The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-11-18

WAsHISGToS, November 1.-THE fo,-
lowing correspondence was made public
by the President tonight:
NEosHA, Mo-, November 10.
Hon. 4. IT. Garland, Attorney General,
Washington, d. e.:
Sir: Your letter OF the lst inst. with
enclosures apprisng me OF the basis OF
my suspension from the oficc OF attor-
sey of the United States for the western
district OF Missouri, is received. I de-
sire 10 make plain statement of the
facts in relation to the list of
appointments to make campaign
speeches.. The United States dis.
trict court for the eastern division
district convened on the 7th day of
September. l hsi been there with my
assistant several days previous to that
date preparing cases for trial. The dis
trict business, except a few pleas of
guilty, flushed on the oath OF Septem-
Der, aud on The following day court adj
jOurned. On the night of the 18th.
spoke at Jefferson City. l then went 10
Kansas City, and Rush, my assistant,
and l prepared ourselves for the DC
tober term of court tor the western
division. Meanwhile I had. at the earn
est solicitation of Messrs. Dockery,
Graves and others, candidates for Con-
gress, and the Democratic State Cen
trail Committee, and with the knowledge
Of Senator'S Cockren and Vest, agreed
to make some campaign speeches.
After so arranging them as to time, 20
as to not interfere with my official bust
ness, gave the list TO d. ii. Shields,
chairman, and this list was published.
the dates beginning September 18th, at
: n, m ~ Missouri
The appointments were made On each
side OF my district so / could and did,
reach Kansas City onca each week to
look after the routine business OF the
Office. Ny assistant, William Rush,
was in the Office all the time while L was
away. Two OF the appointments made
webb City and Sarcoxie-were
convenient to Joplin. where j ap-
peared in two important cases
before Clark Crawford, United States
Commissioner. | filed my engage
ments to Saturday, October 10th. At
Seneca Monday October 18th, the
began the term. Every indictment and
information was prepared. In conse-
quence of this the Grand Jury was dis
missed a. noon Of the third day. / had
thought I would get through with the
business of this short term in one
week. l had TWO engagements to
speak during that week, one at St.
Joseph, which I did not I'LL: the other
az Kansas City l did fill 1t night
after the adjournment of court. l
found. on Saturday. the 23d of Octo-
Der. that had six importsat
cases which 1 believed should
be tried. On that night. came here
and got my partner, Hon. Joseph
IL n III g
Vernon, and Dr.. Jas. Evans, of Nichols,
Greene County, who agreed to fill nay
appointments, beginning with South
west City on the 25th of October. and i'm
mediately returned to Kansas City and
announced the cases as ready for trial.
The district court docket was called. /
remained in court, ant attended TO the
cases, until l received the Presidents
letter su- pending me. as TO my record
as q public officer / am willing for The
department to report OF my success in
trials. the court officers of the
circuit and district courts and
those who had business with the
office To say. 1 relied on the
following clause OF the Presidents let
ter OF July 18th IN making engagements
10 speak: individual interest and &C
tiYity IN political affairs is by no means
COultllLtu- OA4ANS eAAG
DISTINGUISHED nor forbidden TO exercise
their political privileges, but their
privilege is not enlarged, nor is their
duty to the party increased to perni-
cious activity by Office holding" II
making political speeches is the cause
OF my suspension. can make no de-
Tense, but if 1t inferred neglect OF my
official duties by so doing, I am not
guilty and ask q full scrutiny into the
facts.
1 respectfully ask that this communi-
cation be referred to the President with
such recommendation as you deem just.
have but to add that l had no idea
that political speeches would be taken
as q violation of the Presidents order
of July 18th, 1856.
Very respectfully.
u. Z. BESToS.
EXECUTIVE MASsTOS. November lG.