The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-07-30
From the Winchester Nirginian

Another victim has been SacrInccd 10 tne demon
of party prescription. w. q. Singleton, Esq, late
United States Attorney for the Western District of
Virginia. has been rejected by the thirty rants OF the
Senate, though nominated by President to whose
election n decidedly opposed. For four long
months has this nomination been held in suspense,
and it would seem that the hearte majority after
determining in caucus upon its relse ton, with mag
nant sport suited to the feline race postponed 1t to
the last hour of wasted session, in order that their
fangs might sink the sharper into the Wit Is of their
victim This tantalizing delay could not have ORR
gnated from the desire Of the actious possessors OF
Executive power to obtain information as to the
qualifications of the candidate or the manner In
which he discharged the duties of an office held by
him for the last eight years. Abundant evidence of
these might have been obtained from the different
departments, where Mr.. Singleton's services were
well appreciated and sufficient was doubtless fur
nshed to have enabled any enlightened Senator, I'M
BIASED by party to have acted .avorably on the mo-
mination. The present able Judge OF the District
Court, well as his predecesso in the strongest
terms informed, bore testimony to the COM
potency of the late incumbent to fill the Office he
| had held so long and numerous members Of the
bar, political friends as well political foes, whore
the Federal courts held its sessions, well acquainted
with the manner in which he had dschar ed its Of
ten delicate and important duties, warmly united in
recommending his continuance IN office. he MEM
bers Of The Senate no doubt further advised of
the valuable services rendered to the Government,
connected with the discharge OF the Office OF After
der the pension law. by the unwearied assiduy and
fearless perseverance OF Mr. Singleton, the most in
ia Iitous lmpositons upon the Government were fer
reed out and finally punished or arrested-often at
tended with great personal risk and bringing upon
him the ill-wll of many guilty participant in the
villany, who no doubt now rejoice IN defeat they
may have aided to produce.
Small as was the compensation allowed Mr.. Sim
gleton believe he never missed court whilst he
held the Office, no. rugged the path which led to
J,hI tb..h nIodo Cioto
formed to resist ITS power, or the odium of men,
high place. who felt themselves obnoxious to its just
influence Had we not reason to believe that the
lection brought about 10y strictly party vote,
and party too who "go it bind" would have
expressed surprise at the conduct of the fresi-
dents advisers Tor it will be hard to find any MEM
Der of the bar in our part Of The State with the same
experience of MIR. singleton, and equally qualified
in other respects to fill his place. but must be
allowed to express our wonder, even where to
der at nothing would seem to be the dictate of The
times, if one of the Senators from Virginia who
warmly advocated the appointment Of Mr.. Singleton
on two former occasions s.ouId lately have united in
his rejection Can it be that the representatives of
State sovereignty now barter their power, meant TO
guide the high uestnies OF the Government, for the
purpose of graft yng their low, personal revenge
political animoslt.es?
How grossly inconsistent with itself is Whi,gery,
particularly the V hi gerry of Virginia! In
House we find her representative preferring articles
lection, for NAL adm isrd ion OF the Government;
in the other we behold one at least Of her Senators
indirectly assuming its rens, engrossing lis power
and patronage, advocating measures of doubtful
constltutionailty, and at the time meany Insult
ing and vigorously throwing the blane upon The
same President for policy which he himself IN
part orr aes and the mafeasance Of ents which
he labors to appoint Will it be said that MIR. Sin
gleton was parsan' Who that could think or
speak was silent during the late Presidential
I 10 nDfde ninti at he. then W.
Graf, and We hope he will ever continue to be So
Are they negatives or imbeclles who appoint
ed to Offices made vacant by prescription not
promised ieaIty to Henry Clay made the passport to
office Heretofore no ofice-hoder in Virginia has
been denounced Tor opinions sake, and we hope that
no party in power will be forced to poute her Stale
policy with the stains which h have cast upon
the General Government but that her lrueoorn
II enjoy the felicity of thinking what
they please and speaking what they think