The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-20
that he did not wish the appointment for his

that he did not wish the appointment for his
son, it could be revoked.
Subsequently the fact communicated,
both to the PRESIDENT and the SECRETARY,
that Mr. MILLER had recently had son APP
pointed to the Naval School, and, on inquiry, it
was ascertained that such was the fact. The
PRESIDENT then concluded that he had proba-
bly, abandoned the idea of urging the appoint
ment of his son to the Military Academy, and
requested the SECRETARY OF WAR to examine
which of the other applicants was best entitled
to the appointment.
The report was that there was nothing on
file in relation to either young BAYARD or Will
LET'S but letters from their respective fathers;
that no person had spoken to him about young
WILLETTs, and the Secretary knew nothing
| about him; but that young BAYARD was warm
| ly recommended by Senator STOCKTON as one
whom he knew personally, and for whom he
vouched as well qualified and highly deserving.
The PRESIDENT therefore determined to ap-
point him, and Senator STOCKTON was informed
of that fact.
Some days after this Senator MILLER re-
turned to the city, and called upon the SECRE-
TARr of WAR, in consequence Of the note he
had received from the latter. The SECRETARY
told him what the business was on which he
wished TO see him, hut added that it was no
longer necessary, as the PRESIDENT had de-
termlned to appoint young BAYARD. MIR.
MILLER expressed great dissatisfaction at
this, and alluded to his sons not being APP
pointed. The SECRETARY remarked that his
sons name did not even appear on the list of
applicants prepared at the Engineer Office.
Mr.. MILLER expressed some surprise at this.
| The SECRETARY asked him whether he had made
any application at the Department for his son IS
appointment this year. Mr.. MILLER said he had
made written application last year, and had
called at the Engineer Office and requested the
Chief Engineer to consider that application as
renewed for the present year. The SECRETARY
Informed him that this had not been done.
| Upon inquiry, it was ascertaned that, by a
clerical error in the Engineer Office, this
had been omitted. The SECRETARY told him,
however, that his sons not receiving the
appointment was not owing to this omis-
| that he had spoken to him on the subject, and
that the appointment would certainly have
been conferred on his son had not another son
of his been recently appointed to the Naval
School. Mr.. MILLER said that he did not COM
plain Of his sons not being appointed on the
contrary, he thought that, under the circum-
stances, the PRESIDENT had acted correctly in
not appointing him; but expressed regret that
young WLLETTs had not received the ap-
| polntment, and spoke in high terms of the ia
Their Of that young man gentleman of fine
character, and as having strong claims the
Administration. The SECRETARY asked him, if
such were the fact, how it happened that nei
Their he, nor any of his colleagues in either
! House, nor any of the citizens Of the State,
| Except the father OF the young man himself, }
had ever written or spoken one word in his ia
vor, either to the PRESIDENT or to himself,
and how he could be expected to know who
Mr.. WLLETTs was Mr.. MILLER said that
he had signed letter recommending that
young man, and that it was left in the
hands Of one Of the Representatives of the
State, to be transmitted to the Department
Search was Immediately made in the Engineer
Office for this document, but it was not to be
found. Mr.. MILLER said that the person who
had charge oft had probably forgotten to send
it, but that he would see that il was sent up
Immediately. The SECRETARY told him that il
was useless TO send it now, as both the PREsI-
DENT and himself were committed to Mr..
STOCKTON to appoint young BAYARD, and could
not with propriety appoint another. The next
day letter was received from the Hon. Mr..
BRowS, transmitting several recommendations
for the appointment Of young WmLErTs; 10
which letter the following answer was returned:
"WAR DErARTmKsr,
"WAsHISoroS, March 20, 1852.
"SR have the honor TO acknov ledge the re-
ccipt Of your letter enclosing recommendations for
the appointment Of J. Howard willcits "a a cadet
Mt large, and, in reply, am sorry to inform you
that the appointments made two da We sincc
Every respectfully, your obcdient servant,
&C. NJ. CONRAD,
Secretary Of War.
81 Hon. G. II. BRowS,
House Of Representatives.
As the PRESIDENT has on more than one oc-
casion manifested his high regard for the
Wings Of New jersey, and as the facts In this
case show that it is neither from want of re-
spect to them nor their Representatives in
Congress that this appointment was made. we
shall doubtless best subserve the interest Of the
Wing party by simply stating the facts as we
have done, and leave it to an impartial commu
nifty to determine whether the President did
right or wrong in making the appointment he
did.
As to the suggestion in the letter Of the hon.
orable Senator, that we had spoken disparaging-
ly Of the Wines Of New Jersey, he would
have thereby done us great injustice had it not
been that the republication of our paragraph
carried with it the correction of the error. Our
remarks applied distinctly to the writer in the
8tias, whom we should reluctantly believe to
be new New Jersey Wing.
The Public Printing.
a. l.. A. + Il