Polk_Letter_002_48974

His Excellency James K. Polk Sir, The period has arrived when I deem it [necessary?] to surrender into your hands, the Office of Judge of the Eleventh Circuit of this State. This necessity has been induced by the grossly inadequate salary [illegible] to the Office. The action of the Legislature on this subject, at the late session; has caused me to abandon all hope of a change in this particular. The claims of my family demand something more at my hands, than the wretched subsistence afforded by the State. Added to this, the Legislature have thought fit, without an increase of compensation, to add a County (Tipton) to this Circuit, the dispatch of [illegible] in which would necessarily [illegible] from six to nine weeks the year. Thus imposing upon the Judge, an additional [illegible], besides great additional labour, altogether disproportionate to the com pensation fixed for his services.

Under these circumstances but one alternative is left. What I have [adapted?].

Your Excellency will therefore please to con sider this as my resignation, taking effect upon the twenty third day of April [illegible]. My reason for selecting this day is, that it will close the third year of my Judicial labours, and afford ample time for the appoint ment of my successor, to take his seat, in McNairy County on the first Monday in May following.

The time remaining counts, for the Spring Term, in this Circuit, I have provided for by interchange with the Hon. B. G. [illegible], in prosecution of which arrangement I sit[illegible] tomorrow morning to commence his Circuit in the County of Lawrence.

Very respectuflly I am your Excellency's obt. servt. Valentine D. Barry

Bolivar March 5, 1840.