Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-05-01

DENCE.
WASHINGTON, April 20.
". 3. Craig:
I am directed by the Honorable
Secretary of the Treasury to request your res
ignation as Collector of the 9th Internal
Revenue District of Virginia Telegraph your
reply. Jos. S. MILLER,
Commissioner.
Collector Craig who took the ground
that having been appointed by the Presi.
dent, his resignation could only be request
ed by the President, telegraphed the fol-
lowing reply:
''Please inform me by what authority the
Secretary of the Treasury requests my resigna-
| ton; and what for
W. E. CRAIG. -
TO this, Commissioner Miller returned
the following explanation
WASHINGTON, April 81.
Your resignation was asked
| for because it was understood here you were
| simply awaiting such request to tender it.
Jos. s. MILLER,
Commissioner.
Collector Craig replied that he would
write by mail. and the following is his
letter:
STAUNToN, VA, April 81, 1885.
Hon. Jos. 8. Miller, Commissioner Inter.
nal ReUe7ale, Washington, u. G.:
SIR,-Your telegram of this morning
| VIZ, Your resign alton was asked for be-
| cause it was understood here you were SIM
| ply awaiting such a request to tender it,
was duly received. and to which l re-
piled: Il reply to your telegram OF this
| morning at length by letter." 1 now have
| the honor to state that was greatly sur
| priSed on yesterday at your summary re-
quest, By avare, for my resignation. have
been Collector of this district since Au-
| gust Is, 1888, the date of the consolidation
| of the five districts of this State into
| three; during this time l have endeavored
| to conduct the business of nay district
carefully, honestly, fairly. and impartial
ly; | have uniformly endeavored to be
| courteous to those with whom I have done
business, and respectful to my superior
| officers; was aware of no violation OF
! any of the above rules, certainly none was
| ever intended; the business of the district
| was running smoothly and in excellent
! condition so far as [ knew; therefore very
| naturally desired knowing and requested
| the cause of your telegram IN the name of
the Hon. Secretary OF Treasury SO sum
marily requesting my resignation, and
| also by what authority it was so request
ed. [ was not aware that it was within
| the province of the Hon. Secretary of
Treasury to make such a demand: my
| opinion was that as had been appointed
and commissioned by the President of the
| United States, by him only could be re-
| lieved
am gratifed to learn by your message
of this morning, above quoted, that it was
| not prompted by reason of any charges
| against my administration of the office;
but merely on representation to you that
desired to resign.
expect, sir, with all due respect. chat
you Will find, as IN this case, that the rep
| RESERVATIONS of our Virginia otfice-seekers
and their friends cannot always be suffi-
| GENTLY relied upon to base action, without
| further inquiry; by communicating with
| me you could have ascertained my posi-
Jion, which is this: [ am a Republican,
and expect so to remain since the inaugu-
ration of President Cleveland 1 am aware
| that the Bourbon-Democracy of this State
| has demanded the removal of Republican
| officials; have always said to my Demo-
cratic friends. as [ now say to you, that
whenever our Republican officials were
removed for political and pdrtaSan causes,
| then desired my name to be among the
list; that not murmur would escape my
| lips, but that should be content in going
down with my party, and extend to my
| successor all proper courtesies and infor-
nation.
But this same Democracy also makes
the general charge of dishonesty and cor
ruption against all of our Virginia offic-
ials OF course know this charge will
be found as baseless as it is false; but then
it behooves US officials to be very jealous
in this regard; and, sir, although | know
everything to be square IN my district,
yet had on yesterday telegraphed you
my resignation. in obedience to your sum-
mons, believe there would have been
those who would have imputed dishonor-
able motives to my action, claiming that
such hot haste would not have been de-
manded or obeyed unless something had
been wrong.
Hence, you see that I was placed in
position that to have obeyed your tele-
gram would have reflected upon my ad-
ministration.
Having thus submitted my case, [ am,
sir, very respectfully, your obedient ser
want W. g. CRAIG,