Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-03-28
From the South Bend Union.l
The Resignation of the late Col.
Eddy.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
wAsHIS GToN, D. c., March II tn, '72.
To THE EDITOR OF THE UNION:
Dear Sir.-If you will allow me little space in
your paper, think straighten the crooked
places which have crept into the controversy in
gard to the resignation OF Col Eddy, Collector Of
the 9th Internal Revenue District.
l do not write fol the purpose of adding to the
controversy but merely to present the facts, and
then am entirely willing the people should deter>
mine the merits of case, intS which much of mis-
apprehension and error have already entered
have not previously said word the
subject, and should not do SO, only that be-
ieye correct statement of the case will be accept
able to you; and that you will gladly do me the
justice TO correct the into which YOU haze,
no doubt inadvertently, fallen. L wish, the ont
set, to say, that if there had been direct removal
OF Col Eddy should have desire whatever to
cover it up, or explain 1t away. 1 should stand by
1t, and defend it as general Political and party
custom, and l know that Col. Eddy would have
been the very last man to complain of it. But the
facts in the do require such defense for they
are hese:
Between the date of the election, October 1868.
and the time when 1 left home for Washington to
L
saw Col. Eddy and talked with him fully and freely
about the Office he then held. He said to me in
substance that he did desire to retain the office,
and that he going TO resign that the receipts
fthe place did not justify him in keeping it. and
that as it was his fixed intention to resign in any
event by the next fall he would anticipate the time
and relieve me of any embar rassmcnt by resigning
| the 4th of March, or soon after He said further
that he knew party necessities would not permit
me to continue him in the office, that strong pres
sure would be brought to bear for Others and that
could not afford prevent the office from pass ng
into republican hands, especially he had been
somewhat active in the campaign against me and
the republican parry that it was a source of graft
fcaton to him that he had long before determined
on resigning, as he could spare thus the embar-
rassm ent attendant either his removal reten
ton. l expressed to him my thanks for his kinds
ness, and stated frankly that gratifed he had
come to this determination, as it rendered unneces-
sary the alienation of choosing between my per-
sona desires in his behalf, and what WAS generally
regarded a duty to the party which had elected
me; but that if ne had not been going to resign /
was strongly inclined to make exception to po
litica customs in his case He pleasantly iosist ed
that could do it, and that he would not give
me the opportunity to try. After this. in au my
Intercourse with applicants, took it for granted
that there would be vacancy but without saying
SO, lest the pressure 70, the place greater
than was.
cached Washington on the aith of February.
1859. and immediately after the 4th day of March
might have recommended the appoirtn ent of new
Collector, but did do So expecting daily TO
ceive Col. Eddys resignation or hear that it had
been received at the Internal Revenue Bureau
But it not; and at last on the I4th Of April
only the day before l left Washington. recom-
mcnded the appointment Of Dr. Ditkih, OF Lapor-e
1t is perhaps proper say that The expectation that
the Colonel would resign Id me into such a position
that | was compelled to recommend Republican
for the place 1 still hoped the resignation would
be received before the order of suspension was is
sued. / had suffered Congress TO adjourn before
making any recommendation, hcuce there could
not, under the Tenure of Office law be an absolute
removal, only suspension urtil Congress should
meet again in December. But the resignation was
not sent and the order of suspension was finally
issued Or. Dakin was appointed, but did not ac.
cept the Office, and had determined TO let matters
remain they were; and so they did remain until
the latter part of August the order of suspen sion
that Col Eddy afterw ards told me he had his res
gnation written in the spring but was persuaded
by some of his friends send it in.
About the goth of August l was called on at La
porte by Judge EgbeIt, who stated to me that Col.
Eddy again desired to resign, and would unite with
him in recommending Mr.. Chestnutwood A lew
DAYS thereafter. l visited South Bend and called OIL
Col. Eddy at his Office He said he wanted to leave
the office by the 1st of October, and would at ono.
send in his resignation il it could be accepted t,
take effect in the future. l told him would rec
ommend its acceptance on the terms he indicated
and lie might fix his OWE time. If l mistake not
this occurred in the presence of Mr.. Chestnutwood
returned home, and day or two afterwards wrot
letter to the President of which the following is
copy; and as he indicated from the lst the lOt
Of October the time which would enable him t
close up his business he desired to. to be abund
antly safe fixed the 18th of October, and sent it t
Col. Eddy to be by him tran smitted to Washington
} with his resignation:
LAPoRTE, IND, August 2sth 1869.
U. S. GRANT, President United Sta ties:
Sir.-Having been advised that the order of sus
pension in the case of Norman Eddy, Collector
Internal Revenue for the 9th Revenue District
the State OF Indiana, has been recalled, and that
e has rendered his resignation to take effect th
10th day OF October next, have the honor respect
fully TO request that his resignation be accepted
the terms indicated. Very Respectfully, .
(signed) JASPER PACKARD.
append also copy of the resignation, whic
was accepted, take effect on the 18th of Octo be-
as l requested Mr.. Chestnutwood being appointe
of that date
United Sta.es Internal ReUenue Collector
n n Office Ninth District, Indiana.
SOUTH BEND August 3oth. 1869.
To THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:
\ L respectfully tender you my resignation of I'll
Office of Collector of In terna Revenue of this D
trict, to take effect the 18th of October next
relation thereto take the liberty to refer to Il
letter OF Hon. Jasper Packard, Representative, her
with enclosed.
am, with very great respect,
(Signed) NORMAN EDDY, Collector.
You and your readers will be able to Judge no
much haste there was to ''pack him out of office
and cannot doubt that you will be glad to see CO
IN rected the statement that, 'they could
0, few days for him to consider the matter and a
range his affairs for the change" have stated a
" the material facts, and fully convinced tn
or there was &c wrong done to Col Eddy In this ma
ter, that under the same circumstances, after
that has been said, should pursue the same cours
know that Col. Eddy gratifed at the way
: which he was treated, and it gives me pleasure
add that the cordia relations subsisting betwet