To James Madison from John Coburn, 10 January 1813 (Abstract)
§ From John Coburn1
10 January 1813, Maysville, Kentucky. Resigns his commission as judge in the Missouri Territory following passage of a congressional act making it “indispensible” for judges to reside in the territories over which they preside.2 Has performed the duties of his office “under circumstances extremely unpleasant—Traversing a wild and savage country in ten different journies.”
RC (DNA: RG 59, LRD). 2 pp. Printed in Carter, Territorial Papers, Louisiana-Missouri, 14:622–23.
1. After resigning his judgeship, Coburn participated in the 1813 campaign in the Northwest. On 17 Jan. 1814 JM nominated him as a collector of the revenue for Kentucky ( , 2:457, 461).
2. Coburn referred to “An Act concerning the District and Territorial Judges of the United States,” which Congress approved on 18 Dec. 1812 ( , 2:788).