the office in the meantime.
The President this morning received
the following letter from Gen. Pleason-
! ton:
"TREAsURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE
! COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Aug
| S.-PREsIDENT: In answer TO your request
! transmitted through Gen. Porter last even
! ing, that | should tender my resignation OF
! the office Of Commissioner of Internal Reve-
nue., can only reply that under ordinary
circumstances nothing would give me
greater pleasure than to accede to any re-
| iohf lYa of
cause OF making this request was stated by
Gen. Porter to be the difference existing be-
tween Secretary of the Treasury Boutwell,
| and myself as regards the government and
| management of the internal revenue. Mr.
Boutwell, claims powers which, under the
| laws of Congress governing that bureau, are
vested in the Commissioner The question
| is, therefore, purely a legal one, and the pre-
cedents of the Government have been to
have such questions when appealed to the
President referred to the law officer of the
Government for his opinion, and upon which
the President would base his decision. This
course was pursued by Presidents Jackson,
Tyler, Pierce, Van Buren, Fillmore, and
others, and has been the uniform practice OF
the Government.
"Knowing these facts, and believing this
to be the proper way to settle any differen-
ces of view as regards the law which might
sioners, addressed you communication
some time since making an appeal for your
decision as to the powers of the Commission
er under the act of July 20, 1868. This APP
peal, as understand it, is not to be enter
tanned, but the subject is to be treated ra-
ther as a personal difference between the
! Secretary and myself. In this connection it
is proper to add that the personal conduct
of the Secretary has been such as to preclude
the tender of my resignation until some op-
portunity should be granted for vindicating
my administration of the Internal Revenue
Bureau. In justice to the public interests
placed under my charge and the Importance
to the taxpayers of the proper solution OF
these difficulties, most respectfully decline
to tender to you my res gnation and, trust
| icg it will not be deemed Inappropriate,
will again request that your present deter
mination may be reconsdered and the in
vestigation of the matter of difference be-
tween the Secretary and myself be referred
to the Attorney General for his legal opin-
ion. With great respect,
A. PLEAsONToN, Commissioner"