From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate, 3 March 1801
To the Senate
Mar. 3. 1801.
Gentlemen
I recieve with due sensibility the congratulations of the Senate on being called to the first Executive office of our government,1 and I accept with great satisfaction their assurances of support in whatever regards the honor & interest of our country. knowing no other object in the discharge of my public duties, their confidence in my future conduct derived from past events, shall not be disappointed, so far as my judgment may enable me to discern those objects.
The approbation they are so good as to express of my conduct in the chair of the Senate, is highly gratifying to me; and I pray them to accept my humble thanks for these declarations of it.
Th: Jefferson
RC (DNA: RG 46, 6th Cong., 2d sess.); endorsed by clerk: “Reply of the President Elect of the United States to the address of the Senate in answer to his speech to them on leaving the Chair of the Senate. March 3d. 1801.” PrC (DLC).
Gouverneur Morris presented the congratulations of the senate to TJ on 3 Mch. (see James Hillhouse to TJ printed at 2 Mch.) and brought TJ’s reply with him when he returned ( , 3:140).
1. In RC, TJ wrote the preceding eight words over the partially erased passage “by the government to the first Executive office.” PrC emended by TJ in ink to reflect alteration.