Henry Stanbery to Darius H. Starbuck, 10 June 1867

About This Item

Title: Henry Stanbery to Darius H. Starbuck, 10 June 1867
Date: June 10, 1867
Creator(s): Henry Stanbery | Walt Whitman
Whitman Archive ID: nar.00220
Source: National Archives and Records Administration. Transcribed from digital images or a microfilm reproduction of the original item. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the manuscripts, see our statement of editorial policy.
Contributors to digital file: Elizabeth Lorang Kevin McMullen John Schwaninger Nima Najafi Kianfar
Cite this page: Stanbery, Henry and Walt Whitman. "Henry Stanbery to Darius H. Starbuck, 10 June 1867." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 09 May 2025. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
Source File: nar.00220.xml (TEI)

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June 10, 1867. D. H. Starbuck, Esq. U. S. Attorney, Raleigh, N. C. Sir: In your letter of the 7th inst. you ask, with the approbation of the Court, for authority from me to consent to continuances, which have been moved by numerous defendants, against whom suits have been instituted, under the Act of 23d February, 1865, (13 Stat. 432,) for the recovery of balances due before the war from the parties, who were Postmasters,—& who, from circumstances which you are entitled to consider, might have the benefit of this indulgence without prejudice to Justice. In reply, I have to say that it can seldom happen to be discreet & proper for the Attorney General, at the seat of government, to exercise his authority in such a case. The counsel of the Government, on the spot, is entrusted by law with adequate power, & must act in his responsible discretion, unless the novelty or the gravity of the occasion renders the case a fit exception. Your application is based upon the fact that these defendants are not able to lay grounds for continuance which are sufficient to satisfy the court that their applications ought to be granted. That being so, I do not feel at liberty to direct you to continue the cases. Respectfully yours, Henry Stanbery, Attorney General.