The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-09
WASTING ON.
President Grant as a Peacemaker
Among Office Holders.
~~~~->~~~~~~~~>0~>~~>
An Expeditions Way to Heal an Ugly
Official Quarrel.
Commissioner Pleasonton Invited
to Resign, but Refuses.
His Prompt Removal by the
President.
Senator Sumner Declines TO Accept the
lIaytien Medal.

WAsHINGTON, August 8, 1871.
The Bout weIi-Pieas onton Imbrogiio Endsd-
General Pleasonton Removed by the Presi-
dent.
The long-continued quarrel between Secretary
Boutwell, ana Commissioner Pleasonton. which has
been productive OF ~ much ill.feeing in OIL cial
circles and caused much pcrpexity among bust
ness men. has at length been adjusted by tue
removal OF Mr. Pleasonton At the Cabinet meeting
last week 1t was the nearly unanimous opinion OF
the heads OF departments that Mr.. Pleasonton's
course unjustnable and Injurious to public
interests, and that his removal was a matter OF
public necessity Whether the President agreed
with his Cabinet on this point was mooted aues
ton. The President himself was provokingly re-
cent on the subject; the Secretaries who could he
brought to say anything about the matter said
PeasontOn was certain to be removed but General
PeasOnton in the meanwhile kept on in the even
tenor of his way assuring his friends that the Pre-
sident had never expressed the slightest ntmatiOn
that such move was IN contemplation. The
Presidents sudden return to this City yesterday
settled the question, and it soon became evident
that the commissioners official head was soon to
roll in the sawdust Last night General Porter by
direction OF the President, called upon General
Pleasonton with verbal message requesting him
to resign his office Commissioner of Internal
Revenue This General Peasonton refused to do
and this morning sent the President the following
note explaining his reasons for not complying with
the Presidents request
LETTER FROM MR.. PLsAsANroN TO THE PRESIDENT
REFUSING TO TENDER HIS RESIGNATION.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
OFFICE OF THE COMMiSS iONER OFY
INTERNAL REVENUE, August 3, 1871.
To the PRESIDENT
III answer TO yaur request. transmitted through
General Porter last evening. that should tender my
resignation of the office OF Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue | eau only reply that under ordinary Cir
circumstances nothing would give greater
pleasure than 10 acccde to any request you might
make or this kind. Blu: The cause for making this
request stated by General Porter be the diff
ference existing between the Secretary of the
Treasury, Mr.. boutwell,, and myself as re-
CARDS the government and management OF
the Internal Revenue. Mr.. Boutwell, claims
powers which. under the laws OF Congress
governing that bureau, vested solely In the
a legal one. and the precedcnts of our government
have been to have such questions when appealed TO
the President referred to the law Ocer OF the gov.
eminent Tor his OPINION and upon which the Presi-
dent would base his decision. This course pur-
sued by Presidents Jackson. Tyler, Pierce Van Blu.
rem, Fillmore and Others and mas been the uniform
practice of the government. Knowing these facts,
ana believing this to he the proper way to settle
any difference OF view REGARDS the law which
hat,y In In,,
missioner addressed you a communication some
time since, making an appeal for your decision of
the powers OF the Commissioner under the act OF
July 20, 1868. This appeal, rs understand 1t, IL
not to be entertained, hut the subject is to be
treated rather as personal difference between the
Secretary aud myself In this connection IL Is
proper to add that the personal conduct of the
Secretary has been such as TO preclude the tender
OF my resignation until some opportunity is
granted OF vndcating my administration OF the
Internal Revenue Bureau In justice to the
public interests placed under my charge, and
the importance to the taxpayers OF a proper
solution of these ANTIQUITIES. | most respectfully
decline to tender you my resignation; and trusting
il will not he deemed Inappropriate l Will again
request that your present determination may be
reconsidcred aud an investigation of the matter of
difference between the secretary and myself be
referred to the Attorney General for his legal
opinion With great respect,
A. PLEASONTON. Commissioner
This letter was accompanied by private note
from General Pleasontou expressive, 1t Is said, Of
his devotion friendship and support OF the Pres
dent in the future.
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER sUsPENDrNG C0MMIS-
sIoNEK rLEAsOSroN.
Within Two hours of the recepC or General
Pleasontons communication the President sent to
him the following notification OF suspension, which
was delivered by Solicitor Banneld and Mr.. Van
derbit, the Appointment Clerk IN the Treasury
Department.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WAsHINGrON, ID. g., August :. 1871.
You are hereby suspended from the Office of Com
missioner OF Internal Revenue in accordance with
the terms OF act approved April g. A. ID. 1869. to
amend an act regulating the tenure OF certain civil
officers passed March q A. ID. 1867, and subject 10
all PROVISIONS OF law applicable thereto.
U. s. GRANT.
To Hon. A. PLEASONTON.
A NOTE FROM GENERAL PLEAsONroN TO HIS sUC-
CEssOR.
on receiving the notification, General PeasOnt0n
vacated the Office, leaving for the fol-