Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-11-19
HENroN RRfysrArEp.

RNtNAMsuA NN-HAANfs
SEosuo, Mo, November 70. 1850
10 Hon A. a. Garland Attorney -Genefa''
Washing On;
>IR Your letter OF the LIST irsi,, with
enclosures apprieing me Of the reasons
OF my suspension from the Office OF Nt'
turrey Of tne United States for the West
ern district Of Missouri, received ] de-
sire 10 make plain statement Of facts Ia
relation 10 the list Of appointments TO
make campliRn speeches. United States
district court for the eastern
division OF tne district convened on the
Gun Of September. / had been there with
my assistant several days prior 20 thGt
Gay, preparing cases for trial. The
district business, except few pleas
Of guilty, waa fhished on the 2ith Of sep
TENDER, and on The following day the
court adjourned. On the ulght OF the
9th tpoke at Jefferson CITY. ! then
went 70 Kansas City ard Bush, my assist
ant, and prepared ourselves for the Oc-
tOber term 81 court for the western d.
Visions. Meanwhile ! haG, at the earnest
solicitation Of Messrs. H. Dock
cry, Cravcus and others, can
dldAies for congress, and the Democratic
state central committee 3nd with the
knowledge Of Senators Cockrel and Vest,
agreed 20 make some campaign speeches.
Alter 20 arranging them a. % time as not
10 interfere win my flcal business gave
the list 10 ID. II Shields, chairman, and
thlsllst was published, the dates begin
ming Sep ember 20, at Z p. M, at Aurora,
Mo. Tho appointments were made on
each side of my district 20 ] could aud
did reach Kansas City once each
week 70 look after the routine
business OF the olllco. NV assistant,
william Bush, was in the Office all the
time | was away. Two OF my appoint
mtnts were made at WEBB City aud Sar-
coke, convenient to Joplin, where /
appeared In two important cases
on the l4.h day OF October
before Clark Crocroft, United
states commissioner. / filed my en-
gagements 10 Saturday October lG, at
Souecn. Monday, October rs, district
court for the western division began
term. Every indictment aud Information
was prepared. In consequence
ths grand july was dismissed At
noon Of the third day. | had thought |
would get through with the business Of
thi- short term In one week. had two
engagements 20 speak during that week,
one at 81 Joseph.
did not M the other az Kansas City.
did speak &C night after the rioutn-
ment Of court. found on Saturday,
October 20, that had six important
cases which believed should be tried
ON that night came here, got my part.
ucr, Hon. Joseph Crawns, Hon john Il.
Tecl Of Mount Vernon aud Or. James
Evans OF Nicholas, Green county 30
agree to ON my appointments beginning
with Southwest Cuy on October 2G and
Immediately returned Ia Kansas CITY AMI
announced ready for trial The district
court docket was called, ! remained tn
court attending 10 cascs until | received
the president letter suspsnding me. As
to my record az pubic UnGor | AIN
willing Tor the department reports OF nov
success In trials, the court officers 81 the
circuit and district courts aud those who
had business with my office, 20 say.
relied on the following clause OF the
presidents letter of Jult l8 In making
engagements to speak; Individual In.
terest and activity Ia political affairs IS
condemned Oflce-hOldets are neither
DISTINGUISHED nor forbidden TO exercise
their political privileges, but their priv-
lcge is not enlarged, nor Is their duty TO
their party Increased to perniCious activ-
ity by oillGe.holdlng."
II making political speeches Is the
cause Of my suspension can make no de-
tense, mt II IL Is inferred that neglected
my official duties by 80 doing, am not
guilty, and ask tho fullest scrutiny into
the facts, and respectfully ask that this
communication be referred to the presi-
dent with such recommendation as you
deem Just / have nut 10 add that had
no idea that making political speeches
would be taken MS a violation OF the presi.
den's letter of July 10, 1886. Very re-
epCCtfully, Signed, NJ II. BENToN.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov. 10, 1886.
Hon NJ. E. Benton
DEAR SIR Your letter Of the 10th inst
addressed 10 the attorney general ma,
been submitted 70 me aud carefully con
adhered. It's frank tone aud all / know
OF your character cOnylnces me OF tn,
truth therein related, Touching the mat
ters which led TO your suspension from
CtllCe, when l Issued the warning to office
z holders TO which you refer ns an "order, ,
| expected TO be much hsrrassed by al
manner OF loose and frivolous tales n
malice or disappointment and dcliberat,
design on the part Of political enemies I,
annoy and emhaTrass concerning indul
, gence by nppOintees under the presen
administration In pernlcious activity II
: politics, against which my waning dl
ftCted, 1 nope however, DY cArein
= consideration OF the spirit as well as tn
language OF such warning that those il
y good faith intending TO respect II Nigh
not he Ia doubt as to It's meaning, an,
, would themselves apply It TO condition
. and circumstances which " was inpossl
BILE for mo TO specify di
u NOT intend 10 condemn In
making Of political speeches b
= federal officlal to his neighbors au
+ friends, nor al any time aud place wher
It WAS merely Incidental II the speech II
self was decent and fair, but do no
think such ofllciGl can enter az a bushes
Il, into political campaign and consent +
/, long list OF engagements TO address
!, political meetings widely separated, an
;, OF daily occurrence M such engagement
I without neglecting his duty,
he holds an office worth having
!, without taking with him I
+, the canyasses his Official power and N
. auence. Therefore this course Is cor
I. demned. The number OF speeches tha
= can be properly made cannot be specified
= nor the time or place where, or the eli
+, eumstances In which they are proposed