The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-08
from the common doom Of her sister nation, sy
the interrogation Of ths protecting hand Of the
| TTu.4al ctatac

United States.
The New PosrMAsrER GENEa.L-The Hon.
James Campbell, of Pennsylvania, selected by
Gen. Pierce to preside OF er the Post Office Depart
ment, will, We do not hesitate to predict, prove
one of the best selections that could have been
made for that important post. 1t is getting to
be the most laborious department of the govern
ment, with its thirty thousand appointments,
and its constantly increasing patronage, i'm.
provements, and the accommodating wants OF the
whole community The public interests per
tanning to it are eminently progressive; and
they are interests, too, about which the American
peopleare perhaps more tenacious than those con-
nected with. and controlled by, any other branch
Of the government. To administer its duties
with success and general satisfaction requires
constant vigilance, untiring industry, much
legal knowledge and experience, and in its
practical aspects frmness of purpose, well tenn
pered with courtesy Of manner and sound dis
erection. Upon the discreet or indiscreet manage
ment of this department. greatly depends the
popularity or unpopularity Of the entire ad-
ministration. The important experiment of low
postage as well as other matters Of reform, rem
ders it peculiarly irresponsible post at this time,
requiring energy. close application, and an en-
lghtened policy on the part of its official head.
Judge Campbell is not perhaps so extensively
known throughout the country as some other
gentlemen who might have been selected, the
official positions which he has heretofore occu-
pied not having been such as to bring him con-
spicuously before the nation at large. But. as
a prominent member Of the bar Of his own
| State, and as Judge, and, in fact, in every
station of responsibility in which he has been
placed, he has discharged his duties with ability
and great fidelity. In all business transactions
he is straightforward and prompt, with frank
and pleasing address, and constitution which
even the hard and incessant labor of that de-
partmcnt cannot easily impair.
As politician, Judge C. is distinguished for
his sound Judgment and keen sagacity, guided
by an honest desire to know and treat the whole
democratic party of the country as one COM
mon family so long as they stand by the great
and essential principles upon which the new
administration came into power.
In the brief sketches of the individuals who
compose the cabinet, given in the HERALD
few days since that of Judge Campbell was
very brief, and in some respects inaccurate.
The following facts may be relied on as cor
rect
The father of the new Postmaster General
emigrated from the North of Ireland towards
the close of the last century. The subject Of
hnr in fha Nv IF
delpha 1913, and is consequently about 80
| years of age. He was admitted to the bar in
1884, at the age of 81 after one of the best legal
trainings. When 20 years old he was appointed
Judge of the Common Pleas Court of Phila-
delphia city and county, the most important
tribunal in the State, next to the Supreme
Court. He was nine years in that responsible
station and by his close attention to its duties
his rigid impartiality, and the soundness of his
decisions, reflected much credit on his native
county; and when the constitution Of the State
was changed, making the Judiciary elective, he
was nominated for one of the Judges of the Su-
preme Court by vote Of more than two-thirds
of the delegates Of convention distinguished
for its legal abilities, and composed of many of
the soundest and most reliable men of the
State. Native Americanism formed an ele
ment in the election, and he was defeated, not
withstanding he received 10000 votes, being
larger democratic vote than was ever before
polled in the State at any preceding election,
and being about 5000 larger than the vote
polled last fall. for the democratic candidates
for Judges of the Superior Court.
In January, 1852, he was appointed, by Go
vernon Bigler, Attorney General Of the State of
Pennsylvania, which Office he held till called by
General Pierce to a seat in his cabinet.