The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-16
PosTN4STER GENERAL NOR

Prom the Washington oorrespondonce Of ae PA 'adel.Ala Unted
STATES Gazgue, March III
No division Of sentiment exists here as 10 the 6fnsss
and excellence Of Mr.. Hollis appointment as Postmaster
General. Only a single carping exception l. heard Ia
this sense OF general approval, which Is that he Is no
politician reason which will the moro commend hi
selection 10 the country, and the better enable him m
grasp the complications and -erntarmssments that he has
TO encounter at the outset. While holding decided pont,
Teal opinions, and conforming his action consistently
with them, Mr.. Holt has not been regarded either a.
partisan, in the strong sense Of that term, or as an am.
bilious manager, bent only upon personal elevation or
success His past career has been identified with The
bar, where he acquired fame as am orator and jurist Ia ths
southwest, and that sort of distinction in the profession
which enabled him to retire from IL la the full maturity
Of his powers, with all the conceded honors which a n6.
time has not often achieved. After Withdrawing from
practice he travelled Ia Europe several years, and then
yettled in Kentucky among bis own kindred and connex.
ions 10y marriage, both Of the families being among the
Oldest and most distinguished stock of the State.
He was invited by Mr. Buchanan 20 take the commits.
sionership Of patents, and reluctantly yielded TO the so.
%licitations OF friends, who knew his value and rare abil.
ties. In that responsible office he acquired a reputation
never surpassed by any predecessor, and his opinions
stand out from the ordinary routine as examples OF clear
and perspicuous reasoning and beauty OF diction which
give relief to that dreary monotony which pervales OH.
cal documents. My attention was first attracted to his
remarkable powers by accidentally reading his iustidea
ton for extending an India rubber patent, Ia which the
whole range of art, inventors, and their rewards, was
treated with a mastery skin and culture which at once
csetbii'ueu ms position mere WIFI those VINO, like myself
only knew him through this public medium.
MIR. Holt has all the qualities which tit him for this
large responsibility, and will doubtless distinguish him
self In a department which, since the time Of Judge Nc
Lean-who went out of IL with increased popularity-has
been a milestone around every mans neck who ever held
IL. Applying To IL the powers of investigation and judg-
ment which he is said 10 possess, with the capacity which
Is admitted on all sides, he cannot fail to truce back many
Of the errors of a system which have grown to be abuses
by the mere force of habit, and to apply the knife freely
atterward. Possessing industry, energy, elevation OF pnr-
pose, and the highest integrity, with a consciousness of
the hard task before him, and the knowledge that he
alone must bear the burden, no small considerations Of
party will be apt to induce him to defer to It's selfish ex.
actions anything that can conflict with the public inter
est, or to make one concession which will he an obstacle
to ultimate success. The President was most fortunate
in this selection, and Mr.. Holt will begin his duties with
the fullest confidence of the country, and a generous fol-.
bearance ON the part of those who appreciate the many
and trying difficulties he has to confront.