"Treasury Department, }
"Washington, D. C., September 7, 1877.}
"Dear Governor:—Your note of yesterday is received.
"The action of the President on the New York customhouse cases turned upon the general question of change there, and not upon Cornell's case. It happened in this way: General Sharpe, in a very manly letter, withdrew his application for reappointment as surveyor of the port. In considering the question of successor the main point, as to whether the changes in the New York customhouse rendered necessary a general change of the heads of the departments, was very fully and very kindly considered, and, without any reference to Cornell's matter, until it was thought, as a matter of public policy, it was best to make change in these heads, with some details about it which I will communicate to you when you return. When that was seen to be the unanimous opinion, it was thought hardly worth while to single out Mr. Cornell's case, and act upon it on the question that affected him alone. If he was allowed to resign from the committee, it would undoubtedly be upon an implied supposition that he would be continued as naval officer. I think even yet he ought to do as he proposed to Orton, but we could not afford to have him do it with any such implied assent, and, therefore, it was deemed better to make the formal announcement agreed upon. You know how carefully such things are considered, and, after a night's reflection, I am satisfied of the wisdom of the conclusion.
"I want to see Arthur, and have requested him to come here. You can say to him that, with the kindest feelings, and, as he will understand when he sees me, with a proper appreciation of his conduct during the examination by the commission, there should be no feeling about this in New York. At all events, what has been done is beyond recall.
"Very truly yours,
"John Sherman.
"Hon. R. C. McCormick."
Mr. McCormick complied with my request, and orally reported his interview on his return to Washington. We were given to understand that these officers did not wish to be removed pending the investigation, as it would seem that they were charged with the acknowledged defects and irregularities which they themselves had pointed out. The President was quite willing to base his request for their resignation, not upon the ground that they were guilty of the offenses charged, but that new officers could probably deal with the reorganization of the customhouse with more freedom and success than the incumbents. I also saw General Arthur, and explained to him the view taken by the President and his desire not in any way to reflect upon the collector and his associates, Cornell and Sharpe. I believed that at the close of the investigation by the commission these gentlemen would resign, and that their character and merits would be recognized possibly by appointments to other offices.
Acting on this idea, on the 15th of October, I wrote the following letter to Arthur:
"Washington, D. C., October 15, 1877. "Dear Sir:—I regret to hear from Mr. Evarts that you decline the consulship at Paris which I supposed would be very agreeable to you.
"As the time has arrived when your successor must be appointed, I submit to you whether, though your resignation might be inferred from your letters on file, it would not be better for you to tender it formally before your successor is appointed.
"The President desires to make this change in a way most agreeable to you, and it would be most convenient to have it announced to- morrow.
"An early answer is requested.