Draft Letters by Members of the Galvaston Bar Recommending William H..
A Group of Galveston Lawyers Attempt to Put One of their Colleagues on the Federal Bench [Manuscript]. [Galveston, Texas]. [Goddard, William H.]. [Manuscript Letters from Members of the Galveston Bar Recommending William H. Goddard for a Judgeship]. Galveston, TX, June 25 [and] June 29, 1870. 4 pp. 13-1/2" x 8-1/4." Lightly lined blue-paper bifolium, light edgewear, horizontal old lines, a few with clean tears. $500. * This manuscript records the background machinations of 35 Galveston lawyers to secure the nomination of William H. Goddard, a colleague, to the post of district judge for the Eastern District of Texas. The first two pages of the manuscript are a working draft for the testimonial and approbation of Goddard's nomination. It was probably written by William Pitt Ballinger [1825-1888], a prominent lawyer and citizen of Galveston. It says that Goddard had practiced law in their community for more than 20 years and declare: "Politically, we presume he can not be unacceptable [the word "objectionable" is struck] to you. Differing from him in politics, as perhaps almost all [the words "who will" has been struck] sign to this, have done, we yet desire to say that Mr. Goddard is an able lawyer - an honest man - a gentleman of high standing - of ample fortune - well [the word "fully" struck] identified with his community - possessing the confidence, respect, and esteem of his professional brethren and of the entire community - untarnished by politics - but known and thought of only as a Republican - and that we are entirely candid and sincere in declaring our belief that his appointment to the vacancy on the Federal Bench with.....most appropriate in your power to make." The third page of the manuscript is a one-page letter from Ballinger, a retained copy with corrections in manuscript, of the final draft of a letter to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Joseph P. Bradley [1813-1892]. It reads, in part: "We have understood that prominent Republicans at Austin have recommended William H. Goddard, Esq. for the appointment of US District Judge for this district declined by Judge Appleton. This is a recommendation which has the strong approval of the members of the Bar of this City.... Mr. Goddard has not been in active practice since the close of the war and I believe did not appear before you professionally when you were.
Price: $500.00
Book number 70066