Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-05
MANNING'S RESIGNATION.
THE PRESIDENT REFUSES TO
ACCEPT 1T.

Leave OF Absence till Oct. Granted the
Secretary With a Hope that His Re
tirement win then Not be Necessary
Public Interests incidentally AL
Iuded to.
WASHINGTON, June 4.-Secretary Man.
ming on May 20 handed President Cleve-
land his resignation as Secretary of the
Treasury, stating that his health would
not permit an early resumption of the
active duties OF the office. On June the
President replied declining to accept Sec
retary Manning's resignation at present,
and asking him instead to take leave OF
absence until Oct. /, when the subject
may be renewed il Secretary Manning re-
mains of the same mind as now. Secre-
tary Manning will leave Washington to-
morrow evening tor an extended stay at
the Hot Springs of Virginia.
TEXT OF THE CORRESPONDENTS.
Following is the text of the correspond
ence:
WASHINGTON, NAV 20, 1885.
MY DEAR SIR-I have decided t. place in
your hands my resignation of the Office which
you did me the honor to ask me to accept If
teen months ago. My reasons for this decis-
ION are both public and personal. Since the
partial recovery of my health has permitted
me TO reflect upon the demands OF the public
service, to which | had given, perhaps, too
freely all my strength, and upon the
conditions OF resumlng my labors at your SIDE,
| have not for one moment questioned what
must be my present duty. Full recovery of
my health is pronounced TO be an affair OF
weeks, and longer period Of rect, especially
during the hot months, is prescribed. or at
eas. advised, as prudent regimen thereafter.
Compliance with this advice would not he
practicable were / to resume now general
direction of the Treasury Department. Even
If abating something of the energy which it
seemed needful to eXpend in the first year of
my work. supervision at q distance would
be more hndrance than a help to the acting
Secretary. But 10 is not beiittlng tnat a de-
partment OF the government 20 difficult and so
important should be administefed by con-
valescent studiOus of parryug its daily ex-
actions, nor that watchful control of its enor-
nous influence or direction of its fiscal pOlcIes,
even under your wise lead, should be at
tempted by any one concerned about
outstanding his strength. The reforms in our
fiscal policy which you have maintained. and
which have been named and commended to
the wisdom of the legislative branch are re-
forms necessary to our safety. binding in
honor, obligatory in the traditions Of the
Democracy, and set down with promises in
our statute books. Our present tariH
laws are needless oppression in
stead of an easy burden. Our cur
rency is chaos into which we pour,
from the forced purchases OF one of the pre-
cious metals, mechanical increment under a
! coinage law 50 ill-judged and untimely that
| it binders the opening Of our mines TO the
natural aud unlimited coinage of both metals
| and the free expansion of our gold and silver
| coin along with the growing needs of a
/ mighty people. All Our nccdfui customs
| revenue might be collected by strictl Y revenue
! duties upon few score of articles instead ol
| by eXtravagant or prob ibitory duties upon
| more than 1000 articles. The mere machinery
! Of administration by its own mass and com p
| plexity breaks down crushes ont the en-
terprise II assumes to protect, A better cur
| rency than elsewhere exists might be had by
a few lines of repeating and empowering
! legislation, followed by two or three years OF
| capable administration of the Treasury aud
| joined Nth the present sagaciOus conduct OF
| our foreign policy by the state Department.
Under the operation Of the currency laws
/ and tariff laws now in force, which You and
\ the Forty-nlnth Congress were elected by the
! people 10 repeal and reform, the burdened in
dustres OF OGr country are plunging heavily
| along II cry rOad toward fOreseen danger
| We talk OF arbitrating our respect
| i've share of disaster instead OF
| knocking OF our self-imp0sed fetters and re-
! leasing general prosperity. This is not. i'm
| my deliberate judgment. a time when the
! President can delay 70 provide. or afford to
! dispense with an actual Us well as a tltular
head OF the Treasury department.
The ascal policy of the Federal government,
in respect to debt 50 large, taxation so per-
vasise. and currency which is universal,
| cannot fail Of beng the chief factor in ma
| tional and individual we'll being. Your own
duty, to which You have ad-
and unilinchlng purpose, the duty OF
Congress in the premises and the laws VIII ,cb
| may yet be enacted for the guidance OF the
! Treasury Department, will require that you
be assisted in their administration by an OGi
Ger capable OF full efficiency and unwearied
. circumspecti0n. Permit me, therefore, with d
out hesitation, to accept my temporary disR-
blity as summons to stand ssde aud make
way for one Immediately capable of fulfilling
every requirement Of the public service.
Very respectfully, yours,
DANIEL MANNING.