To George Washington from Charles Carroll (of Carrollton), 1 December 1792
From Charles Carroll (of Carrollton)
Annapolis 1st Decemr 1792
Dear Sir
By an act of this Legislature, passed yesterday, Mr Thomas Harwood, who is treasurer of this Shore, will be obliged to resign his place of Commissioner of loans, the duties of which have in fact been performed by his brother Mr Benjamin Harwood.1
Mr Thomas Harwood has requested me to recommend to you his brother, and wishes that he may be appointed Commissioner of loans. I assure you, Sir, you could not select from the whole State a person better qualified to execute that office; Mr Secretary Hamilton can inform you with what method and accuracy Mr Harwood keeps his accounts.2
The same Law vacates my seat on the Senate of this State, unless I give up my seat in the Senate of the United States within fifteen days from its passage; indeed as Congress and this Legislature sit at the same time, the duties of the two Stations are become incompatible and therefore I have resigned my seat in the Senate of the United States. On Tuesday next the Assembly will choose my Successor; if the person talked of (Mr Richard Potts) should be chosen, and he will accept the trust he is really (I speak it not from false modesty) much better qualified to discharge it, than I am.3
I beg my respectful compliments to Mrs Washington and remain with Sentiments of the most perfect esteem Dear Sir, Yr most obedt hum. Servant
Ch. Carroll of Carrolton
ALS, DLC:GW. postmarked “ANNAPOLIS, Dec. 3.”
1. Carroll is referring to “An act to prohibit members of congress, or persons in office under the United States, from being eligible as members of the legislature or council, or holding offices in this state” of 22 Dec. 1792 ( ). As a result of this act, Thomas Harwood chose to remain treasurer for Maryland’s Western Shore, a state office that he held until 1804, in lieu of his federal job as commissioner of loans for Maryland.
2. For Benjamin Harwood’s letter of application, other letters recommending him, and GW’s nomination of him as Maryland’s commissioner of loans, see Harwood to GW, 3 Dec. 1792, and note 1.
3. As Carroll predicted, the Maryland assembly chose Richard Potts, Maryland’s former federal district attorney, to fill the state’s vacant seat in the U.S. Senate. Potts served from 10 Jan. 1793 to 24 Oct. 1796.