The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-01-12
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

In April, 1885, the President ap-
pointed William A. Vincent Chief Jus
tIce of the Territory of New Mexico
and in November of the same wear he
was removed. The Judge came to
Washington, where he learned that the
charge against him was the appoint
ment of Stephen w. Dorsey to be iurv
commissioner. The Judge wrote a
. long letter to the President, complain
ing of the injustce done him, and the
latter had now taken action in the mat
ter as the subsequent correspondence
will show:
EXECUTIVE MANSION. WASHINGTON,
January s, 1889.
Hon William a. TIncent:
Dear Sir-I have always said TO your
friends that your removal from the Office of
judge for the Territory of New Mexico did
not Imply any charge or conviction of dis.
honesty in the capacity of your judicial
conduct. In the condition of affairs at that
timeI deemed it my duty to promptly pursue
the course so unfortunate for you, and
which was adopted by me on the mere
showing ofthe fact alleged, without inquiry
as to your motives and purposes Nv
action was unfairly harsh but thought il
was justifia5la. Often since thai time, as al
facts attending the incident have become
known to me, and as | reflected on your
otherwise uneXceptional official career, SO
far as it has come TO my knowledge, I have
been impressed by the repre- entations of
your friends that your removal has sub
Jected you to a suspicion which was unjust
ana unWarranted. So far asI am concerned
notwithstand all that has passed, l am at
this time willing to express my confidence
in your ability and uprightness. There is
now a vacancy in the Chief Justiceship
OF Montana, and so far as regards
your fitness l should be entirely willing to
see you in that place. I write to ask YOU
therefore, whether, in case l should think
1t well to do so. ! am at liberty to submit
your name to the Senate for that office.
make this proposition with a reservation,
for reasons not in the least connected with
your personal qualifications, and shall be
glad TO know your views on the subject as
soon as convenient Yours truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
To this Vincent to-day replied as fol-
lows:
WASHINGTON, D C. January IL
SjT-Your letter of the S5h inst, tender |
ing me The position of chief jul tice OF Mon |
tana, reached methe day before yesterday, |
and received my careful consideration. l |
am grateful for this expression of your con- !
fdence and esteem, and accept the tender |
of this important Office as q complete Vindi- |
cation of my course while chief justice in |
New Mexico. The act tor which you re-
moved me was taken in the exercise of my
Judicial discretion after the utmost delib.
Grafton, dictated by the purest and best of
motives. Owing to the unfortunate condi-
Jion of affairs in Colfax County at
that time. 1t was an absolute necessity
IN order to restore peace and good order,
and the result justified my method of OBJ.
tanning that end, and D. owed it to have been
the best and only one that could be adopted.
! have always believed when you under
took the matter you would treat me in a
manly and generous manner, as suggested
IN your communication TO me While I
nave high appreciation of the honor yen
would do me, am reluctantly constrained
to refuse the use of my name for Judge in
Montana, for the reason that 1 could not,
without making the greatest sacrifice,
abandon my home and other interests in
new Mexico, where have resided for seven
years and expect to remain permanently.
Very respectfully,
WILLIAM A. VINCENT
To The President, Executive Mansion.