James Madison Papers

To James Madison from John G. Jackson, 5 April 1811

From John G. Jackson

Clarksburg April 5th 1811

Dr. Sir.

Judge Nelson has resigned his judicial office & the Executive of Virginia will soon appoint a successor.1 The Law requires that he shall reside within the Circuit & the probability is that the preference will be given to a Candidate already here rather than incur the risque of offending by sending a stranger to us. My Friends have solicited my consent to be a Candidate & some of them have written to the Executive in my favor. If you can consistently with your judgment, & with perfect propriety (otherwise believe me I do not request it) it will afford me pleasure to be named by you to some friend at Richmond who would favor my views. Dr. Sir your Most Obt

J G Jackson

RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.

1Hugh Nelson resigned his position as judge of the eleventh judicial circuit of Virginia on 28 Mar. 1811 (Brown, Voice of the New West, pp. 101–2).

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