From George Washington to the United States Senate, 5 May 1794
To the United States Senate
United States 5th of May 1794.
Gentlemen of the Senate,
Since the nomination of Richard Harrison, as Judge of the District of New York, he has requested me to withdraw his name.1 Having informed myself, through the channel, marked out by the Senate in their resolution of the 27. of January 1792 for the communication of their executive proceedings to the President,2 that the nomination is not decided; I therefore withdraw the same, and nominate,
John Laurance, to be Judge of the District of New York.3
Go: Washington
LS, DNA: RG 46, Third Congress, 1793-95, Senate Records of Executive Proceedings, President’s Messages—Executive Nominations; LB, DLC:GW.
1. See GW to the U.S. Senate, 16 April (second message), and Richard Harison to GW, 21 April. Harison (1747-1829) served as the U.S. district attorney for New York, 1789-1801.
2. The Senate resolution of 27 Jan. 1792 "Ordered, That the President of the United States be furnished with an authenticated transcript of the Executive records of the Senate, from time to time" (Senate Executive Journal, 99).
3. On 30 April, Secretary of State Edmund Randolph wrote Laurance, "The President of the U.S. is desirous of nominating you to the office of district judge of the state of New-York. Permit me, sir, to request the favor of an answer by the return of the mail, whether an appointment to that office would be acceptable to you?" (NSchU: W. Wright Hawkes Collection). Laurance replied to Randolph on 2 May, "I feel much pleasure from the Communication of the Presidents intention; and you will be pleased to inform him, if I am appointed to the Office of Judge of this District I will accept the Appointment" (DLC:GW). The Senate confirmed this nomination on 6 May (Senate Executive Journal, 153).