The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-26


he ntness Of characters TO ali ofees the comparative
claims from the former merits and ausrngs in service
pointmsnts in Is equal . proportion might be to
belonging to the deren mt States In the non
without precautions Of this kind, clearly forssaw
the endless jealouses, and possibly the fatal oonse
quences, to which govern depending altogether
the good will Of the people for Its establishment,
would certainly be exposed In its early stages Be-
sides thought whstsver the effect might be in pleas
ing or dspeasing any individuals ct the present mo-
ment, due concern for my own reputation, not less
community, required that should hold myself sbso
utely at liberty to act, while In Office with sole refe
to justice and the public good" In practice, he
verified these declarations acting In every with
perfect independence looking first to the national in
terests and next to the best Of promoting them
and admitting no other ground of between
candidates whcee pretensons in other respects
equal than that Of former efforts sacrifices in
ing their country
Ertract Of Letter from General Washington to Ed
pard Rutledge, dated New York, Nay 9Th, 1889.
anticipate that Of the most difficult and deli
cate parts Of the duties Of my Office will be that which
Though nom q syss which have prescribed to my.
self, say nothing decisive particular appoint
ments yet may be allowed to observe in general that
candidate brought forward for every office, with
such clear pretensions to secure him sgsnst COM
petition.
Erfraet of Letter from General Washington to Mrs.
Mary Wooster, (,cidow of General Wooster, pho died
Of rounds received an action pth the British, at
Danbury, .aprfll777D dasd New York, Nay 81, 1889
sth day Of this month Sympathizing with you, as
do In the great misortunes which have befalen your
family in consequence of the war my feelings Is
individual would forcbly prompt me to do everything
In my power to repair those msfortunes But as
public man. acting only with reference to the public
good must te allowed to decide upsn all points OF
my duty without consulting my private incline tons
and wishes. must be permitted with the best lights
can obtain, and upon general view Of characters
and circumstances to nominate such persons alone to
Offices, ~ in my judgment shall be the best qualified
to discharge the of the to which
decisive TO the applications of any candidates.
Whatsoever Nor would IL be proper for me, before Of
fces eha be created and before can have general
knowledge Of the competitors for them to say any
thing that might be construed intended to
rage or discourage the hopes which individuals may
have formed of success / only wish, so far as my
agency in this bust is concerned that
for office would themselves the trouble and
quent expense Of personal attendance All that re-
quire is the and such testimonials with respect
TO Abilities integrity and fitness 1t may be in the
power of the several applicants to produce Beyond
this nothing with me Is necessary or viii be Of any
beg you will be persuaded madam, that let the result
be whatever it may can have interest to promote
but that Of the public
E1t,act ofa Letter from General Warrington to David
Stuart, dated Nep York, July 26. 1889.
Nothing would give me more pleasure than to
whose merits, whe living, no man could entertain
higher opinion than did At the same time, must
confess there few persons Of whom have per-
sona knowledge or good information, that would
take into my family, where many qualifications are
necessary to fit them for the duty of it. to wit good
address abilities above mediocrty secrecy and pru.
dence attention and industry, good temper and
pacity md disposition to write correctly and to do it
oblgipgy. Mort clerkships will presume either by
law or custom, be left to the appointment of their
principals in Office Little expectation, therefore,
could Mr. Nelson other stranger have from this
source This latter consideration added to the desire
feel of serving the son of my old friend and
lance, has induced me, at all hazards, to offer Mr..
Thomas Nelson, his son, place in my family
Extract of a Letter from General Washington to
Rack o. 90
You cannot doubt my wishes to you appointed to
any office Of honor or emoument in the govern
ment, to the duties of which you are competent but
however deserving you may be Of the one you have
suggested your standing at the bar would not justify
my nomination of you Attorney to the Federal Dis
trict Court in preference to Of the Oldest and
most esteemed general court lawyers in your own
State, who are DESTROYS Of this appointment. My po-
htcal conduct in nominations, even If we're unin-
fuepced by principle. must be exceedingly circum-
spect and proof against just crtesm for the eyes Of
Argus are upon me- and no slip will pass unnoticed,
that can be improved into supposed partially for
friends or relatives
Ertraet Of Letter from General Washington to Jame'
Madison, dated New York, .4ugust 10, 1889
My socitude for drawing the first characters Of the
Union into the judiciary is such that my cogitatons
on this subject last night after parted with you have
almost determined me, As well for the just
soften the disappointmen,. Of smaller ohsrsctsrs to
nominate Mr. Blair and Col. Pendietou AZ Associate
the Attorney General trustins to their scoeptsnoe
Ertract of letter from General Warrington to Joseph
Jones, dated Nep York, Nov 30, 1889.
In every nomination to office, have endesvored,
as far as my own knowledge extended, or informa-
ton could be obtained, to make fitness Of cha
racter my primary object. II, with this, the
bipsd, it has been with an additional inducement
to the appointment. By these principles in proper
degree, have been Influenced in the Of Mr. Grit
I'm, who is not only out Of Office and in want Of the
Of but has been deprived of the former
by my means ' and is now entirely out
Of employment. This circumstance, added to the
Of n "a dam n ~
having filled an important Office in the Union In the
line of it, and being besides man Of competent abb
Titles and Of pure character, weighed with me in the
choice [Mr Griffin was appointed District Judge Of
the United States in Virginia
Eztract of letter from General Washington TO Ed
mund Randolph, dated 30th Nor 1859.
For, having in every appointment endesvored, as
far as my own knowledge of characters extended or
information could be obtained to select the nttest
pain If Mr. Wythe or any Of his friends should
conceive that he has been passed by from improper
ties which shall bias me in favor Of any one If err
then my errors will be Of the head, and not Of the
heart.
Extract Of letter from General Washington TO Wm.
FYtz hugh, dated New York, Path Dec ,1789.
In appointing persons to office, and more especially
In the Judicial department, my views have been much
in their country not only from impression Of their
services but upon consideration that they had been
tried and that a reader confidence would be placed
In them by the public than others perhaps Of equal
merit, who had never been proved.
Extract of letter from General Washington to JOHN
armstrong, dated Philadelphia, 9Th Feb, 1871.
Having, in all cases Of application for appointment
to Office, prescribed as an invariable rule, to myself
the right Of remaining to the last moment free aud
unepesged, did not find myself at liberty, even in
your regard to deviate from that rule; which youiw
be so coed as to assign the reason why did not
answer your letter Of last spring have the best dis
portion to serve the person whom you then recon-
mended; and in whatever may comport with circum-
stances and public propriety shall be happy to do
At present ] know not what Offices may be created,
and applicants multiply with every new Office, and
some Of them come forward under such fair pre-
tensions and pressing wants that preference 10 diff
cult and painful to degree. In word, to man WI o
has ends TO serve friends to provide for, nom-
nation to Office is the most irksome part of the
ecutive trust.
Here is the chart of the President elect. Will
all the office. seekers, from Dan to Beresheba,'
go TO work and calculate their chances from these
elements, before they disturb the old hero with