EXECUTIVE MANSION, _December 21, 1886_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
I nominate James C. Matthews, of New York, to be recorder of deeds in
the District of Columbia, in the place of Frederick Douglass, resigned.
This nomination was submitted to the Senate at its last session, upon
the retirement of the previous incumbent, who for a number of years had
held the office to which it refers. In the last days of the session the
Senate declined to confirm the nomination.
Opposition to the appointment of Mr. Matthews to the office for which he
was named was developed among the citizens of the District of Columbia,
ostensibly upon the ground that the nominee was not a resident of the
District; and it is supposed that such opposition, to some extent at
least, influenced the determination of the question of his confirmation.
Mr. Matthews has now been in occupancy of the office to which he was
nominated for more than four months, and he has in the performance of
the duties thereof won the approval of all those having business to
transact with such office, and has rendered important service in
rescuing the records of the District from loss and illegibility.
I am informed that his management of this office has removed much of the
opposition to his appointment which heretofore existed.
I have ventured, therefore, in view of the demonstrated fitness of this
nominee, and with the understanding that the objections heretofore urged
against his selection have to a great extent subsided, and confessing a
desire to cooperate in tendering to our colored fellow-citizens just
recognition and the utmost good faith, to again submit this nomination
to the Senate for confirmation, at the same time disclaiming any
intention to question its previous action in the premises.