To James Madison from David B. Mitchell, 29 September 1804 (Abstract)
§ From David B. Mitchell1
29 September 1804, Savannah. “A variety of Circumstances have induced me to resign the appointment of Attorney General of the United States for the district of Georgia, and beg that you will accept this as my resignation accordingly.
“While I tender my Acknowledgements for the trust reposed, I beg you to be assured, that this Step, is not the result of any want of respect for, or Attachment to, the present Administration; They possess my utmost Confidence, and while they Continue to pursue the Same Course of Measures, which they have heretofore pursued, they Shall have my undeviating and utmost Support.”
RC (DNA: RG 59, LRD). 1 p.; docketed by Jefferson. A note in JM’s hand below the dateline of the letter reads: “General Jackson recommends Wm. Bellinger Bullock late attorney Genl. of the State of Georga—& intimates that a meeting of the Court calls for an early appt.”
1. Lawyer David Brydie Mitchell (1766–1837) emigrated to Georgia from Scotland in 1783. He served as U.S. attorney general for Georgia, 1803–5, governor of Georgia, 1809–13 and 1815–17, and U.S. agent to the Creek Indians, 1817–21 (Sobel and Raimo, Biographical Directory of the Governors, 1:285). William Bellinger Bulloch was appointed U.S. attorney for Georgia on 11 Dec. 1804 (, 1:476).