Charles Thomson (1730–1824)

I think your citing Charles Thomson [Secretary of the Articles Congress] is more trouble than you acknowledge. Thomson was the highest functionary of the outgoing Articles [of Confederation] government. He held official materials for George Washington and surrendered those materials personally to George Washington at the inauguration of the new government. Yet Thomson held no position in George Washington’s government, and as far as I know, George Washington offered Thomson no position. The same was true (as far as I know) for Washington’s successors and high ranking cabinet members in his and his successors administrations. 

The reason might have been that Thomson was just no good. The letters you cite [where Thomson offered Washington legal advice regarding the new constitution] might be seen as George Washington’s offering Thomson a try out for a position in the new government. [If that is true, then] Thomson [apparently] flubbed the audition. You cite him as good authority—but maybe he was seen as bad authority offering second rate advice—and that’s why he was offered nothing by George Washington, his successors, his cabinet, and the new Congress (e.g., posts such as Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate). It is difficult to be sure.

Seth

Seth Barrett Tillman, Charles Thomson (1730–1824), New Reform Club (Jan. 13, 2019, 2:56 AM), <https://reformclub.blogspot.com/2019/01/charles-thomson-1730-1824.html>