Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-01-12
THE amENDE HONORABLE.
The President vindicates the Char'
acter of Justice Vincent.

The President vindicates the Char.
acter of Justice Vincent.
WASHINGTON, January 11.-In April.
1885, the President appointed VIM. A.
Vincent Chief Justice OF the Territory OF
New Mexico, and in November OF the
same year he was removed. The Judge
came to Washington, where he learned
that the charge against him was the ap-
pointment of Stephen w, Dorsey to be
Jury Commissioner. The Judge wrote a
long letter to the President complaining
of the injustice done him, and the latter
has now taken action in the matter as
the subjoined correspondence will show.
ExEoUTIvE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, January s, 1S89.}
Hon. VIM. 4. Vincent.
DEAR SIR-I have always said to your
friends, as we'll as to you, that your re-
moyal from the office of Judge for the
Territory of New Mexico did not in the
least imply any charge or convic-
ton of dishonesty in the capacity of
judicial misconduct. In the condi-
ton of affairs at that time l deemed it
nv duty to promptly pursue the course
Sd unfortunate for you, and which was
adopted by me upon the mere showing
of the fact alleged, without inquiry as to
your motives and purposes. My action
was unfairly harsh, but thought it was
justified. Often since that time, as all
the facts attending the incident have be-
come known to me, and as reflected
upon your otherwise unexceptional judi
-. 20 - hos fN
knowledge, l have been impressed by
the representations of your friends that
your removal has subjected you to suspi-
cion which was unjust and unwarranted.
So far as | am concerned, notwithstand-
ing all that has passed, I am at
this time willing TO express my
confidence in your ability and upright
ness. There is now vacancy in the
Chief Justiceship of Montana; so far as
regards your fitness should be entirely
willing to see you in that place. l write
to ask you, therefore, whether, in case |
should think it we'll to do 80, am at
liberty to submit your name to the Sen
ate for that Office. l make this PROPOSE
ton with reservation, for reasons not in
the least connected with your personal
qualifications, and | shall be glad to
know your views upon the subject as
soon as possible. Yours truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
To this Vincent to-day replied as
follows:
WASHINGTON, D. c., January II.
SIR: Your letter of the Sth inst.
rendering me the position of Chief JUS
tice of the Supreme Court, Montana,
reached me day before yesterday and
has received my careful consideration. 1
am grateful for this expression of your con-
findence and esteem, and accept the
tender of this important Office as COM
plete vindication Of my course while
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
New Mexico. The act for which you re-
moved me was taken in the exercise of
judicial discretion, after the utmost
deliberation, was dictated by the purest
and best of motives, and owing to the
unfortunate condition of affairs in Colfax
county at that time, was an
absolute necessity in order to
restore peace and order. The result JUS
tilted my method Of attaining that end
and proved it to have been the best and
only one that could have been adopted,
and l have always believed, when you
properly understood the matter, you
would treat me in the manly and gen.
erous manner suggested in your com
munication to me. While have high
appreciation of the honor you would do
me. am reluctantly constrained to re-
fuse the use of my name for the Justice.
ship in Montana, for the reason that ]
could not, without making the greatest
sacrifice. abandon my home practice and
other interests in New Mexico, where I
have resided for seven years and expect
to remain permanently. Very respect
fully, WILLIAM A. VINCENT.
To the President, Executive Mansion.