Show THE NATIONS CAPITAL Associate Justice Matthews Health Improving NOMINATING POSTMASTERS Secretary Vilas and the Cbicbasavr Gubernatorial Contest Executive Execu-tive Correspondence WASHINGTON January lLMrs Matthews Mat-thews wife of Associate Justice Matthews Mat-thews of the Supreme Court of the 1 United States said this afternoon to an Associated Press representative that the statements published regarding the serious condition of Justice Matthews are entirely false that he is now improving im-proving rapidly has a good appetite and gaining strength fast Nominations PostmastersAllen W Thompson Ukvah California John B Heilman Monte Vista Colorado Edward i Ed-ward McSorley Boulder Valley Montana Mon-tana Charles Taylor Great Falls Montana John Schreiner Wickes Montana Herman Kraus Hailey Idaho Dennis J Brannen Flagstaff ArJzana THE CHICKASAW GOVERNORSHIP Secretary Vilas who had been requested re-quested to arbitrate in the contest for the Governorship of the Chickasaw nation today sent a telegram to Messrs Bird and Guy the contestants in which he cited the Chickasaw constitution con-stitution regarding the canvassing of votes etc and said that in the execution execu-tion of its provisions William L Bird had ben declared by the Speaker of the Chickasaw House in the presence of the members of both Houses the Governor who hud taken the oath delivered his message and has since acted as Governor So far as the contest con-test is allowed though the returns appear ap-pear to have disclosed a majority for Guy he baa no right to reti w the Constitutional Con-stitutional action of the Spe3ker who in the presence and with the approval ot tne legislature in joint session declared de-clared Bird elected The contest can rest nowhere than in the courts of the Chickasaw Nation even if they have fl 1 such jurisdiction OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE In April 1835 the President appointed ap-pointed William A Vincent Chief Justice Jus-tice of the Territory of New Mexico and in November of the same year he vas removed The Judge came to Washington where he learned that the charge against htm was the appointment appoint-ment of Stephen W Dorsey to be jury commissioner The judge wrote along a-long letter to the President complaining Ir I complain-ing of the Injustice done him and the latter had now taken action in the matter mat-ter as the subsequent correspondence will show EXECUTIVE MANSION WASHINGTON I January 81889 I Hon William A Vincent Dear SirI have always said to your friends that your removal from the office of judge for the Territory of New Mexico did not Imply any charge or conviction of dishonesty dis-honesty in the capacity of your judicial conduct In the condition of affairs at that tlmel deemed it my duty to promptly pursue J the course BO unfortunate for you and which was adopted by me on the mere showing of the fact alleged without inquiry as to your motives and purposes Mv action was unfainy harsh but 1 thouaht it wa justifiable O Jten since tha time as all facts attending the incident have become known to me and as I reflected on your otherwise unexceptional official career so tar as it nas come to my Knowledge j nave been impressed by the repreentations of your frlends that your removal has subjected sub-jected you to a suspicion which was unjust and unwarranted So far asI am concerned notwlthstand all that has passed I am at this time willing to express my confidence in your ability and uprightness There is now a vacancy in the Chief Justiceship of Montana and so far as regards Vour fitness 1 hould be entirely willing to see you In that place I write to ask you therefore whether in cise I should think It well to do so 1 am at liberty to submit your name to the Senate for that office I make this proposition with a reservation for reasons not in the least connected with yourpersonal qualifications and I shall be glad to know your views on the subject as soon as convenient Yours trulv GROVER CLEVELAND To this Vincent today replied as follows fol-lows WASHINGTON D January 11 SirYour letter of the 8th inst tendering J tender-ing me ihe position of chief jutice ol Montana Mon-tana reached methe day before yesterday and received my carelul consideration I am grateful for this expression of your confidence con-fidence and esteem and accept the tender of this important offi e as a complete vindication vindi-cation of my course while chief justice In New Mexico TIle act for which you removed re-moved me was taken lathe exercise of my S judicial discretion after the utmost deliberation delib-eration dictated by the purest and best of motives Owing to the unfortunate condition condi-tion of affairs in Colfax County at that time It was an absolute necessity in order to restore peace and good order and the result justified my method of obtaining ob-taining that end and p oved it to have been the best and only one that could be adopted I have always believed when you undertook under-took the matter you would treat me in a manly and generous manner as suggested in your communication to me While I i have a high appreciation of the honor you would do me I J m reluctantly constrained to refuse the use of my name for a judge in Montana for the reason that I could not without making the greatest sacrifice abandon my home and other Interests in New Mexico where I have resided for seven years and expect to remain permanently Very respectfully WILLIAM A VINCENT To The President Executive Mansion |