To George Washington from Charles Burnham Cochran, 25 May 1795
From Charles Burnham Cochran
Charleston [S.C.] May 25th 1795
Sir,
The notice which you have been pleased to take of me allready through the intercession of my friends particularly Mr Izard by appointing me to the office of Marshall for the District of South Carolina has made me presume to Solicit your attention and Suffrage once more for the office of Naval Officer—Now vacant by Col. Motte’s death1—With diffidence I renew an application of this kind, so recently made in my behalf by my friends. Still as I am persuaded it was their wish in making the application and your intention in conferring the appointment, that I should be benefitted by it, I am induced from so favorable a disposition towards me to hope that I may be found deserving of being promoted to the office within mentioned the duties of which I trust an European education and a Six years residence in france under the direction of Doctr Franklin will enable me to discharge to the Satisfaction of all my friends. With So flattering an expectation and assurances of unabating zeal for and attachement to the interests of the Government in whatever station I may be placed I will beg leave to Subscribe myself Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Humble Servant
Chars B. Cochran
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Cochran most likely was referring to former U.S. Sen. Ralph Izard of South Carolina. For Cochran’s appointment as federal marshal, see GW to U.S. Senate, 17 Dec. 1794. GW had appointed Isaac Motte as naval officer at Charleston, S.C., on 4 Aug. 1789 ( 15). Motte died on 8 May.
Several individuals desired the naval officer’s position. During the month of May, William Webb, deputy naval officer of Charleston, contacted influential men of that city—and also Oliver Wolcott, Jr., and Tench Coxe, commissioner of the revenue—to write on his behalf (DLC:GW).
Charles Brown, collector and inspector for the port of Georgetown, S.C., wrote to GW on 13 May that his “situation in life from the ravages of War and the depreciation of Money makeing it necessary for me to be watchful for every opportunity which may offer to support a large family; induces me to request of you the appointment of Naval Officer for Charleston.” Brown assured GW that he was well acquainted with the requirements for the post, “having been obliged to perform that duty as well as Collector of the port of Georgetown for three years and a half” (ALS, DLC:GW). Brown wrote a nearly identical letter to Alexander Hamilton on that date (DLC:GW). In addition, Elias Boudinot wrote to Wolcott on 23 May in support of Brown’s application (DLC:GW).
On 13 May, John Rutledge of Charleston informed GW: “Mr Thos Lehré, of this City, wishes to succeed the late worthy Naval Officer Colo. Motte, in that Office, & requests a recommendation, to you, from me.” Rutledge stated that he “refused the Applications of many, for Letters recommending to Offices, on this Ground; that I myself did not think the Applicants the most proper persons for the Offices they wanted—it is a disagreeable thing to trouble you—it is also disagreeable to refuse a Line, to a person who is well worthy of an Office.” Rutledge added that “Mr Lehré is in my opinion, as well as in the opinion of many of his Fellow Citizens, (from whom he has Testimonials; much to his Credit,) a very proper Man, for the Office which he now sollicits” (LS, DLC:GW; LS [duplicate], DLC:GW). Thomas Lehré also sought a recommendation in letters to Wolcott on 11, 12, 13, and 23 May. Lehré included a certificate of his character signed by several citizens of Charleston, a copy of which is dated 12 May (all documents, DLC:GW). Coxe informed Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., on 22 May that “Mr Harper of the House of Representatives from South Carolina” had recommended Lehré for the position (DLC:GW).
James Simons contacted Edmund Randolph on 20 May and urged the secretary of state to present his name to GW for the nomination. Simons included a letter of recommendation from U.S. Sen. Pierce Butler of South Carolina and informed Randolph of a forthcoming letter from newly elected U.S. Sen. Jacob Read, who wrote on that same day. Simons added that both Butler and Read planned to sail from Charleston to Philadelphia on the following Sunday, 24 May, which would give Randolph “an opportunity of a personal conference with them” (all letters DLC:GW).
Francis Mulligan, collector of the revenue for Charleston, presented a late application to GW through Wolcott on 29 May (DLC:GW).
GW nominated Simons as naval officer for the port of Charleston on 12 June.