2

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