To Thomas Jefferson from Enoch Hazard, 3 November 1804
From Enoch Hazard
Newport Nov: 3d 1804
Sir
As one of the representatives from this town in the General Assembly of this State, I take the liberty to address you on the subject of Mr Ellery, our present Senator, I was not at the last Session of the General Assembly owing to professional avocations, and I regret extremely that I was not, that at least, I might have given the Testimony of my vote, against the Injustice that has been done him. In my opinion Mr Ellery had every title a man could have to the support of every republican in the Assembly. I disapprove of the measures taken & objections made to his re’election; & join in the remonstrance of many of the representatives of the State in recommending him to the office of Collector in this District.
I am respectfully Your Friend
Enoch Hazard
RC (DLC); at head of text: “Thomas Jefferson President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 12 Dec. and “Ellery Christ. to be Collectr. Newport” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosed in Christopher Ellery to TJ, 12 Dec.
Physician and state legislator Enoch Hazard (1773-1844) of Newport, a graduate of Rhode Island College, had been appointed director and purveyor general, as well as surgeon and physician general, of the state militia in 1802. He received an appointment as surgeon’s mate in the U.S. army in 1806 (Richard M. Bayles, History of Newport County, Rhode Island [New York, 1888], 90-1; Haverhill, Mass., Guardian of Freedom, 18 Sep. 1794; Newport Mercury, 18 May 1802, 11 May 1844; , 2:25; Christopher Ellery to TJ, 12 Dec.).
subject of Mr Ellery: in its election for U.S. senators held on 3 Nov., the Rhode Island General Assembly chose James Fenner to succeed Ellery, whose term would expire in March 1805. The legislators also chose Benjamin Howland to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel J. Potter (Providence Gazette, 10 Nov.; Ellery to TJ, 19 Nov.; David Leonard Barnes to TJ, 27 Nov.).