Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-09
End of the PIensun.on Trouble.

THE END OF THE PLEAsoNToN TROUBLE.
At half-past one O'Clock to-day the president
sent to Gen. Pleasonton the following:
EGecutiUe Mansion.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 8, 1871.
You are hereby suspended from the office of
commissioner OF internal revenue, in accordance
with the terms of an act approved April 9th, A.
D. 1859, to amend an actregulating the tenure of
certain civil offices, passed March I'd, A. ID. 1867,
and subject to all provisions OF law applicable
thereto.
(Signed) U. 5. GRANT.
To Hon. A. Pleasonton.
On receiving the notification, Gen. Pleasonton
vacated the office, leaving for his successor the
following note:
this day been suspended from this office by the
president, turn the same over to you.
Respectfully yours,
(Signed) A. PLEAsoNTON.
About two o'clock Mr.. Douglass entered upon
the duties of the office, and received the congrat
ulatiOns OF his friends. The following is his
commissions:
Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United
States, to all who see these presents, greeting:
Know We that by virtue of authority conferred
upon the president by the second section of an
act of congress approved April 5, 1869, entitled,
can act to amend an act regulating the tenure
of certain civil Offices" | do hereby suspend
Alfred Pleasonton from the office of commits
sioner of internal revenue until the end of the
next session Of the senate; and hereby desig-
nate John W. Douglass TO perform the duties of
such suspended officer in the meantime, he being
a suitable person therefor, subject to all provi-
siOns of law applicable thereto.
In testimony whereof have caused these let
ters to be made patent, and the seal Of the
United States to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand at the city of Washing
ton, on the eighth day of August, in the year
r, T,vlo init h,,,,I rnI and
Seventy-one, and of the independence of the
United States of America the ninety-siXth.
(Signed) u. 5. GRANT.
By the president, j. G. Bancroft Davis, acting
secretary of state
The president this morning received the fol-
lowing letter from Gen. PeasOnton:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF COM'R OF INTERNAL
REVENUE, August 8, 1871.
To The President: In answer to your request,
transmitted through Gen. Porter, last evening,
that l should tender my resignation of the
office of commissioner of internal revenue, ]
can only reply that under other circumstances
nothing would give me greater pleasure than to
accede to any request you might make Of this
kind. But the cause for this request was stated
by Gen. Porter TO be a difference existing be-
tween the secretary of the treasury, Mr.. Bout.
well, 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
solely in the commissioner The question is
therefore a legal one, and precedents in our gov
eminent have been to have such questions, when
appealed to the president, referred to the law Off
Ger of the government for his opinion upon which
the president wonld base his decision. This course
was pursued by Presidents Jackson, Tyler,
Pierce Van Buren,, Fillmore and Others; and
has been the uniform practice in the govern
ment. Knowing these facts, and believing
l.. II
ference of views, as regards the law, which
might exist between the secretary and commits
soner addressed you communication some
time since, making an appeal for your decision
of the powers of the commissioner under an act
of July 20, 1868 This appeal, as under
stand if, is not to be entertained
but the SUBJECT is TO be treated rather as
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 resie-
nation until some opportunity is granted of
indicating my administration OF the internal
revenue bureau. In justice to the public inter
ests placed under my charge, and for the i'm
portance to Taxpayers OF proper solution
of these difficulties, most respectfully decline
to tender you my resignation, and trusting IL
will not deemed be inappropriate, will again re-
quest that your present determination may be
reconSidered, and an investigation of the matter
of the difference between the secretary and my
self be referred TO the attorney general for his
legal opinion.
With great respect,
A. PLEAsoNToN, Commissioner.
This letter was accompanied by private note
from Gen. Peasonton, expressive, it is said, of
his devotion, friendship and support of the presi-
dent in future.
Within two hours of the receipt of Gen. Pleas
onton's communication the president sent o
him the notification of suspension, which was
delivered by Solicitor Banfeld and Mr.. Wander
bilt, the appointment clerk in the treasury de-
partment.
The immediate causes assigned in official
quarters for the suspension Of Gen. Pleasonton
are that the internal revenue is not collected
with efficiency; that Gen Pleasonton reversed
the rulings of his predecessors in several i'm
portant particulars; and made decisions, the
effect of which was unnecessarily to lessen the
public receipts; acting independently of and
not consulting with his superior officers as to
these and other matters of administration, and
that change was necessary in order to secure
harmony in the working of the treasury de-
partment.