Early Governors' Papers

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