To Thomas Jefferson from William Kennedy, 26 March 1804
From William Kennedy
Washington 26h. March 1804
Sir
notwithstanding I am convinced that the numerous applications for office which of course results in the rejection of many is as mortifying and disagreeable as any other occurence in the exercise of your functions—yet the duty I owe a constituent urges me to this communication and which I hope you will receive as a sufficient apology; enclosed I have sent you a letter from Mr. Smallwood directed to myself requesting that I would endeavour to procure for him an office either civil or military in Louisiana. Mr. Smallwood is a lawyer by profession—and has acted in the capacity of brigade inspector of the militia for several counties in the state of North Carolina from which circumstance I am inclined to suppose he has some knowledge of military discipline
I am with great respect your Obedt. Servt.
William Kennedy
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); endorsed by TJ as received 26 Mch. and “Smallwood Charles for emploimt. civil or military. Louisa.” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Charles Smallwood to Kennedy, Bath, North Carolina, 23 Nov. 1803, commenting on the Twelfth Amendment, exalting the potential of Louisiana—“that Elysium or paradise of never ending Sweets”—and expressing his willingness to accept any office there (RC in same).
William Kennedy (1768-1834) won election to the Eighth and Eleventh Congresses as a Republican representative from North Carolina. Although unsuccessful in his reelection bid for the Twelfth Congress, he gained a seat after an 1813 special election to fill a vacancy (; William S. Powell, ed., Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, 6 vols. [Chapel Hill, 1979-96], 3:352; New Bern Federal Republican, 16 Jan. 1813).