6106. OFFICES, Midnight appointments.—[continued].
In the class of removals,
I do not rank the new appointments which
Mr. Adams crowded in with whip and spur
from the 12th of December, when the event
of the election was known (and, consequently,
that he was making appointments,
not for himself, but his successor), until 9
o'clock of the night, at 12 o'clock of which
he was to go out of office. This outrage on
decency should not have its effect, except in
the life appointments which are irremovable;
but as to the others, I consider the nomina
tions as nullities, and will not view the persons
as even candidates for, their office, much
less as possessing it by any title meriting respect.—
To General Henry Knox. Washington ed. iv, 386.
Ford ed., vi 36.
(W.
March. 1801)
