James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Daniel Buck and Others, 11 October 1816

From Daniel Buck and Others

Richmond Ky. Oct: 11. 1816

We the undersigned practising Attorneys at Law, have been acquainted with Robert Trimble a number of years—we state that he is amongst the first Lawyers of Kentucky, that his practise has for many years been extensive—that his professional character is fair and unspotted—that he filled the Office of Judge of the Court of Appeals with high reputation to himself and undivided approbation of the people of this State—we recommend him, with confidence as being eminently qualified for the Station of Judge of the Court of the United States for the District of Kentucky. The appointment would be received with general approbation and much Satisfaction by all orders of people.1

Daniel Buck

John Speed Smith

Archibald Woods

Squire Turner

RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1809–17, filed under “Trimble”).

1Filed with this letter are two undated letters, one addressed to JM from “practicing Lawyers at the bar of the superior Court” in Winchester, Kentucky, and signed by James A. Cartwright and six others (2 pp.); and the other a one-page statement, signed by William Irvine and eleven others from Richmond, Kentucky, who “concur in the above Opinion,” docketed as coming from “Sundry Gentlemen of the Bar” (DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1809–17, filed under “Trimble”). Another one-page undated letter to JM from the members of the bar of “the first Judicial District of Kentucky,” and signed by John Chambers and five others, may also have been written at this time (ibid.). All these letters supported the nomination of Trimble in terms similar to those employed by Daniel Buck and others in their letter to JM.

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