Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-02-09
From the Ind. STATE Journal.

Mr.. DEFREEs:-Wi YOU permit me 10
avail myself Of your paper. for tho Pur-
pose OF laying tho following facts before
the public:
|, will be recolocted that. two years
no. the regular terms Of office of the
Supreme Iu9 res were about ID expire.
Governor Nhi:comb nominated Judge
Black ford 10 fiji one Of the vacancies. and
the nomination was unanimously confirm
cd By tho Senate Several nominations
were made 10 fl the places occupied by
Judge Sullivan aud myself, but they were
rejected. The Governor sent Us temporary
commissions which expired al the end OF
tic next session of The Legislature. These
n~o tom appointments considered as
impliesi pledges that we shoaid be regular
" nominated 70 the next Senate. In tins,
however. We we're disappointed. Tho
Governor saw fix to send IN the names OF
Nesers. Perkins ard Sml:a, VINO were not
confirmed.
The day after tho c'oso Of the logIe!a-
ture. last winter, Capt. Cain delivered me
a message (Which 10 said was conhion-
tiai) from tho Governor, desiring mo ne:
70 leave Indianapolis by the next stage.
had not sought, and previous To tins
message. did not expect an appointment
hy the Governor. Tho next day Mr.
Slmonson. the late Speaker Of tho House
Of Representative. presented me pro
tom commission. asked him whc.hor
Tho Governor viewed tie appointment rs
pledge of nv future regular nomination.
He replied IN the affirmative. and he sull
makes tho same assertion, as his letter
now in my possession shows. Capt. Cam
who understood had been consulted by
the Governor respecting the appnlntmcnt)
gave me the Same information. AT the
tinle of this transac .ion: the Governor was
IN bed OF sovore illness. Soon after he
left his room. | called on, and informed
him, that my OH Ct was 10 speak In hin on
tie subject of Tho Juigcahip that should
have done So before accepted the com
mission. had tic not been sick; that rs he
and differed IN our views OF the ob1iga-
ton resulting from the first pro tenn APP
pointnants. | felt that bad tho right
II know from him, what coul expect for
the future.
lie replied. th.t had that right; and
STAGED that. had ne not been sick AZ the
close of tho Legislature, he should have
nominated Judge Perkins and myself to
tho Senate, rs a COMPROMISE measure; thai
having been unnble 10 make tho nomina-
ton, 30 had given us the pro tenn APP
poiutmcnts upon tue same princlP.o, md
,liat he would carry out tho compromise
By nominating US 10 The next Senate, un-
less he should DO diverted from his par
pose in rcspcc. - myself. by the course
the Wings might take in tic coming can
vass for Governor. ! SAID. that Wow OF
the snhioc, left mo personally out of sight.
He replied. i, did. told him would not
consen. TO be placed in ,hat situations; that
| was not willing 10 retain his commission.
unless had some assurance OF my future
nomination: thu, the power he had rcserv-
ed Of changing his purpose upon the con-
tingencv before stated, was peculiarly IL
able 20 abuse and might be exercised IN
der almost any rrctence; that | was fully
aware 10 had not appointed mo for my
good bu, for his own; nd that would moi
consent TO DO made the means of his nc
curing strength 10 be used, Of his pleasure,
for my destruction. He said II was not
his wish to hold IN lis hands an unrcason-
able power. He then took n manuscript
from his table. uud after reading it. re-
ma rked that he intended to publish II IN
the next Sentinel. Ii was the same state
mcBt. in writing. that no had iGst made
verbally, and contained the same obIec-
tionablc reservation of n right TO chang"
his purpose with rega I'd TO mr. nomination.
! | still objected to the reservation; and at
ter considerable discussion. he agreed 20
withdraw i, and positively promised 70
+ publish tho manuscript uithou. II IN tue
next number of the Sentinel
( expressed my satisfaction with the ar
rangament, and asked if he would also
authorize me 10 say. when thought prop
er. that il was his unqualified intention TO
nominate me 10 tho mex. Senate. lie
gave mo that authority. ] said was con-
tent and left him. Tho Governor. how
ever, did not make the publication. as he
had promised. in the next. or any other
number of the Sentinel.
| There was no third person present at
this interview. but the truth of the state
men, which have made. does not rest en-
treiv on my word. In May last. gen.
tIeman. whom had informed Of the Gov
ornor's pledge, told him expected the
nomination. The Governor replied that
/ he had not given me an EXPRESS pledge.
bu. admitted that he had said 10 mo what
gave me right TO EXPECT tho nomination.
and that ne did not intend | should be dis
appointed.
Thus stood the maiter ut the COM
mencement of the present session of the
! legislature. During the first week of the