George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Silas W. Arnett, 29 April 1790

From Silas W. Arnett

New York 29th April 1790.

Sir,

The Judicial system being extended to North Carolina, I take the liberty of offering my services to the United States as their attorney for that district. I have practiced law in that State near seven years & feel a confidence in my abilities to discharge the duties of the office. The honorable Hugh Williamson (who represents the district wherein I live) & the other representatives from the State of North Carolina can vouch for my private Character. I have the honor to be with great esteem, sir, Your most Obedient Servant

S. W. Arnett

ALS, DLC:GW.

Silas W. Arnett (d. 1806) began his career as a printer in New Bern. He took up the practice of law about 1783 and served as a Federalist in the North Carolina Ratifying Convention in 1789 (Powell, Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, description begins William S. Powell, ed. Dictionary of North Carolina Biography. 6 vols. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1979–96. description ends 1:47–8). Timothy Bloodworth suggested Arnett, along with four others, as a suitable candidate for U.S. attorney for North Carolina (Bloodworth to GW, 5 June 1790). Arnett did not receive the appointment, which went to John Sitgreaves (DHFC, description begins Linda Grant De Pauw et al., eds. Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791. 20 vols. to date. Baltimore, 1972–. description ends 2:79).

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    To George Washington from Silas W. Arnett, 29 April 1790
    Author
    Arnett, Silas W.
    Recipient
    Washington, George
    Date
    29 April 1790

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To George Washington from Silas W. Arnett, 29 April 1790,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-05-02-0231. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, vol. 5, 16 January 1790 – 30 June 1790, ed. Dorothy Twohig, Mark A. Mastromarino, and Jack D. Warren. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1996, p. 357.]