The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-08-15

WASHINGTON, August S-To-dav the
President sent to General Pleasanton the
following:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Aug s, 1871.
"You are hereby suspended flom of.
fee as Commissioner of internal Reve-
nue., in accordance with the terms of an
act approved April 5, A. D. 1869, to
amend an act regulating the tenure of
certain civil offices, passed March 2,
1869, and subject to all provisions of
the law applicable thereto.
Signed. U. S. GRANT.
ITO Pleasanton."
On receiving the notification, Mr.:
Pleasanton vacated the office, leaving
for his successor the following note:
"To J. W. Douglass, First Deputy Commiss-
ioner Internal Revenue Bureau:
''SIR: Having this day been suspend
ed from this office by the President, T
turn the same over to you.
Respectfully, A. PLEAsANToN."
Mr. Douglass Immediately entered
ceived the congratulations of his friends;
Mr.. Plcasanton is suspended until the
end Of the next session of the Senate,'
and Mr.. Douglass is to perform the dur
ties of the office in the meantime.
PLEAsANToNs LETTER REFUSING TO RE-
SIGN.
The President this morning received
the following letter from General Pleas
anton:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE COMMISSIONER INTERNAL REy.,f
August s, 1871.
Mr. PRESIDENT: In answer to your
request, transmitted through General
Porter, last evening, that | should ten
der my resignation of the office of In.
ternal Revenue, ] can only reply that
under ordinary circumstances 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 General Por-
ter to be difference existing between
Secretary of the Treasury, Boutwell,, and
myself as regards the government and
management of internal revenue. Bout
well claims powers which, under the
laws of Congress governing that Bu-
reau, are vested solely in the Commiss-r
ioner The question is, therefore, pure
ly legal one, and the precedents of
our Government have been to have such
questions, when appealed 10 the Presi-
dent, referred to the Law Officer Of the
Government for his opinion, and upon
which the President was bound TO base
his decisions. This course was pursued
by President 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 difference of views as regards
the law which mil eht exist between the
Secretary and the Commissioner, l ad-
dressed you a communication some
time since, making an appeal Tor your
decision of the powers of the Commis.
sioner under the act of July 20, 1865
This appeal, as l understand it, is not tC
be entertained, hut the subject to be treat
ed rather as a personal difference be
tween the Secretary and myself.
In this connection it is proper to ado
that the personal conduct of the Secre
tary has been such as to preclude ten
der of my resignation until some oppor
tunity was granted me Of vindicatins
, my administration of the Internal Reve
nue. Bureau.
In justice to tie public interests plac
!. ed undtr my charge, and the importance
to the taxpayers Of proper solution o
these difficulties, / most respectfully de
cline to tender you my resignation, and
trusting it will not be deemed inappro
pirate, l will again request that you
present determination may be reconsid
cred, and the investigation of the mat
ter of difference between the Secretary
] and myself be referred to the Attorney
General for his legal opinion. Witt
I great respect, A. PLEAsANToN,
Commissioner.
This letter was accompanied by a pri
vate note from Pleasanton, expressive
it is said, of his devotion 10, friendship
for, and support of the President in fu
ture.
e Within two hours of the receipt o
Pleasanton's communication the Presi
dent sent to him a notification of sus
pension.
GRANT RETURNS TO LONG BRANCH.
The President left this evening fol
I Long Branch.