Nathan Sargent from Willie Mangum and J.W. Upton from Thomas Ewing, Nov. 25, 1850

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Washington 25th Nov. 1850

My dear Sir,

It gives me great pleasure to respond to your inquiry.  Whether in my opinion the rejection of your nomination by the Senate at the late session, was "the result of misapprehension."

I am very sure that it was.  And I as took the lead in the first movement, I have constantly & deeply regretted it since --- feeling a strong conviction that you were unjustly sacrificed.

During the last year, I thought the Senate had been most unjustly & malignantly assailed, & with purposes & views as I supposed, not about the level of the demagogue, seeking a contemptible notoriety. And as such was my estimate of the whole transaction that I Wd have voted to confer office on no man in America whom I knew to be art & part in it.  Several scurrilous & malignant articles appeared in a New York paper, & a member of Gen. Taylor’s cabinet, shaking unquestionably, left an impression upon me that you were probably the writer of them.

Upon your nomination coming up, I suggested this with the view of enabling your friends & particularly Senator Cooper, to set you right.  The explanation almost instantly made, satisfied me that we had no sufficient evidence to reject you, & therefore I declined voting my reasons.  The vote being taken, to my surprise you were rejected.  Subsequent in[formation]