6149. OFFICE-HOLDERS, Executive explanations and.—[further continued].
The circumstance of exhibiting
our recommendations even to our
friends, requires great consideration. Recommendations,
when honestly written, should
detail the bad as well as the good qualities
of the person recommended. That gentlemen
may do freely, if they know their letter is
to be confined to the President or the head of
a department; but if communicated further, it
may bring on them troublesome quarrels. In
General Washington's time, he resisted every
effort to bring forth his recommendations. In
Mr. Adams's time, I only know that the republicans
knew nothing of them. * * *
To Mr. Tracy, at any rate, no exhibition or
information of recommendations ought to be
communicated. He may be told that the
President does not think it regular to communicate
the grounds or reasons of his decision.—
To Albert Gallatin.
Ford ed., viii, 210.
(Feb. 1803)
