Part 27 (2/2)

MOUNT VERNON, 9 October, 1795

DEAR SIR,--Whatever may be the reception of this letter, truth and candor shall mark its steps You doubtless know that the office of state is vacant; and no one can beit with a person of abilities, and one in whom the public would have confidence

It would be uncandid not to inform you that this office has been offered to others; but it is as true, that it was from a conviction in my own mind that you would not accept it (until Tuesday last, in a conversation with General Lee, he dropped sentiments which made it less doubtful), that it was not offered first to you

I need scarcely add, that if this appointment could be made to co to me, as I believe it would be acceptable to the public With this assurance, and with this belief, I make you the offer of it My first wish is that you would accept it; the next is that you would be so good as to give me an answer as soon as you conveniently can, as the public business in that depart for want of a secretary[459]

Though Patrick Henry declined this proposal, he declined it for reasons that did not shut the door against further overtures of a similar kind; for, within the next three reat office,--that of chief justice of the United States,--Washi+ngton again employed the friendly services of General Lee, whom he authorized to offer the place to Patrick Henry

This was done by Lee in a letter dated Decereed to the President's noe, and a vacancy in that important office has taken place For your country's sake, for your friends'

sake, for your family's sake, tell me you will obey a call to it You know my friendshi+p for you; you know my circumspection; and, I trust, you know, too, I would not address you on such a subject without good grounds Surely no situation better suits you You continue at hoe of air and exercise will add to your days The salary excellent, and the honor very great Be explicit in your reply”[460]

On the same day on which Lee thus wrote to Henry he likerote to Washi+ngton, infor him that he had done so; but, for soton received no further word froly, on the 11th of January, 1796, in his anxiety to knohatthe office of chief justice, Washi+ngton wrote to Lee as follows:--

MY DEAR SIR,--Your letter of the 26th ult has been received, but nothing fro in the extreme; for not only the noe, and secretary of war, is suspended on the answer you were to receive froretted is, that the first Monday of next month (which happens on the first day of it) is the ter of the Superior Court of the United States, in this city; at which, for particular reasons, the bench ought to be full I will add no more at present than that I am your affectionate,

GEO WAshi+NGTON[461]

Although Patrick Henry declined this great compliment also, his friendliness to the ad the Federal leaders, who in the spring of 1796 were planning for the succession to Washi+ngton and Ada inclination to nominate Patrick Henry for the vice-presidency,--their chief doubt being with reference to his willingness to take the nomination[462]

All these overtures to Patrick Henry were somewhat jealously watched by Jefferson, who, indeed, in a letter to Monroe, on the 10th of July, 1796, interpreted them with that easy recklessness of statement which so frequently embellished his private correspondence and his private talk ”Most assiduous court,” he says of the Federalists, ”is paid to Patrick Henry He has been offered everything which they kneould not accept”[463]

A feeeks after Jefferson penned those sneering words, the person thus alluded to wrote to his daughter, Mrs Aylett, concerning certain troublesome reports which had reached her:--

”As to the reports you have heard, ofsides in politics, I can only say they are not true I arown up into fixed habits of thinking True it is, I have conderess, because, in refusing to raise money for the purposes of the British treaty, they, in effect, would have surrendered our country bound, hand and foot, to the power of the British nation The treaty is, in my opinion, a very bad one indeed But what er of giving the power oflaws by means of treaty to the President and Senate, when I see these sa the existence of that pohich, they insisted in our convention, ought properly to be exercised by the President and Senate, and by none other? The policy of these men, both then and now, appears to ht These sentiments I did mention in conversation in Richmond, and perhaps others which I don't remember It seems that every atched which I casually dropped, and wrested to answer party views Who can have been so er consider e of public life It is time for me to retire; and I shall never more appear in a public character, unless some unlooked-for circumstance shall demand from me a transient effort, not inconsistent with private life--in which I have determined to continue”[464]

In the autuinia, then under the political control of Jefferson, and apparently eager to coreat naovernorshi+p of the State But the ainst the attractions of the United States Senate, and of the highest place in Washi+ngton's cabinet, and of the highest judicial position in the country, was not likely to succuinia for the sixth time

FOOTNOTES:

[434] Spencer Roane, MS

[435] _Hist Mag_ for 1867, 93; 369-370

[436] Howe, _Hist Coll Va_ 221

[437] Spencer Roane, MS

[438] Cited in Wirt, 380-381