To James Madison from Michael Baldwin (Abstract), 8 March 1805
§ From Michael Baldwin
8 March 1805, Chillicothe. “The Marshall for the District of Ohio, informed me that he should shortly resign his Commission, Should that event take place,1 you would confer an obligation upon me, by informing the President of the United States, that I would accept the commission, should it be conferred upon me.2 I have resided nearly seven years in this country as a practising Attorney, but am about quitting the profession. You will I hope, Sir, pardon me for making this request.”
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1801–9, filed under “Baldwin”). 1 p.; docketed by Jefferson.
2. On 20 Apr. 1805 Jefferson named former Ohio district attorney Michael Baldwin marshal for the Ohio district; his name was submitted to the Senate on 20 Dec. 1805. By early 1807 complaints had arisen about his handling of funds, and on 2 Mar. 1807 Jefferson named Lewis Cass to the position (DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Permanent and Temporary Presidential Commissions; , 8:143 and n. 1; , 1:447, 2:7–8, 54; James Dunlap and Thomas Needham to John Smith, 13 Jan. 1807, and Baldwin to Jefferson, 18 Jan. 1806 [1807] [DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1801–9, filed under “Baldwin”]).