The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-02
SENATOR GORDON.
HIS GOOD EXAMPLE IN REFUSING TO LET HIS
SON ACCEPT GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENT.

| Washington Correspondence st. Louis Times
The country is already quite pleasantly
familiar with the name of John B. Gordon, OF
Georgia, erstwhile fighting Lieutenant Gen.
| eral Of the COntederacy, and now thoroughly
| reconstructed Senator of the United States.
Perhaps it is too much to Say that in the char.
acter of John B Gordon is embraced more
| true manhood and genuine honor than can
be found in any other man holding importan,
position in the government; but it Is not too
much to say that in these particulars he is not
| excelled by any citizen of the United States
| either in public or private life.
| Gen. Gordon is not rich. On the other
hand his circumstances are so moderate that
he finds it necessary to cut his corners pretty
| closely to avoid a deficit in his domestic &C.
counts at the end of each year Large-hearted
| and hospitable enough to spend the income
of duke if he e, joyed it, this gallant gentle
| man is compelled to restrict his impulses OF
generosity to the limits OF very little, if any
thing, beyond his Senatorial salary. He has
large family, the eldest of whom, Hugh
! Gordon, is young man of much promise and
great am bitlon, now engaged in the study OF
law here in Washington. The necessity OF
strict economy under which his fathr labors
| is serious EN- Embarrassment to the young man,
and compels him to forego many Of the com.
| monest pleasures Of lite.
| Last year the Se-geant-at Arms, Mr. French,
| a gentleman whose excellent impulses have
| frequently suggested to me that he was in the
wrong pew politically, and ought to join the
| balance of good fellows who make up the
bulk of the Democracy, learned of the en-
| barrassments under which young Gordon la
bored. Approaching the sterling qualities of
, the young man, and full of praiseworthy
desire to assist him, no less for his own than
for his fathers sake, Mr.. French went outside
| of the regul,tio OF his party caucus and
| rendered to Hugh position in the Senate
chamber which would pay about $3.50 d
year, and the duties of which could be dis
charged without seriously curtailing his OPP
portunties tor prosecuting his legal studies
The young man was about to accept Of the
position, when Senator Gordon learned Of it,
The Senator Immediately sought Mr.
French and told him he could not consent to
the arrangement
"God bless you, Mr.. French, for your kind
intentions" said the Senator, but | can not
consent to have my son pensioned on the
government. Do not imagine that object to
the arrangement you have been SO kind as to
offer upon merely partisan grounds. 1t is not
because this position is offered to my son by
Republican officer that l object to his ac-
ceptance OF It.
doctrine that Senator's son should be Ell
titled to any consideration, and because eau
not sanction any approach, however indirect
or remote, to Iepotism. My own resources,
though limited, are sufficient to enable my
son to complete his studies, and if by reason
of my com parative lack of resources he should
be compelled to observe economy and frugal
ity. it will be no disadvantage to him in the
long run"
So the appointment was withdrawn.
When Mr.. Fitzhugh was chosen doorkeeper
of the House, it occurred to him that he
would now have an opportunity to reclpro-
cate, in part at least, the many kindnesses OF
which he had been the recipient at the hands
of mis- old Confederate commander, Gen
Gordon, in times past and gone He knew OF
the situation Of young Hugh Gordon, and
also of the fact that the Senator had objected
TO his acceptance OF the appointment from
Mr French. But he thought the same objec.
ton would not prevail as to positions within
the gift of the Democratic party, especially
since in this case the place is no. in tn
branch OF the government W tn which the
Senate is connected. So Fitzhugh rendered
Hugh Gordon one Of the best places III his
gift, and the young man asked his fathers
consent to accept it.
"Write immediately to Col Fitzhugh, my
son." replied Senator Gordon, land thank
aim for his consideration. And say, Ia addition
that by reason of circumstances over which
you have no control, it would be improper for
you to accept any appointive Office under the
auspices of any political party. And to settle
this matter, once for all, let it be understood
that SO long as hold position OF trust and
influence by virtue of the sutfrages Of the
legislative representatives of the people OF
Georgia, you can not accept any appointm ent
Whatever. the people of Georgia should
ever require your services they will signify
the fact by electing you to the position they
may desire you to ill. But the fact that they
have chosen me to represent them in the Sen
ate does no; signify that they require your
services in any capacity"
So this appointment was declined l repeat
that in this era OF scramble for Office, and Of
shameless nepo,ism in all branches of the
government, this little episode in the career
of the Georgi. Senator stands ont in pod ard
striking relief, and should be set up as an
example for all our public Servants TO initiate.
Men who confronted the division tina! Gordon
led twelve years ago do not need to be told
that he was a soldier fit to rank with l. .nnes, |
Soult or Massena. And those who have been
honored by his acquaintance since do not re.
quire assurance that he IS a man and gen. |
tleman OF the purest aQd roblest type extant
in the prest u, or of record IN history
But as there are great many people in the
North who never resisted his charge in battle |
or grasped his hand IN social intercourse, | |
have reclted this little anecdote that they |
may form some idea of the character of the |
man. | sometimes wonder at the fexbiiity |
of these political institutions which seat men |
like John B Gordon alongside of John Logan |
and Simon Cameron, and John Shearman |
Nipple Mitchell, and Spencer and John J. |
Patterson, representing, as they do, all grades |
of human depraviIy, from dishonesty to |
felony, and all stages of human degradation, |
from tue discreditable to the infamous.
Vaults of the InuuisitiOn at Rome.
The inquisition at Rome has recently been