Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-11-25
VIM. A Stones Case.
The President makes public the follow

PITTsBURG Nov. IS, 1SS6.-Hon. A. H
Garland, Attorney General Sir: I have
read the correspondence between the Pres.
ident and Hon. Nj. E. Benton, United
States attorney, connected with his restor
alton to office, in which it appears that be
was suspended from Office for his apparent
neglect of official duties in making cam
paign speeches. Presumably nv Suspen-
sion was ordered for the same reason. 1de-
sire, therefore, to state the facts in my case.
l made but two speeches prior to the receipt
OF the order OF suspenslon-one at Butler in
an adjoining county. on the evening Of De-
tober !, and one at kittanning, town near
| to Pittsburg, on the evening of October >.
did not leave Pittsburg for Butler until
nearly four o'clock October l, and returned
on the morning Of the "a CT October about
9 o'clock. l left Pittsburg for Kittannng
Saturday, October ., about 5 o'clock D. ~,
and returned the same night Upon both
of the above dates the United States courts
here were not in session except short time
in the morning Of each day for ordinary mo-
tons. | was in attendance upon the courts
during their sttngs, and did not leave the
city upon either occasion until long after
the courts had adjourned Ga October Is
the United States District Court began its
|
causes, petit and grand Jury being in at
tendance. From October 9 until October
is I was engaged in the preparation of
United States causes for trial, and from
October Is until October 81, the date Of tho
receipt Of the order Of suspension, I was en-.
gagged in the trial of these causes Neither
during this period from October . to Octo-
Der 27, nor at any other time, did I in
any particular neglect the duties of my Of
flee. feel it my duty, after reading The
correspondence between the President and
Mr.. Benton, to state these facts in justice to
myself, and respectfully request that this
communication DO referred to the President
/ may also add that did not think that
making an occasional campaign speech to
my neighbors, while not neglectirg the du
ties OF my office, would be violation of the
Presidents order of July 10, 1856. Very re-.
specially, your obedent servant,
WIN. a. STONE.
Erecutire Mansion, Nov. %, lSS6.-Hcu
\. II. Garland, Attorney General. Dear
Sir have read the letter of the 18Th inst,
! written to you by VIM. A. Stone, lately sus-
pended from Office as district attorney for
the western district of Pennsylvania, and
the subject matter to which it refers has re.
ceived my careful consideration. I shall
|
motive in his plainly erroneous assumption
that his case and that of M E. Benton, re-.
Gently suspended and reinsated, rest upon
the same state of facts, but prefer to regard
bis letter as containing the best statement
possible upon the question of his renstate-
ment. You remember, of course that soon
after the present administration was Install
ed, and | think nearly q year and a-hall
ago. considered with you certain charges
which had been preferred against Mr.. Stone
as federal Official You remember, toe.
that the action We then contemplated was
withheld by reason OF the excuses and ex-
plantations Of his friends. These excuses
and explanations Induced me to believe that
Mr. S!oae's retention would insure faithful
performance Of official duty. and that what.
ever offensive partisanship he had deemed
justiiab'e in other circumstances, lie would,
during his continuance in office at his re-
quest, under an administration opposed to
him in political creed and policy, content
himself with quiet and unobtrusive enjoy
ment of his political privileges. certainly
supposed that his sense of propriety would
cause him to refrain from pursuing such
partisan course as would wautonly offend
and irlitate the friends of the administra-
ton, who insisted that he should not be re-.
tanned in office either because of his person
oil merit or in adherence to the methods
which for long time had prevailed in the
distribution of federal Offices.
In the light Of u better system, aud with
out considering Ills political affiliations, Mr..
Stone, when permitted to remain in Office
became part of the business Organization
CT the present administration, bound by
every obligation of honor to assist within
his sphere in its successful operation. This
obligation involved not only the proper per.
| formarce of official duty, but certain good
faith and fidelity, which, while not exacting
the least sacrifice of political principle, fer
babe active participation in purely partisan
demonstrations of a pronounced type, I'M
dertaken for the purpose of advancing par
tisan interests, and conducted upon the
avowed theory that the administration of
the government was not entitled to the con.
lidepcs and respect Of the people.
There is no dispute whatever concerning
the fact that Mr.. Stone did join others who
were campaigning the State of Pennsylrs.
MIA IN opposition TO the administration. It
appears, too, that he YVES active and promi.
nent with noisy enthusiasm in attendance
| npon at least two large public meetings that the
speeches at such meetings were largely devoted to
abuse and misrepresentation of the administra.
ton; that he approved all this. and actually ad-
| dressed the meetings himself in somewhat the
| same strain that he attended such meetings
away from his homo for the purpose Of making
such addresses, and that he was advertised as one
of the speakers at each of said meetings.
| shall accept as true the statement of Mr.
Stone that the time spent by him in thus demon.
stratinS his willingness to hold profitable Office
at the hands of an administration which he en-.
deavored to discredit with the people, and which
hsd kindly overlooked his previous offences, did
not result in the neglect of ordinary official duty
But his conduct has brought to light such an un
friendliness toward the administration which hc
pretends to serve and of which he is nomnallv
part, and such consequent lack of loyal interest
in its success, that the safest and surest Guaranty
OF his faithful service il in my opinion, entirely
wanting His course, in itself such as should not
have been entered upon while maintaining official
relations to the administration, algo renews and
revives, with unmistakable Interpretation of their
character and intent, the charges Of offensive mar
tlsanshlp heretofore made, and up to this time
held in allegiance.
Mr.. Stone and others Of like disposition are not
to suppose that party lines are so far obliterated
that the administration of the government is to
be trusted, in places high or low, to those who ar
gressively and constantly erdeavor unfairly to
destroy the confidence of the people in the nartv