Year: 1872

WARRINGTON, u, o., May z.
To NH HOuSe Committee on Military AZ


,tdiV:


GENTLEMEN; On Ftd&y last, soon
after the nomination Of Horace Greeley
was announced, Gen. Coburn notified me
that he should at once remove mo from
the clerkship Of the Committee, assign.
Ing, as the only reason for bis action, that
q person who was opposed to the Ad'
mlnistration Of Gen. Grant, as he suppos.
ed me to be from my connection with the
New York Tribune, could not with pro-
priety longer hold any official position at
the hands Of the Republican party. lie
further informed me that he should not
have removed me, If the Cincinnati Con.
vention had adjourned without making q
nomination, as he had hoped would be the
case requested him to lay the matter
before the Committee at It's next meeting,
but he refused positively to do so, saying
in effect that he should not consult the
Committee on the subject at all, because
he had tho power to remove and appoint
a clerk without their action. informed
him that l had consulted the Speaker and
several chalrmen Of important committees
upon this point, and that they all agreed
that chairman had no more right 10 re-.
move clerk without the authority of q
majority Of the committee than he had to
pass bill BY his single vote. Mr.. Co.
burn denied the correctness Of this view.
We had some further conversation about
the inconsistency Of his action with the
Presidents recent proclamation on tho
subject OF Civil Service reform, but upon
this question, regret to say, our opinions
were no more harmonious than upon his
right peremptorily to dismiss me BY his
simple word OF mouth. Finally, at my
request, Gen. COburn agreed to defer the
final settlement OF the question until yes.
day.


On yesterday afternoon showed him a
letter from the Speaker Of the House, con.
CURED In by the Chairmen. of the two
leading Committees of the House, copy
ot which is annexed, fully sustaining my
position. He still declined to lay the mat.
ter before the Committee, but informed
me that he had consulted with all the Re.
publican members, and that they sustain.
ed him in his action. I have, therefore,
no other course to pursue but to accept
and act upon his notice Of dismissal, and
shall this day vacate my office.


In thus retiring from a position which
have held for nearly seven years, ! feel it
my duty 10 earnestly protest against the
theory apparently involved in my re.
moyal, that Government officer becomes
unfit to perform his duties when his con.
victiOns on political questions differ from
those of his official superiors. / believe
this theory TO be vicious one, and to
have occasioned much OF the ineftlciency,
decentralization, and corruption which ex.
lists in the public service. l trust that It
may speedily be supplanted by the princi-
pie which prevailed in the earlier days OF
the Republic, when capacity and integrity
were the only requirements made OF men
holding appOintive offices. During my
long service in the Committee, the greater
part of the time under the chairmauship
OF three Of the most distinguished men
who have been in Congress In recent
years, II has never before been intimated
TO me that difference OF political opinion
with the Chairman would be cause for my
removal. Itithad been, should not have
continued in the position for a single day,
for to have done SO would have involved
u sacrifice OF manliness and sell-respect.


l leave the Committee with kind feel.
ing towardsits members, and with graft
tude Tor tho many marks oil kindness and
confidence | have received at their hands.
l go to the Reporters Gallery, as a repre-.
sentative Of the Tribune, with a feeling of
increased independence as a journalist,
from no longer holding office in these days
when official position is often regarded as
O badge of political servility.


Very Respectfully,


The Committees obt. servant,


E. V, SMALLEY.


House OF REPRESENTATIVES,


WASHINGTON, D. c., May 6, '72. I


DEAR SIR: In answer to your inquiry
in regard to mode of choosing clerks OF