WASHINGTON, D.C., _March 6, 1869_.

_To the Senate of the United States:_

Since the nomination and confirmation of Alexander T. Stewart to the
office of Secretary of the Treasury I find that by the eighth section
of the act of Congress approved September 2, 1789, it is provided as
follows, to wit:


_And be it further enacted_, That no person appointed to any office
instituted by this act shall, directly or indirectly, be concerned or
interested in carrying on the business of trade or commerce; or be
owner, in whole or in part, of any sea vessel; or purchase, by himself
or another in trust for him, any public lands or other public property;
or be concerned in the purchase or disposal of any public securities of
any State or of the United States; or take or apply to his own use any
emolument or gain for negotiating or transacting any business in the
said Department other than what shall be allowed by law; and if any
person shall offend against any of the prohibitions of this act he shall
be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor and forfeit to the United States
the penalty of $3,000, and shall upon conviction be removed from office
and forever thereafter incapable of holding any office under the United
States: _Provided_, That if any other person than a public prosecutor
shall give information of any such offense, upon which a prosecution and
conviction shall be had, one-half the aforesaid penalty of $3,000, when
recovered, shall be for the use of the person giving such information.


In view of these provisions and the fact that Mr. Stewart has been