Early Governors' Papers

Rogersville March 22d 1822

Sir

I had the honor to receive your letter of the 6th Inst apprizing [sic] me of the resignation of Judge Emmerson as a Judge of the Supreme Court of this State & requesting information whether or not I would be willing to accept of an appointment to fill the vacancy occasion'd by his resignation

You will please to accept my acknowledgements for the honor done me in selecting me to fill so high & important an office & it is with regret that I inform you that I must decline accepting it. In whatever character I believe my humble services unfit to my Country & desired by my fellow Citizens I should feel it my duty to obey my Countrys call where it would be done without too great a sacrafis [sic] - By the present ^arrangement of the Court of Appeals a Judge who resides in East Tennessee must be almost constantly absent from his home. to be thus absent from my wif [sic] & a family of small children I could not reconcile to my feelings, I am very respectfully

yr Obt. Hbl. Servt

S. Powell

182

Rogersville T 26th March His Excellency

William Carroll

Murfreesborough West Tennessee

Honble Saml. Powell March 22. 1822