Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-02
GAVE UP HIS OFFICE.
ATTORNEY General Harmon Forces Dis
tHct-AttOrney LaSSiter 10 Resign.
WAS WORKING FOR DEMOCRACY.
This an Offence in thl Eyes Of the
Cleveland Administration.
THE CORRESPONDENCE IN FULL.
A. Between Doing His Duty to His
People who Had Honored Him and
serving the Purposes OF the Pow-
ers That lie lie Chose the Former.

Hon. Francis RiVes IasSiter, OF refers
burg. who has for the past three and a
half years filled the Office Of United
states Attorney. for the Eastern District
OF virginia, has peen forced 70 resign
that position because OF the attitude Of
tho administration toward working Demo-
Gratis. This renovation removal 1t
really is-leaves no doubt as to the posi-
tion Of the administration toward all
Democrats in office who are not for Pal
per and Buckner. Mckinley and Hobart,
or-snent. Grover and his coterie VIII
stand no deviation from the hide-bound
rules that they have laid down concerning
the politics Of those in Office under them
IN this campaign Mr.. Carlisle, Secretary
Of the Treasury, may make all the
speeches for the Republican Aid Society
that he chooses. but when Federal
oaiceholder who does not agree with Mr..
Cleveland's financial policy takes the
stump. he must send In his resignation
or bear the odium Of being removed.
The charges against Mr.. Lassiter were
vague and indefinite. and would have been
thrown into the waste-basket of most
any chief. But Attorney-General Harmon
took immediate cognizance OF them. The
first charge alleged that Mr. Lassiter was
an active. practical, partisan politician,
which was not consistent with the regu-
lations Of the Department Of Justice
THE second. which was regarded as more
malicious. was that intimating that ne
had not reported as TO his Investigations
OF the postal service cases involving the
Seaboard Airline. To the first accusa-
ton. Mr. Lassiter, when called upon AT
his Office IN Petersburg by member OF
the Dispatch stan yesterday, said that he
had no comment 10 make at this time
referring to tho other charges. the DIS
trict Attorney said the department had
stated under what conditions he should
make any report and said that inasmuch
as no report had been called Tor under
the circumstances, ne had made none.
Mr.. Lassiter went on further TO say that
the Department Of Justice had done no
thing when Colonel Gibson, his prede-
cessor and an enthusiastic Cleveland man,
had worked indefatigably for President
Cleveland IN 1888.
CORRESPONDENCE GIVEN OUT.
When MIR. Iassiter was asked by the
Dispatch reporter, who went over 10
Petersburg to see him. to give out the
fun correspondence between himself ana
General Harmon. he said:
"As tho Department of Justice. by puo-
fishing a portion Of the correspondence
has removed any restraint that might
otherwise have attached to the subject
matter on account Of it's conildentlal OF
official character Il does not seem I'M
proper TO pdolieh the whole cofrespoh-
dence, which. so far as IT has any interest
for the public. viii speak for itself
Mr. Lassiter, therefore permitted the
reporter to copy the entire correspoh-
dence. which opened with this letter;
Department Of Justice,
washington, d. C., September 10 leso'
Francis r. Lassiter United States Attor-
ney, Petersburg. Va:
Sir.-Complaints have been made to me
that you are acting as chairman
OF a campaign committee. and otherwise
taking "a very prominent and active part In
the practical politics OF your State or
district. If the fact be as stated, you
must have forgotten or not TO have
known the rule and practice of this de-
partment, which forbid such action on
the part Of United States attorneys. The
reason Of the rule is manifest. While.
OF course. there is nothing in the holding
Of any Office which can or should inter-
fere with a mans freedom Of private
opinion or personal political action. he
cannot, when either "A candidate for an
other office or actively engaged in man
aging campaign for others who are
such candidates. avoid embarrassments
and entanglements. which necessarily in
terfere or at least may by many be
thought TO interfere with the proper dis
charge Of his public duties.
Respectfully, JUDSON HARMON