After
the death of Judge Shepley, there was a general expectation
that Judge John Lowell, of the District Court, would be made
Circuit Judge. One morning one of the Boston papers suggested
several names for the succession, among them that of Mr.
Knowlton, of Springfield, and Mr. Nelson. I said nothing
to him. But he observed: "I see in a paper that I am spoken
of as District Judge." I replied: "Yes, I saw the article."
Neither of us said anything further on the subject. When
I got to Washington I met Mr. Devens, then Attorney-General,
who said, "We shall have to appoint a District Judge, I suppose.
I think your friend Nelson is the best man for it. But I
suppose he would not accept it." I said: "No, I don't believe
he would accept it. But, if you think he is the best man
for it, the question whether he will accept it ought to be
determined by him, and not by his friends for him." I had
no thought that Mr. Nelson would leave his practice for the
Bench. But I thought it would be a very agreeable thing to
him to have the offer. I wrote to him a day or two afterward
that I thought it likely he would be offered the place.
Pages:
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457
1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463
1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477