Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-16


Cor. AUGUSTA Chronicle and comstitHtionalist.
WASHINGTON, March 31.-Some facts
in connection with the Georgia Mar
shalship, about which so much has been
said and written recently, may not be
uninteresting to your readers.
These facts came to my knowledge
from a source entirely reliable, and /
give them to you therefore as of this
character.
After the voluminous charges in the
Newcomb report against Col Fitzsimons
had been thoroughly examined, and
overruled in every particular by Presi-
dent Hayes, Col. Fitzsimons placed in
the hands of Mr.. Stephens, his friend,
to be handed to the President, letter OF
which the following is copy:
WASHINGTON, February 25 1881
HIS ErceLencg r. b. Hayes, President OF the
United States:
SIR-Having been entirely exonerated from
all charges affecting my honor and integrity
in the discharge ofmy official duties as Marshal
of the State of Georgia, which you were kind
enoughsho confer upon me 10 a critical period
of your administration. and having received
your assurance that there Is nothing in the
charges brought against me which
ms mas as weaksneo sn ecent eEn0ehSa and fsthn
officer, now, with profound thanks for that
confdence, tender you my resignation, to take
effect as soon as my successor may be appoint
ed and qualified. mean by this simply to full
fill my promise to you at the time of my ap
pointment. that if you should, at any time,
be in any degree embarrassed by my holding
the position from political considerations OF
any character. my resignation would be at
your disposal
If, therefore, from any want of harmony be-
tween myself and Internal Revenue" officers
OF Georgia. or other political considerations,
you should think the public service would be
better performed by having a Marshal who
would he more in accordance with the views
and policies with the internal Revenue" Col
lectors of the State then wish you to have no
hestancy in accepting this resignation and
freeing yourself from all embarrassments on
my account. Very respectfully and truly your
friend and obedient servant
o. P. FITzsIMoNs.
President Hayes declined to accept the
resignation thus rendered to him, stating
to Mr.. Stephens that after most thorough
investigation of all the charges brought
against Colonel Fitzsimons, he thought
none of them were sustained by proof;
that Colonel FitZsimons' answer 10 these
charges was full and satisfactory, and
his vindication was complete. He, the
President, believed Colonel Fitzsimons to
be an able, honest, efficient and faithful
officer. and would not accept his resigna
ton, but would leave that matter to his
successor.
So matters stood until General Garfield
came into office. Colonel Fitzsimons then
addressed him letter, of which the fol
lowing is copy:
UNITED STATES MARsHALs OFFICE,
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA,
ATLANTA, Ga, March IL. 1881.
His E1celleSlcy james A. Garfield, President of
the United States Washington. d. c..
SIR-Your hOnored predecessor kindly ten
dered me the Office of United States Marshal of
the State of Georgia in q very critical period of
his administration.
After the appointment so made, and before
entering upon the duties of the office, l assured
him that if at any time he should become em-
barrassed, from political or any other consid-
erationS, on account of my holding the posi-
tion, my resignation should be at his disposal.
1t has been a source of great satisfaction to
me that the confidence of President Hayes
was never shaken In my official integrity, not
withStanding very numerous and grave charges
were brought against me. All these were over
ruled by him, and at the close of his admins
tration was left in the position assigned by
him over three years before
wish now simply to relieve you and your
administration from all embarrassment on my
account, and therefore tender my resignation
of the office of United States Marshal Of Geor-
gia, to take effect as soon as my successor may
be appointed and qualified. Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
o. P. FIrzsIMoNs,
u. s. Marshal.
1t is now understood, l think, that
President Garfield intends to confer the
MarshalshIp on General Lcngstreet, who
is now Minister to Constantinople. 1t
will be some months, perhaps, before the
General can return. Colonel Fitzsi
mons, in the meantime, with the entire
confidence of the administration, will re-
main in Office until his successor is quail
fed and ready to enter upon the dis
charge of its duties. This will probably
be about the Both of June, the close of
the present fiscal year.
The number of Republican applicants
for the Office was very large. and the
strife between them somewhat fierce, ac
cording to reports. General Longstreet
was not in the contest. He seems to have
been the dark horse selected by the
President to be Colonel Fitzsimons' sue
cessor, May he fill the place as well and
come out with honor as unsullied.
]. L. FL.