Early Governors' Papers

Col^o John Sawyers

Attention Cap^t Miller{

Memphis Nov. 6th 1827

Dr Sir

You will please make enquiry at the office of the Whig & Banner whether they have received a manuscript Journal of the Tennessee Caravan to [?] & if so the reason that it is not printed as I had a right to expect from the editors letter to me if he does not design it you will please call for it & forward the manuscript by the Earliest oportunity to Memphis: I have no interest=ing intelligence from our quarter more than you have possibly heard Miller & Phoebus report says [met?] in. Bolivar & the interposition of friends prevented serious consequences: public opinion appears to have received additional force in opposition to the advocate growing out of the opposition they have manifested since the Election as well as someone other reasons which are considered illiberal & personal: I have been recently warmly solicited to com =mence the publication of the Star in opposition with the promise of nearly universal patronage: but [my?] private circumstances has hitherto prevented its appearance will possible doo so untill spring: I am dear sir with sentiments of esteem yours &c

Jos Royall

[Maj?] Wm Crisp

In relation to my qualifications to fill the office I would defer you for information to the bar of the Western District gen-eraly- and particularly to Mr Miller, Mr Huntsman, Mr Stod -dart, Talbot, Bradford, Judges Haskill and Hamilton Judge Humphreys, McKernan, Gillespie, Martins, &c &c. In Nashville I would take the liberty of referring you the judges of the supreme court, but particilarly to Judge Brown and William A. Cooke. with the former of whom I read and with the latter practiced law. I would also refer you to the Clarkesville bar generally, but particularly to Colo Martin with whom I haue attended many courts in the course of the last three or four years. You are aware that in this solicitorial district it is of the ut -most importance to the interest of the state that the person holding the office of solicitor should be quali -fied to fill it, as it is his duty to appear in the Supreme court, in all state cases carried there from this Supreme Judicial district. It is admitted among all Jurists of respectabillity at this time, that it is the certainty more than the severity of punishments, that prevents the commission of crime, to which in our judicial system no one can contribute more than a solicitor properly qualified to discharge the duties of that responsible but too often neglected office, I do not conceiue that in the case of an indiuidual who has been sufficiently long at the bar to haue acquired a decided, and fixed standing in the profession (and such is the case with myself, whether that standing be high or low) you will expect him to present written testimonials of his knowledge of the science and practice of the law, and in relation to me such recomendations will be the less necessary as from my hauing become an appli -cant so long before it will devolve on you to confer

me for the liberty I had taken, and went and [moved?] his horse away from the man who I had [crossed?] with, as soon as he did so I took the man his horse, and returned home to his house, (for we all lived on one plantation,) In a short time we was as friendly as usual, I continued there until the fall of the same year when I moved to Kentucky where I lived about one year, when he came to see me, and persuaded me to return to this State, and stay with him, which I accordingly done, and continued stay until I was arrested and taken away which was about the last of December 1816. - The reason He then arrested me was because we had a quarrel - We quarrelled [sic] a cause of our trading &c. he immideately threatened to indict me for stealing his horse, - I dared him to do so and we [?] for some days at length he went away one day and returned with the Sheriff or some officer, and brought me to [rutherford?] Jail where I staid [sic] about 3 days, when a man by the name of Miller cut the door so as to let us out, and I went to Kentucky, and Stayed some time, and then returned to see my wife and children, thinking the old [man?] by this time time would be in a good humour and compromise the thing, but as soon as he found I had returned he had me taken again

Somerville Tn July 3rd 1838

Dr Sir.

I understand that application will be made to your instantce [sic], to appoint six Directors in the "Memphis Somerville + Bolivar Turnpike Company"

There was a meeting of the stockholders called on last saturday and at while meeting a majority of names but who were the holders of a minority of the stock there present - pursued such a course as caused the Commissioner at this place not to make any return of the stock Books in their pos= session, which course was approved by those who owned the stock then withheld. I am the owner of ten times as much stock as any member of the company, mine was upon the Book withheld I left the Court House when I saw the course pursued by the Meetings, although if I had staid [sic] the votes which I held in my own name + as proxy would have controlled the election or if every proxy which I held had been rejected I could still (by votes present in town + whose certificates I can get if required they they would have voted the same Ticket) have controlled the election

I have notified Mess^s Pope Leake, Gurrant Irions, Wood + Miller that I consider the election void. The commissioners here look upon it