The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-07-21
From the Mississppian
STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE r
j. WALKER
WASHINGTON CRY. June l6 Isd5

~ "AsHTNGToN CRY June 16, I845.
10 The Democracy Of Mississippi.
on the 9th of March last, received togetbar
WIN confidential communication from Gov
D'oWh' commission for Mr.. Thompson as
senator 10 take effect after the 10Th of March
"''' '"T PF'ion NXed In the tender OF my resgna-
ZION The Governor had been induced to make
this appointment in consequence of assurances from
me- ihat my own vote, or that of nv successor
n'ert' ana IN all probability, would he necessary.
10 give the Democratic party maiori,v in The
oenate upon the election of printer for two
wears at the executive session | urged unon tho
governor the importance of this election 70 tho
Democratic party. fully approaching the nnrions
Consequences o. defeat on this question, at the
very outset Oh Inc new administration. and the
censure that would attach to me. if this defeat
were produced by sinqle vote nwincr 70 na,'
withdrawal from the Senate Influenced bv tbese
considerations. and with view to meet this con
urgency, the Governor transmitted, not 10 Mr.
l"o'"Pso", OUT 10 me, commission for him az 2
senator, to take effect after the 10Th March lac,
leaving to me. as conceived, full dissertation ,o
deUVer The commission or not, as the circun
S'di'ceS Ut the case beture referred to miuht re-
qnne. "hen the commission was handed to me
with Gov. Browns letter. the conti,oency o.
which | referred, had not happened and il w,s
clearly asceriaIned would not happen, it having
neen determined after the date of nv letter IN
IoV' Brown, not TO go into the election of prip
ter al the executive session. The CONTINGENCY
not having happened, To meet which the com
mission was signed it seemed TO me that IN b.vo
oeii'ered 1t under such circumstances would have
V"ia,ed the VIII and purpose Of the executive.
anu 'he cohhoentlal trust and discretion devoived
by him on me. was still further influenced IN
arriving at this conclusion by the fac, Tho, !; CO.
In consequence of my assurance TO the Gove,nor
OF the probable occurrence of this continoepcy
lnat ne mad been induced to transmit the commits
SIOn not 70 MT thompson, but To me- and that if
under such circumstances | had delivered tho
commission, might be Justly accused of nrocur-
Ing an appointment to meet continoencr o,J
men delivering 1t IN violation of the trust renosed
~ me- when the contingency had not happened
and would not happen, upon which alone he L.d
been induced TO sign the commission =, We ,",,
duty as the confidential AGENT of the Govornc,
(me commission until delivered being lawfully
withIh his contro) to have acted precisely &C /,
was obvious he would have done if present and
u was clear that 1t present. he would not have de-
llVered the commission unless the cnotincrono,
had happened, TO meet which he had been induced
to act ''""ceu
he commission (ike any other grant or deed)
was the property Of the Governor. and M, IS ~
person named in the commission until tho doiivo'
ry to him, and the Governor bv himself -, 800,
could withhold the delivery to ASCERTAIN The 90,
cnHence of particular event upon the bs,,o,-
ing OF which alone it was desired 10 give effect to
me intended appointment and this principle Is So
well settled, and so universally adopted in rr,o,
'lce IN regard to commissions and all other grants
as to require no calculation from me. wac mn,
authorized to confer with Mr.. Thompson. nness
The commission was delivered 10 him. and had
mus conferred with him and disclosed to hin all
the circumstances Of the case, he certainly cnnld
not and would not have accepted an office design.
ed to be rendered to him to meet CONTINGENCY
which had not happened
And now the Withholding the commission is
a",iouted by some to selfish purposes OF hostility
10 MI. Thompson. AS to The first point, the COM
mission was not handed to me until after INV
unanimous confirmation by the senate, as secrets.
ry OF the treasury, and when consequently the
delivery of the commission could make no change
IN my. position As regards hostility between
myself and Mr. Thompson il oever existed W.
were intimate friends, personally and politically,