The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-08-09
LATEST FROM WASHINGTON

The Boutwell, P1casonton Imbroglio The Pre-
sldent Requests Pleasonton to Resign. but HI
Refuses 10 do go, and was Subsequently Sus
pended.
WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-Last night Presi
dent Grant sent his private secretary tc
Pleasonton, requesting his resignation
Pleasonton declined to resign, where upon
the President determined to suspend him
and appoint Douglass. The matter will
probably be consummated to-day.
LATER.-W Washington, Aug. 8.-The pa
pcrs appointing Douglass and suspendine
Pleasonton are being prepared.
LATEST -Waslington, Aug. S.-Pleae.
nnton has been formally suspended, and
Douglass appointed and in possession Of
the office.
The immediate causes assigned in official
circles for Pleasonton's removal are: The
revenue was not collected with efficiency ;
his reversal Of rulings Of his predecessors,
and making decisions the effect of which
ucedlessly lesseued the revenue A.; and act
ing on important matters wherein Bout
Well had paramount authority without
consulting him.
The following is Pleasonton's letter re.
fusing to resign:
q TREASURY DEPARTMENT, }
OFFICE OF THE CoMM'R OF INT. REy.,}
a. August 9Th, 1871. }
To the President:
In answer to your request, transmitted
through Gen. Porter last evening, that
shonld tender my resignation Of the office
Of Commissioner of Internal Revenue, [
can only reply that under ordinary cir
cumstanceS nothing would give me greater
pleasure than to accede to any request you
might make of this kind but the cause for
making this request was stated by Gen.
Porter to he the difference existing be-
tween the Secretary OF the Treasury (Mr.
BoutwelD and myself as regards the gov
ernmcnt and management Of the Inter-
nal Revenue Bureau. Dir. Boutwell,
claims powers which, under the laws
of Congress governing that bureau,
are vested solely in the Commissioner. The
question is therefore purely legal one,
and the presidents Of our Government
have been to have such questions, when
appealed to to the President, referred to
| the law officer OF the Government for his
opininn, aud upon which the President
| would base his decision. This course was
pursued by Presidents jackson, Tyler,
Van Buren,, Fillmore, and others, and has
| 5ccn The uniform practice of the Govern
mcnt.
Knowing these facts, and believing this
| to he the proper 92ay to settle any difference
| IF views, IL regards the law, which might
exist between the Secretary and the Com
| missioner, | addressed you communlca-
| ton some time since, making an appeal for
your decision of the powers Of the Com
missioner, under the act of July Goth, 1868.
This appeal, rs | understand it, is not TO be
| entertained; but the subject is to be treated
rather as personal difference between the
Seer etary and myself.
III, g II
| that the personal conduct OF the Secretary
has been such as to preclude the tender of
nv resignation until some opportunity IS
granted for indicating my administration
OF tue internal Revenue Bureau.
In Justice 10 the public interests placed
under my charge. and the Importance to
the taxpayers of il proper solution OF these
d tlicultIeS, | must respectfully decline to
tender on my resignation; and trusting it
may not be deemed Inappropriate, | Will
again request 'baC your present determina-
ton may be RECONSTRUCTED, and an investiga-
ton of the m1ttcr Of difference between
The Secretary and myself be referred to the
Acknowledgement for his legal opinion.
With great respect,
[signcL] A. PLEAsoNToN, Com'r.
Weather Probabilities.
WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-The barometer
will probably rise, with partially cloudy
and pleasant weather, on Wednesday north
and west of OHIO. Cloudy and threatening
weather is proDaol lie for the Gulf States.
Fresh southwesterly winds, with pleasant
weather, for the Middle and Eastern
States.
General News
WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-Charles Francis
Adams has signi1ied his acceptance Of the
arbjtsatorship under the treaty of Wash
ington. IL
Tie President has departed. There was
no Cabinet meeting to-day.
The postal money-order syste m with
Germany goes into effect on the 1st Of Oc-
tober, 1872, the North German Lloyds