James Speed to Edwin M. Stanton, 9 April 1866

Attorney General's Office, April 9, 1866. To Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War. Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st of March, together with a communication from Lieut. Gen. Grant, in regard to the conduct of J. C. Burns, clerk of the U. S. Court at Dubuque, Iowa, in which you ask me for an opinion as to whether there is any legal remedy against the clerk—and if there be such, to exert it in behalf of the discharged soldiers. The only remedy I know is a proceeding against the clerk, to break him of his office because of such conduct. I enclose a copy of a letter which I have this day addressed to the District Attorney of Iowa. I am, sir, most respectfully James Speed Attorney General.