New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-17
MIR. CORNELlls LETTER.
my TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBUNE. |

controversy as to the Craftsmanship of the New
York State Republican Committee which Mr.. Cor
nell last year refused to relinqush in obedience to
the Executive order. In view Of the renewed in
terest with which this question Is invested by the
recent action, copy of Mr. COInells letter to the
President has been procured, and is furnished here
with; o,o ,o-,,
MIR. PRESIDENT: have received from the Secre-
tsry of the Treasury, under date of September 6,
letter in which he says:
n has beep determined after full consideration by
toe e S e apnointmeht of new ocers TO the three
leading positions in the NewYOrk Custom House, IN
no purpose to make these changes imuedir tey, and
perhaps they may be postponed until inc senate meets
accept your resignation. 20 take effect upon the APP
pOntment OF your successor
There also appeared in The Ne,OYOrk Times of yes
terday Washington dispatch which so closely re-
Fembed the letter above quoted to prove its au-
thenticity, from which extract these words:
The conduct Of Collector Arthur during and since
the Investigation by Jay Commission Is highly
spoken Of 6y the President and Secretary sherman.
ev SAY no aid everything possible to aid the invest-
CATION and earnestly carried out the INSTRUCTIONS OF the
Department In making the changes ana lnaugufallng
the reforms recommended.
And in the same dispatch the Secretary of the
Treasury is quoted as saying that No special fault
was found with the administration Of the present
incumbent" and that
The case Of Naval ofleer Cornell did not influence
the decision arrived at although IL is probable, in con-
sequence OF the undue Importance gwen his case tat
1t fastened the result
These statements and Others coupled with the
fact that the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
within a week wrote me, as he said by authority,
that the President has no disposition to disturb
Won (mel in the Naval Office leaves me to coniec-
ture whether the suggestion Ofmy resignation orig
mates in the fact that have not resigned my MEM
bership of the National and State Republican Com
Inittees or in different reason. i am therefore
constrained in justice to myself and in order TO in
sure a complete understanding of the facts to make
this statement.
The executive order issued in June last says: No
officer should be required or permitted to take part
in the management Of political organizations con-
yentions or election campaigns" Being member
of the Republican National Committee, and Chair
man of tie New-YoTk State Committee the question
was at once presented, What was it right for me to
dot
The active duties OF both committees had been
fully discharged prior to Joy appointment as Naval
Officer in February last, and nothing renamed in
order hOnorably to fulfil both of these trusts, save
Gully the formal calling OF the new conventions,
with which my term of service would expire no
time or attention being required which would in
any way conflict with the most scrupulous dis
charge of all my official duties. 1t my opinion
that fair Interpretation Of the order would per-
nit me to attend to this remnant of formal action
without violating it's purpose or object.
On the 9th of July was informed by the Acting
Secretary of the Treasury that the President had
stated to him that be did not expect members OF
committees whose labOriOus duties had been con-
pleted as in my case. to resign their memberships;
but that they would be permitted to complete the
remaining fOrmalIty of calling the new conventions
On the same day there was published in the daily
Press the substance Of letter written by the Post
master General to the Chairman of the Wisconsin
Republican Committee, who was also Federal
official, as follows;
The is OF opinion that TO merely
pruyide for the calling of convention and to call u 70
wo1' ol1 nor ne ineonsiste1t with tie spirit
or purpose of the Presidents Instructions:
Ny own Interpretation Of the order having been
thus sustained, continued, as had every reason
to believe with the full acquiescence of the Presi-
dent, member of the two committees, until the
4th inst Then received two letters from the AS
sistaut Secretary Of the Treasury. in which be
said:
The President seems to have hit upon me as me
oium Of Communication with you. wrote the other
forced public sentiment point in your case, where
the President thinks be must ia aeon
io you, and no disposition 10 disturb you Ia the Naval
Ohee and "He requests to say to you that the Cab
met having SINCE yeu were here decided that prompt
compliance with bs order Is necessary TO give u the de-
from the National and state Committees at once, and
that he viii appreciate such action upon your part as
timely and sincere evidence of your regard for him ana
Tor his administration"
On the same day, Immediately following the re-
eeipt of these letters received from the Assistant
Secretary telegram as follows: Cabinet meets
to-day and not again for three weeks. Administers
ton wants your decision before ~ Please send it
tome If you are ready TO act. Suspension to-day
Probable If you do nOt.D
Thus / found myself abruptly menaced with
threat Of removal from Office If did not before II
o'clock" reply by telegraph that would surrender
aplan right and privilege Of citizenship, and aban
don an honorable duty and trust confded 10 me by
the Republicans Of New-YOTk. You will not wonder
that nstinctiyely determined not to PROSTATE my
self at such a summons. !
The point in the case seems to be the proper in-
depreciation Of the executive order rather than its
legal force or effect; and therefore it is perhaps
needless to refer to the question of the constitu
tonal or legal right Of the President, OF Of any
oicer, to attempt TO control, abridge or influence
hepoiitica action privileges of citizens. whether
IN Office or not by orders or by promises of favor,
or By threats Of removal from official position.
Ny action was based on the Presidents own I'm
depreciation Of the order as stated TO me by my
ehical superior, the acting Secretary Of the
Treasury, and was precisely in accord
with that Of che chairman of the
Wisconsin Committee under similar author
~ Unfortunately, however, newspaper clamor
rendered my case an exception, and the Cab
met having II seems reversed the Presidents inter
Netation Of the executive order was called npon,
q personal favor to the President 70 Withdraw