From George Washington to William Blount and William Cocke, 1 February 1797
To William Blount and William Cocke
February 1st 1797.
Gentlemen,
Some days ago I recd a letter from you with enclosures, recommending John Rhea Esqr. for District Judge, of the District of Tennessee.1 The Act for establishing that Office, having now obtained all the requi[sit]e forms,2 the nomination of a character to fill it has become necessary: but before I proceed to it, I wish to know what specific objections, if any, there are to Mr D[avi]d Campbell, who has been one of the Judges under the authority of the United States for that District since the establishment of the Government therein; who came very highly recommended to me for his integrity and fit abilities for that Office—and against whom, no impeachment of his conduct has come to my knowledge.3 With respect I am—Gentn Your Most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
ADfS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW.
2. The “Act giving effect to the Laws of the United States, within the State of Tennessee,” 31 Jan. 1797, extended the Judiciary Act of 1789 to the state of Tennessee, and called for the establishment of a district court in that state. The law stipulated that the court would “consist of one judge, who shall reside in the said district, and be called a district judge, and annually hold four sessions,” beginning in April 1797. The court’s sessions were to be “held alternately at Knoxville and Nashville, beginning at Nashville.” The act fixed the district judge’s salary at $800 per year ( 496–97).