When I entered
the House of Representatives, before the Civil Service Reform
had made any progress, I addressed and had put on file with
the Secretary of the Treasury a letter in which I said that
I desired him to understand when I made a recommendation to
him of any person for public office, it was to be taken merely
as my opinion of the merit of the candidate, and not as an
expression of a personal request; and that if he found any
other person who would in his judgment be better for the public
service, I hoped he would make the selection without regard
to my recommendation.
I have never undertaken to use public office as personal
patronage, or to claim the right to dictate to the President
of the United States, or that the executive was not entirely
free, upon such advice as he saw fit, or without advice, if he
thought fit, in making his selection for public office.
It has been my good fortune to have influenced, or I think
I may fairly say, procured the appointment to public office
of many gentlemen who would not have been appointed without
my active efforts.
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