Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-03-25
TERMS OF ADvnRTmmG.
From the Washington Correspondence of the Philadelphia
United States Gazette, March Ii.
Postmaster General Holt.


No division Of sentiment exists here to the fitness
and excellence of Mr.. Holts appointment Postmaster
General Only single carping exception is heard to
this sense OF general approval which is that he is
poitcian-a reason which win the more commend his
selection to the country and the better enable him to
grasp the complications and embarrasments that he has
to encounter at the outset. While holding decided pot
ical opinions and conforming his action consistently
with them Mr. Holt has not been regarded either a
partisan in the strong of that term as
bilious msager bent only upon personal elevation or
success Ills past has been identified with the
bar where he acquired fame orator and jurist in
the southwest and that sort of distinction in the pros
sion which enabled him to retire from it in the full ma
turty of his powers, with all the conceded honors which
a lifetime has not often achieved After withdrawing
from practice he travelled in Europe several years. and
then settled in Kentucky among his own kindred and
connexions by marriage, both of the families being
among the Oldest and most distinguished stock OF the
State.
He was invited by Mr.. Buchanan TO take the COM
mssionershp of patents and reluctantly yielded to the
solicitations of friends who knew his value and rare ab[
ities In that responsible Office he acquired reputation
never surpassed by any predecessor and his opinions
stand out from the ordinary routine examples of clear
and perspcuous reasoning and beauty of dction which
give relief to that dreary monoony which pervades OIL
cal documents My attention first attracted to his
remarkable powers by accidentally reading his ustca
ton for extending India rubber patent in which the
whole range of art inventors and their rewards was
established his position here with those who like myself
only knew him through this public medium.
Mr.. Holt has all the qualities which fit him for this
large responsibility, and will doubtless distinguish him.
self il department which, since the time OF Judge Nc
Lean-who went out Of it with increased popularity
has been milestone around every mans neck who ever
held it. Applying to it the powers of investigation and
Judgment which he is said to possess with the capacity
which is admitted all Sides he cannot fail to trace
back many of the errors of system which have grown
to be abuses by the force of habit and to apply the
knife freely afterward. Possessing industry energy ele
vation of purpose and the highest integrity with
sciousness of the hard task before him. and the know
ledge that he alone must bear the burden small
siderations Of party will be apt to induce him to defer
to its selfish exactons anything that conflict with
the public interest, to make concession which will
be obstacle to ultimate success The President
most fortunate in this selection and Mr. Holt will begin
his duties with the fullest confidence of the country and
generous orbearance the part of those who appre
cate the many and trying difficulties he has to confront