Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-09
Grant summariiy suspends Him
Douglass Commissioner ad In
term.
Secretary Fish on the Cuban
Republic.
Adams Accepts as Alabama Ar
- bitrator.
Secretary Fish Interviswed-ThcA Al
ALBANIA characteristics Non.
Resignation.

idea who the arbitrators of the Washing
| ton treaty would be. The Claims Com
mission under the treaty would probably
sit long time. The action of the Com
mission would probably be guided by that
OF the Southern Claims Commission, as
the latter would furnish precedents, for if
claims for damage done property by fed
eral power during the war be allowed, the
other Claims Commission cannot avoid
following the precedent in regard to de-
mands sustained by British subjects.
The Court of Arbitration which would
deal with the Alabama claims would be
composed of men who would command
public confidence.
He thinks the Government should not be
criticized for its action on the Cuban
question. The Cubans get bold, ad-
venturous Englishmen, Americans and
lrishmen 10 do their fighting, but are not
themselves struggling for nationality. He
declares he has not signifed his intention
of resigning.
liz. III. Dana to Go TO Geneva.
A Washington special says Charles
Francis Adams is reported to have de-
cliued his appointment of arbitrator at
the Geneva Conference, and will be prob
ably succeeded by Richard III. Dana.
Later-Adams Accepts.
The report recently circulated that
Charles Francis Adams has declined the
appointment of arbitrator under The
Treaty of Washington, is incorrect. The
President lately received telegram from
that gentleman informing him of its &C.
ceptance.
PIeasantOn Suspended under the
Tenure-of Office Act.
WASHINGTON, Aug. Last night Gen.
Porter called upon Pleassnton with q
verbal message requesting him to resign
his Office. This Pleasanton declined to
do. The President being informed of his
declinstion, resolved to suspend Pleasan-
ton and appoint Deputy Commissioner
Douglass to his place. From present ap-
pearances the matter will be consumma-
ted during the day. The President at
noon suspended Pleasanton under the
tenure of Office act and appointed Deputy
Douglass TO his place.
The Correspondence-B and
HlunG.
WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-To day the
President sent to Gen. Pleasanton the fol-
lowing:
Executive Mansion, dug. 8-You
are suspended from the Office of Com-
missioner of Internal Revenue, in accord
snce with the terms of an act approved
April 8, A. ID. 1869, to amend an act
regulating the tenure of CERTAIN civil off
ces, passed March 2, 1869, and subject
to all the provisions of the Law applicable
thereto. U. S. GRANT.
To Pleasanton.
On receiving the notification, Pleasant
on vacated the Office, leaving for his sue
cessor the following note:
To j. w. Douglass, first Deputy Com
missioner Internal Revenue BuTeau-Sir,
Having this day been suspended from
this Office by the President, l turn the
same over to you. Respectfully,
Douglass, this evening, entered upon
the duties of his Office and received the
congratulations of friends.
Pleasanton is suspended until the end
of the next session of the Senate, and
Douglass is to perform the duties of the
office in the meantime.
Last Word-An Indf.
rect Censure on the President.
The President this morning received
The following letter from Gen. Plessan-
ton:
Treasury Department, Office of CON-
missioner of Internal ReUenue, Aug.
S.-Mr. President: In answer to your
request transmitted through Gen. Porter
last evening, that l should tender my
of the Office of Commissioner
of Internal Revenue, l can only reply
that under ordinary circumstances, moth
ing would give me greater pleasure than
TO sccede to any request you might make
of this kind, but the cause for making
this request was stated by Gen. Porter 10
be differences existing between the Sec
rotary of the Treasury, Boutwell,, and |
myself as regards the government and |
of the Internal Revenue. |
Boutwell, claims powers which under the |
laws of Congress governing this bureau
are vested solely in the Commissioner.
The question is therefore purely legal |
one, and the precedents of our Govern
ment have been, to have such questions
when appealed to the President, ref,rre1 /
to the law officer of the Government for
his opinion, and upon which the Presi-
dent found the base of his decision. This
course was pursued by Presidents jack
son, 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
difference of views as regards the law
which might exit between the Secretary
and the Commissioner, / addressed you
D communication some time since, making |
IN appeal for your decision, of the pow
ers of the Commissioners under the act of
July 90, 1868. This appeal, as under
stand it, is not to be entertained, but the
subject to be treated rather as a personal
Inference between the Secretary and
myself.
In this connection il is proper to add
hat the personal conduct of the Secre-
AIRY has been such as to preclude the
lender OF my resignation until some op-
Dortunity is granted of indicating my
of the internal Revenue
Bureau.
In justice to the public interests placed
under my charge and the Importance to
taxpayers of proper solution of these
difficulties, most respectfully decline to
ender you my resignation. And trusting
hat it will not be deemed inappropriate,
will again request that your present
be reconsidered and an
of the matter of difference
between the Secretary and myself be
.eferred to the Attorney General for his
egal opinion.
With great respect,
A. PLEAsANTON, Commissioner.
This letter was accompanied by pri-
Tate note from Pleasanton, expressive, it
IS said, of his devotion, friendship and
support of the President in the future.
Within two hours of the receipt of
Pleasanton's communication the rresi.
dent sent to him the notification of the
Proximate Causes.
The immediate causes ASSIGNED in off