From Topeka, Kansas, November 16, John T. Morton remonstrates against
the appointment of M. W. Delahay as judge of the United States District
Court, because he is utterly incompetent. Says he gave up the practice
of his profession in Illinois because he was so ignorant that nobody
would employ him. O. M. Hatch confirms Morton; says the appointment is
unfit to be made; has known Delahay personally for twenty years. Jesse
K. Dubois and D. L. Phillips confirm Hatch.
Jackson Grimshaw writes from Quincy, December 3:
Will the Senate confirm that miserable man Delahay for Judge
in Kansas? The appointment is disgraceful to the President, who
knew Delahay and all his faults, but the disgrace to the
Administration will be greater if the Senate confirms him. He
is no lawyer, could not try a case properly even in a Justice's
court and has no character. Mr. Buchanan in his worst days
never made so disgraceful an appointment to the bench.
Herndon relates that Delahay's expenses to the Chicago nominating
convention, as an expected delegate from Kansas, were promised by
Lincoln. He was not a delegate and never had the remotest chance of
being one, but he came as a "hustler" and Lincoln paid his expenses all
the same. He was nevertheless appointed judge, was impeached by Congress
in 1872 under charges of incompetency, corruption, and drunkenness on
and off the bench, and resigned while the impeachment committee was
taking testimony.
Major-General John M. Palmer writes from Chattanooga, December 18, 1863:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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