The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-03-26
CRAwFORDsvILLE, IND.
March 81, 1867.

DEAR SIRs: An editorial IN your
paper of the 18th instant. does me
great injustice, unintentionally, /
hope. The editorial is entitled, i the
milk in the cocoanut, in which it is
stated, in substance, that Mr.. John
son has appointed me Commissioner
to adjust the compensation to the 10y
al owners of slaves who enlisted in
the army; and the inference drawn
from that appointment is that it in
duced me to procure the confirmation
of a long list of Copperheads to the
best offices In the State of Indiana.
This editorial must have been writ
ten under misapprehension of all
the facts in the case. | have never
sought, or desired, any appointment
from the President, of any kind or de-
scription whatever, or received any
such appointment. Three days after
the adjournment of the last
session of Congress, Mr. Stan,
ton rendered to me the appoint
ment referred to. Under the
law. the appointment was to be made
by Mr.. Stanton, and the President
had nothing whatever to do with it
/ do not suppose that he knows that
1T 8. has been made After Il
returned home, L received the
appointment made out by Secre-
tary Stanton, and Immediately declin-.
ed it, on account Of my private BUSH
ness. never had word with Mr..
Stanton on the subject of this appoint
ment; but the fact that the Secretary
had directed my appointment was
communicated to me by Col. Foster,
Assistant Adjutant General, and told
him that / would much rather the See
rotary would appoint some one else;
but, if found could discharge the
duties of the place with advantage to
the Government, and without serious
Inconvenience, / would do so. But,
from the reason above stated, | was
compelled to decline it. So far from
being lucrative place, the emolu-
ments of the Office would only have
furnished very moderate support for
myself and family, while engaged in the.
discharge of its duties. No one who
knows me would insinuate that my
action in the Senate was controlled in
the slightest degree by any hope of
Office from the President / have
never intimated to a single human be-
ing that desired, or would accept,
any Office under the present "A dminis-
tration, and the insinuation in the ed
.itorial above referredto is utterly un-
true. noa : --aai .ss.a gs.s sss.s''es.t
10 / desire to state now few facts in
reference to the combinations and re-
jections of appointees Ia Indiana. The
appointment of Collectors, Assessors,
and Postmasters regarded as local.
and to be controlled by the Rcpubli-
can members of Congress from their
several districts and / counseled
With them in reference to all these
appointments, except the appoint
merit of Postmaster at Indianapolis, |
which i regarded as State appoint
ment, and which had been SO regard
ed by all administrations, Democratic |
and Republican and the appoint-
ment at Shelbyville; and in reference
to that appointment, had no oppor-
tulity to consult the member from,
the district, and [ decided on that an
pointment as [ thought right under
all the circumstances. gsE401 -sfea
So far as [ know, or have heard,
the Republican members are perfect.
ly satisfied with my action in the
matter. In reference to the confirm
alton, of MI. Whittlesey, as1 Deputy
Postmaster at Evansville II have
only this to say That if / could have
retained Mr. McNeely as Fostmas-
ter, | should certainly have done SO.
But he had been appointed in the re-
cess OF Congress, and his name had
not been sent tothe Senate for con-
firmation., and, under the Constitu-
ton, his nomination fell withIthe adj
journment of Congress. I had no /
power to compel his ssrenomination,
and had only to act on such nominee
as the Department sent to the SEN
ate. On Sunday morning, the last
day OF the session, between and 2
o'clock, the President sent to |
the Senate the names of over. thirty
Deputy Postmasters* for con6rma-
ton or rejection, and I had about /
half an hour to determine upon them, /
as the Whole matter was referred to
me by the Committee of Post Offices
and Rostroads. Il immediately con- 1
ferred with the Republican members.
as to the appointments in their Dis
trlcts, and In every. instance carried
out their wishes, except in the case of
Shelbyville, where I had no opDortu-
nifty to consult the member, and I am
happy to know that the Repu blican
members are jentirely satisfied with
my action as to these appointments
There being no Republican, member |
from the First District had to de-
eide that matter without consulta-
ton. l had known Mr.. Whittlesey.t:
slightly for several years / sup
posed ehe was a sDemocrat-that
he had not abandoned his partysfor