The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-16

REJECTION OF JAMES H. CALDWELL,
esq

impertinent in me to call the attention of the
People of louisiana TO the gross injustice done
by you and your brother Senators TO one of your
most distinguished fellow citizens, by your re-
lection OF JAMES II. CALDWELL, Esq, who was
nominated, some time since, by the President of
the United States TO your body for confirmation
as Superintendent of the United States Branch
Mint in New Orleans.
lts due to MIR. Caldwell gentlemen, if you
are not aware Of it already, to say, that he was
not an applicant in any shape, for the appoint
ment, which the Executive, in the lawful exer-
else of his discretion, saw fit to confer upon him
tor his well known and eminent capacity TO
discharge the duties of the place, for his lofty
integrity of character, and for his unbending no.
nesty.
! am Mr.. Caldwell's intimate friend, gentle
men, and as one of your constituents, deem it
proper to vindicate him from the implied
though unjust imputation Of incapacity for a
public trust, which your vote has placed upon
his character, by showing that you have flown
IN the face of your own knowledge of him, and
have treated as unworthy of your consideration
the genuine signatures (which you know to be
such) of twelve more of the high function
aries of Louisiana, and that you have been infu-
enced in your rejection of Mr. Caldwell by the
fact that he is, and has been, the open and warm
friend OF John Tyler and Daniel Webster
1t was not until some weeks after the receipt
In New Orleans OF the news of his nomination,
that Mr.. Caldwell learned that you, Mr.. Senator
Barrow, were opposed to him, and that he would
be rejected, because of his friendship and zeal
IN behalf of the Administration. At the in
stance OF his friends, he determined to counter
act this extraordinary disposition of yours, by
showing to such of the Senate as might not
know him from character, who and what he
was, and forthwith strong memorial in his ia
vor was procured and signed by the following
eminent individuals
Hon. FELIX GARCIA, President of the State
Senate of Louisiana.
Hon. G. A. WAGGAMAN, late U. S. Senator,
and then Senator of the State of Louisiana.
Hon. LEVI PIERCE, Secretary of State of Lou
isiana
Hon. G. RosELIus, Attorney General of the
State of Louisiana.
Hon. Rice GARLAND, Judge of the Supreme
Court of Louisiana.
Hon. T. Curry, Judge of the 9tl. District of
State of Louisiana.
Hon. t. G. MORGAN, Collector of Customs,
New Orleans.
VIM. FREREr, ex-Mayor of New Orleans.
Hon. Bay, Judge of one of the interior dis
tricts of Louisiana
J Hon. J. BALDWIN, Recorder of End Munich
pality of New Orleans
t. SLoo, IT,, Treasurer Of Cd Municipality of
New Orleans.
JOHN c. LARUE, an eminent lawyer of New
Orleans, and one two others whose names
do not now remember If a long list of names
had been deemed necessary, you know, gentle
men, that Mr.. Caldwell could have procured a
memorial signed by 1900 persons as easily as by
twelve
1t would be insulting to you, gentlemen, to
tell you who the persons are who signed this
memorial Their reputation and fame are pass
ports for them, and they will demand at your
hands most cogent reasons for your disregard
ing their wishes, which doubt your ability to
give 10 lnelr SatlSIactlOn.
The Hon. t. G. Morgan, Collector of the
Customs at New Orleans, few weeks ago,
wrote to you, Mr.. Senator Barrow; long and
a warm letter, urging upon you the propriety of
confirming Mr.. Cadwell's nomination without
further delay, and he based his arguments on
the highest possible grounds. A copy of this
letter will be published to show what little re-
gard you have paid, sir, to the earnest entreaties
of one ofyour sincerest friends, when the mad
ness and degradation of party seized upon your
mind.
That there was no opposition TO to Mr.. Cald-
well on grounds sufficient to warrant the
unfavorabe action Of the Senate, on this nomi-
nation, l am confirmed in the opinion, by your
declaration to me, MI. Senator Conrad, that
you knew Of no grave charges against him.
Now, who isJAMEs H. CALDWELL, gentlemen,
that you and your brother Senators should vote
to pronounce him unworthy of holding a pub
lie trust in this Democratic Government
In the whole South and West, such question
would be regarded as insult to the in
teIligence of the inerrogated, and am confident
it would be looked upon in the same light at the
North. You know, gentlemen, better than l
can tell you, how, through long life of integ-
rty and honor, of labor and industry, Mr.. Cald-
well brought the Drama in the South and
West, to its present high distinction His cha
racter a chvalrc gentleman and an upright
man is unimpeached. You know how, through
series of twenty-three years or more, he has
been the benefactor of New Orleans by his ac-
tive enterprise and public spirit. Have you not
often with pride pointed the stranger TO the
magnificent public buildings which ornament
the Crescent cty-buildings erected by James