The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-21
WAsHINoroN as A POLITICIAN.
FOR Hriu = Candidate Tor once Had TO Repre-
nsnt the Political Ideas or rIls Constituents.

NNNN Wv =
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir: Was not
our nrst President. of revorcd memory. a prRc-
teal politioiuni 1 find in Sparks " writingsof
George Washington" Vol. Nj. page "a, the fol.
lowing lettor written 10 Timothy Pickering. who
was a member OF at least two Cabinets:
MT. VERNON. a7th September. 1875.
DEAR sin; Your private letter OF the 2lst inst. did
not reach me until yesterday. A late letter OF mine
to you will have fixed the Dircctorship OF the Mint
upon MIR. Boudinot. The application. therefore. OF
Major Jackson, however NJ he may be for the ONCE.
Is too late. But besides the reasons assigned in your
letter against such an appointment at present l
should have preferred n character from another state.
II one equally suitable could have been found, for the
reasons you have often heard mo mention, although
they do not apply with the Same force as formerly.
with respect to MIR. d. for the once OF Attorney.
General. although l have q very good opinion of his
abilities and know nothing in his moral character or
connections that Is Objectionable. yet the reason I as.
signed when his name was frst mentioned to me has
stil weight in my mind; that 10. after n long and
severely contested election he could not obtain a ma.
jority OF SURFACES in the district he formerly repre-.
scented. In this instance. then, the sense OF his con.
%stituents respecting him personally has been fairly
taken; and one or the charges against me relative TO
the treaty, you know, Is that / have disregarded tho
voice Of the people. although that voice has never yet
been heard. unless the Misrepresentation or party,
or at best partial meetings. can be called so.
shall not, while I have the honor TO administer the
Government, bring a man into any once Of conso.
quence knowingly whose political tenets are adverse
to the measures which the general Government are
pursuing; for this. in my opinion, would be . sort Of
political suicide. That It would embarrass its move.
ments Il most certain. But OF two men equally well
affected to the true interests of their country, Of
equal abilities, and equally disposed to lend their
support. IL is the part of prudence to give tho prefer.
ence to him against whom tho least clamor can be
excited. For such q ono my inquiries have been
made and are still making. How far I shall succeed
Is at this moment problematicol.
have not relinquished my intention OF being in
Philadelphia about the middle OF next month. With
great esteem and regard. I am. &C.,
Go. wAsHIsoTos.
Tho desire to distribute appointments from
| geographical considerations; the demand that
appointees shall be men Of influence capable Of
carrying elections; the expressed intention Of
appointing only such men as are in sympathy
with the policy Of the general Government: all
these things seem to indicate that the Father of
His Country in his methods did not differ much
from the experienced politician of the present
time. What fun the Mugwump press of to-day
would have denouncing g. w. as a spokesman II
he were Chief Executive OF the nation today
REPUBLICAN.