New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-09
IGENERAL PRESS DISPATCn. !
WASHINGTON, Ang. Sat II o'clock to-day
ne President sent 10 Con PleasOnton the following:

MANSION,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Aug. s, 1871.
You are hereby suspended from the Office Of Commits
sioncr Of Internal Revenue, in accordance with the
terms OF approved April 3, A. ID. 1862 10 amend
an act regulating the tenure OF certain civil offices,
passed March A. D. 1861 and subject to all provisions
of law applicable thereto. u. ). GRANT.
To the Hon. A. PleasOnon.
on receiving the notification, Gen. PeasontOn vacated
the Office leaving his the following note:
To j. " DOUGLASS, First Deputy COD,nssiOier Internal
HeceHn BWeGR.
sIr: Having this day been suspended from this office
10y the President, turn the over to YOU Respect
fully, A. PLEAsoNroN.
About O'Clock Mr. Douglass entered upon the duties
of the Office received the congratulations of his
friends. The following is his commissions:
Ulysses S. Grant, President Of The United States, 10 all
ichO shan see these presents greeting: Know ye that by
virtue the authority conferred upon the President by
the second section OF the Act OF Congress, approved
April g. 1862 entitled act to amend an act regulating
the tenure OF certain civil Offices. do hereby suspend
Alfred Pleasonton from the Office of Commissioner OF
Internal Revenue until the end OF the next session OF the
Senate and hereby designate John w. Douglass to per
form the duties Of such suspended Office in the mean
time he being suitable therefor subject to all
the provisions of the law applicable thereto.
smoy whereof have caused these letters to be made patent and
,e Of the United States to be hereuao affixed Given
my hand the City Of Warrington, the eighth DAY Of
seenty.oae Of the independence Of the United States Of
America. ninety -siIh L. $. GRANT
Fgrf Priat C. BANCROFT DAVIS Acting Secretary Of State
The President this morning received the following let
ter from Gen. Pleasonton:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF THE CONF OF INTERNAL REVENUE,i
Aug. s, 1871.
To the President: In answer to your request, trans
united through Gen. Porter last evening, that should
tender my resignation of the Office of Commissioner of
Internal Revenue only reply that, under ordinary
circumstances nothing would give greater pleasure
than to acccdc to any request you might make Of this
kind But the for making this request was stated
10y Porter to he the difference existing between the
Secretary Of the Treasury mr. BouwcD and myself as
regards government and management of the Internal
Reyennr. Mr. Boutwell, claims powers which, under the
laws OF Congress governing that Bureau vested solely
in the Commissioners. The question Is therefore, purely
legal one and the precedents Of our Government have
been To nave such questions when appealed TO the Pres
dent referred the law officer Of the Government Tor
his opinion, and upon which the President wouId
base lis decision This course was pursued by freSuehts
Jackson Tyler Pierce Van Buren,, Fillmore, and others,
and been the uniform practice OF the GOVcrnhent
knowing facts and believing this to be the proper
way TO settle 9ny difference Of view regards the law
which might exist between the Secretary ana inc COM
missioner, addressed you communication SONIC tihe
since making appeal for your decision OF thP powers
of the Comm under the act OF July 90 1868 TINS
tine subject to treated rather as personal nerehce
between the Secretary and myself In TINS cohhccuoh
is proper to add that the personal conduct OF te Secrc
tary has been sch IA preclude the tender Oh my resS
nation until some opportunity is granted OF Vndlcltn8
NV administration OF the Internal Revenue Bureau In
Justice 10 the public interests placed under my charge
and the inheritance 10 the taxpayers OF proper solution
Of these difficulties, most respectfully decline 10 tehder
you my esgnaon; aud trusting IL VIII not DC deemed
nappropriate will again request hat your present ce-
termination may be recOnsiered, and an investigation
NJ The matter O, din renee between the Secretary and
myself be referred to the Accomplishment ior his legal
opinion. With great respect,
A. PLEAsoSroS, Commissioner.
This letter was accompanied by private note from
Gen pleasonon expressive, it Is said OF his devotion
ficnd.bp and support OF President In the future
within two hours OF the receipt Of Gen. Pleasonon's
communication the President sent TO him the notca
,ion Of sus,epsion which was delivered by Solicitor
asld and Mr. Vanderbilt the appointment Clerk in
the Treasury Department.
III causes assigned in official quarters for
Tho rsnor-in az Gen Pcasont0n that the Internal
Revenue was not collected with efficiency; that Gen.
Peasonton reversed rulings OF his predecessors in
ver inportaut particulars, and made decisions, the
.get NJ which was unnecessarily to lessen the public
ec,ipt. acting independently OF and not consulting
Win mia superor officers as these and other matters
., administration and that change was necessary ia
order that there be harmony IN the working OF the