Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-16
DECLINED WITH THANKS
VINCENT and THE CHIEF
JUsTTCEsHIP OF MONTANA.

..r.s,,up Correspondence Between
President Cleveland and Judge YIN
cent-The Laster's Removal from TIN
chief justices Position I'm New Mex
,co-The President Apologies fol
Having Done So.
WAsHlsaroK, January 11.-In April
1885. the President appointed William A
Vincent Chief Justice oil the territory q
New Mexico, and in November Of the sam
wear he was removed. The judge came 70
washinyton. where he learned that the
,ho roe auainst him was the appointment
- stephen w. Dorsey to be jury commis-
sioner. The judge wrote q long letter 70
the President, complaining OF the inlustice
done him, and the latter has o taken
action in the matter, as the ~subjoined cor.
r~espoudence will show:
cLEvELAND,s LETTER TO VINCENT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, Janu-
nary 8. 1ss9.-Hon. VIM. A. Vincent
Dear Sir:-I have always said to your
friends, as well as to you, that your re-
moval from the Office OF Judge for the ter
ritory OF New Mexico did not imply any
charge or conviction of dishonesty In the
canacitv OF a iurist, or misconduct. In
.he condition OF affairs at that time 1
deemed it my duty to promptly
pursue the course so unfortu-
nate for you, and which was
adopted by me upon the mere showing 81
motives and pos Ny action was un-
fairly harsh but | thought it was Justified.
Often since chat time, as all the facts at
tendinp the incident nave become known to
me. and / reflected upon your otherwise
Unconventional official career, SO lar as It
has come to my knowledge, l ave been
pressed by your friends that your removal
has subjected you to suspicion when was
unjust and unwarranted. 80 Tar as am
concerned, Notwithstanding all that mas
nsssed. / am at this time willing to express
NV confidence in your ability and upright
ness. m.,l
There is now a vacancy in the Chief
.Justiceship OF Montana. So far as regards
your fitness, l should be entirely willing to
see you in that place. / write to ask you,
therefore. whether, in case | should think
~ well to do so, l am at liberty to submit
vonr name to the Senate Tor that ohice.
i make this proposition with reservation
reasons not in the least connected with
YOUR personal qualifications, 1 snail
be glad to know your views upon tne sud-
ject as soon as possible. yours truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
yINcENr's REPLY-HE DECLINES.
To this Vincent to-day replied as follows:
WASHINGTON, January IL, 's9.-Sir:
Your letter of the 9Th inst, rendering me
the position OF Chief Justice OF Montana,
reached me day before yesterday n has
received my careful consideration. Il
1 am graceful for this representation OF
confidence, and esteem and accept
the tender of this important office as a
complete vindication OF my course while
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court OF New
THE act for which you removed me was
in the exercise of judicial discretion
after the utmost elaboration, n was dis
claimed by the purest and best oil motives,
and owing to the unfoi tunate condition OF
affairs in Colfax county at that time, was
an absolute necessity in order to restore
peace and good order. The result Justified
nv method of attaining that end, and
proved it to have been the best and only
one that could have been adopted, and |
always believed that when you prop.
erly understood the matter you would
treat me in the maDly and generous man.
ner. suggested in your communication to
/,
While I have a high appreciation OF the
you would do me, / am reluctantly
constrained to refuse the use OF my name
Tor Chief Justice OF Montana for the rea-
son that | could not, without the greatest
sacrifice, abandon my home practice and
other interests in New Mexico. where
have resided for seven years, and expectto
permanently.
Very respectfully. [Signedl
WILLIAM A. VINCENT.
To the President, Executive Mansion.