The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-05-20
THE DAYS OF OLD.

sneer at those simple-minded folks
who pensively" look at the past, and
who think there were once better days
and better men than it il our lot now
TO look upon, yet one cannot help
sometimes turning over the leaves Of
those obsolete records and getting
from them--what comfort we may -
There was once on time a man
named George Washington, whom a
foolish orator-of course, from the
benighted South-said would always
be first in the hearts Of his country
men," never dreaming OF the unborn
Lincoln, or, any other Ulysses than
him of Ithaca. He was soldier who
never shed drop Of unnecessary
blood. He was President who,
when q house WAS offered to him-not
by set Of obsequious tuft-hunting
fatterers (such never ventured near
him), but by commonwealth-re-
fused il, aad who did not think that
the patronage of the government was
OF unseated land, on which all the
adult settlers OF his own family were
to find a home. He never pensioned
relative and never packed court.
Looking at his-this Washington s
record, We find some curious things
as relatives and Judges" which
it is refreshing to read in the light Of
the present dispensation. Washing
ton married widow. and we believe
had no brothers-in- law certainly no.
body married into the family in order
to Operate" through the connection;
and, while there was about that time
good deal of speculation in the funds
none of his pet soldiers were caught
dabbling in it and dismissed from of
fee. He did not select as his advisers
those who had given him the best
douceurs. He chose men OF reasona-
bly, good character to represent the
country abroad, and did not think it
necessary, on the homeopathic princi-
pie of ''simiiia simii,bus," TO send to
the dissolute Bourbon court of the
Escurial an adept. But, though child
less, he had one who stood to him in
the place of son-a nephew, Bushrod
Washington-who, as a youth, had
fought in the battles Of the Revolu-
ton. and who was destined in later
life (appointed by another President)
to be, for more than thirty years, at
the right hand of John Marshall, q
pillar of the Federal Judiciary. Soon
after the first Presidents induction to
Office, Mr.. Washington. a young Vir-
ginia lawyer, made modest application
to his uncle to be appointed District
Attorney for the Eastern Federal Dis
trict Of that then unmutilated COM
monwealth. 1t WAS moderate re-
quest. diffidently made. On the 9th
of July, 17s9-we give the date. in
order that President Grant may refer
to it in case any more of the family
are troublesome-George Washington
replied:
You cannot doubt my wishes 10 rec you appoint
ed 70 any ofiee Of h"n"r OF emolumeni % the du-
ties Of which you are competent, but, however
you may be Of the one you have aug
gesied. your standing at th. bar would not just-
~ my nom ination Of you. In preference 10 some Of
the oldest and most esteemed general court law
yers Of your State who are dcsirous Of this A-
pointmsus- Ny political conduct in nominate
even " we're unnaurnced by principle. must be
exceeding y eireumEpect and proof against just
for the eyes Of Argus arc upon me. and
no alp will pas, unnotieed that can DO improved
INTO a supposed partiali,y for frisnds and rcla-
tives.
And Washington hesitated, ac-
the force of "just criti-
cism, ventured, great and pure as he
was, on no defiance of public opinion,
and refused. 1t is only, as we are
told, a different sort of people who
+" rush in where angles fear to tread.
So much for nepotism in ancient daysl
Now for the Judiciary. When a
vacancy occurs in our time on any
bench, and especially the Federal
bench, great is the agitation of the
heart. Every lawyer in
the land of the dominant party thinks
fit, and every coterie of poll
tics is in disturbance. If the chance
presents itself at moment, as now,
when vast pecuniary and corporate in
terests are on the edge on the igita-
ton, new element, of agitation is
invoked, and great aggregation of
debtors take the field to in
fuence, generally with success, the
How was it in ancient
days, when we were as brothers." in
the brave days Of old"s In the month
of May, 1881, Washington then Pres
ident, vacancy occurred in the Su-
preme Court of the United States
To two citizens of South Carolina
(all honor to the memories of her
classic times still hallowing the men
of to-day)-Edward Rutledge and
Chas. Cotesworth Pinckney-the Pres
ident addressed the following most
letter:
GEsrLEsEs: An address to you jointly on
subject of tho following nature may have a sin
gular appearance; but that sngularity will not
exceed the evidence which is hereby given of my
opinion Of and confidence in you. and Of tho opin-
ion entertain of your confidence and friendship
Tor each other. The office lately resigned by Mr.
John kutledge, in the Supreme Judiciary of the
Union, remains to be filed, viii either Of you
which of your OF my sincere esteem and regard
for you both wish you be persuaded that am,
yours truly, GEORGE WASHINGTON.
May 2, 1891.
And, strangest of alone reads
this as Niebuhb did the Roman le-
gends-they both declined the offer,
giving as reason that they could bet
ter serve their country, and the Fed
eral Union too, in the State Legisla-
ture OF which they were members
Musing, pensively" or not, on this
forgotten incident OF our ancient story,
characteristic alike of him who gave
and those who received this mark of
confidence, may we not be excused
for sorrowing over the contrast of the
past and the present? Where is the