1151From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 2 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The extract of a letter to Bishop Carroll I have inclosed to Genl. Dearborne. I return you judge Davies’s letter. if we meddle in the case at all, should it not be by sending the letter to the Attorney General who will know best how to prevent a conflict of jurisdictions. I inclose you the copy of a letter from Genl. Smith to mr Gallatin, communicated by the Generel to P. Carr & by him to me....
1152From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Smith’s letter of Aug. 29. & the papers it inclosed, and which are now reinclosed, will explain to you the necessity of my confirming his proposition as to the means of apprising our East India commerce of their danger, without waiting for further opinions on the subject. you will see that it throws on you the immediate burthen of giving the necessary instructions with as little delay as...
1153From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 4 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
After writing to mr Smith my letter of yesterday by the post of the day, I recieved one from him now inclosed, and covering a letter from mr Crownenshield on the subject of notifying our E. India trade. to this I have written the answer herein, which I have left open for your perusal with Crownenshield’s letter, praying you will seal & forward them immediately with any considerations of your...
1154From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned here yesterday afternoon & found, as I might expect an immense mass of business. with the papers recieved from you I inclose you some others which will need no explanation. I am desired by the Secy. of the navy to say what must be the conduct of Com. Rogers at New–York on the late or any similar entry of that harbor by British armed vessels. I refer him to the orders to Decatur as...
1155From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I return all the papers recieved in yours of the 18. & 19th. except one solliciting office, & judge Woodward’s letters, to be communicated to the Secretary at War. should not Claiborne be instructed to say at once to Govr. Folch that as we never did prohibit any articles (except slaves) from being carried up the Misipi to Baton rouge, so we do not mean to prohibit them, & that we only ask a...
1156From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the papers which accompanied yours of yesterday. I think the case of Capt Hewes is merely a case for a demand of indemnification from Gr. Br. and a proper acknolegement of the violation of jurisdiction. it would be a very dangerous precedent for Congress to indemnify the individual. I think it would be well for Smith to be furnished with the declaration of mr Canning only taking...
1157From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Health & weather permitting I shall set out on Wednesday without fail. if I can get off early enough I will be with you by half after three, supposed your dining hour. but knowing how difficult it is to clear out from home at any given hour, if I find I cannot be with you at half past three I shall dine at Gordon’s & beg not to be waited for. recieve for yourself & mrs Madison my affectionate...
1158From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 21 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you a letter from the Ex-basha of Tripoli. had we not better be done with this man by giving him a plain answer stating the truth & sending him the extracts from our instructions, by which he will see that if our agent engaged any thing beyond that he went beyond his powers, and could not bind us. nothing short of this can clear us of his sollicitations. we might go further and promise...
1159From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Oct. 7. was recieved on the 11th. and remains as you desired, within my own breast. I had a considerable time before proposed the place to Colo. L. Smith, & recieved his acceptance by the same post which brought your letter. I acknolege at the same time that I should have had some qualms of conscience excited by my attachment to the college on one side, & to yourself on the other.—we...
1160From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 6 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the papers on Clarke’s claim, which indeed I have not considered with all the attention which should be done were this an ultimate decision but my first impression is that the claim ought to be rejected. It is clearly a claim for money, not for land. The Commrs. of N.Y. were constituted a special court of justice to distribute the 30,000. D. of Vermont according to right, & they...
1161From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 8 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed act of Michigan, tho’ dated Jan. 30. 07. did not get here till the last Congress had risen. it seems merely occasional, & the occasion passed over. I think therefore it is not worth communicating singly to Congress. perhaps they will send their collection to be communicated, which will embrace this. in the mean time this may be filed in your office. MHi : Coolidge Collection.
1162From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I suppose we must dispatch another packet, by the 1st. of Apr. at farthest. I take it to be an universal opinion that war will become preferable to a continuance of the embargo after a certain time. should we not then avail ourselves of the intervening period to procure a retraction of the obnoxious decrees peaceably if possible? an opening is given us by both parties sufficient to form a...
1163From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Notes on the British claims in the Missipi territory. 1803. Mar. 3. act of Congress gave to Mar. 31. 1804 to exhibit their claims or grants 1804. Mar. 27 do. gave to Nov. 30. 1804. & allowed transcripts instead of originals Etc. 1805. Mar. 2. do. gave to Dec. 1. 1805 to file their grants. & in fact to Jan. 1. 1807. time when the sale might begin. 1807. Dec. 15. the British claimants...
1164From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Notes on such parts of Foronda’s letter of Apr. 26. 08. as are worth answering. I. I know of no recent orders to Governor Claiborne as to the navigation of the Misipi, Yberville & Pontchartrain. he should specify them. but he may be told that no order has ever been given contrary to the rights of Spain. these rights are 1. a treaty right that ‘the ships of Spain coming directly from Spain or...
1165From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of the 11. 15. & 16. came to hand last night. the request of Turreau to be allowed a vessel to carry home another cargo of French citizens is admissible according to our former practice, only observing that the size of the vessel be proportioned to the number of passengers. I think also that Michaux, the botanist, may be allowed to go in our vessel, on the known usage of civilized...
1166From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 19 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the papers reserved from the last post. our regular answer to mr Livingston may well be that the Attorney General having given an official opinion that the right to the batture is in the US. and the matter being now referred to Congress, it is our duty to keep the grounds clear of any adversary possession until the legislature shall decide on it. I have carefully read mr....
1167From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Of the papers I recieved from you yesterday I have sent mr Graham’s letter (in favor of R. Brent as paymaster) to Genl. Dearborne, and that of the Lowries to mr Gallatin for information. all the rest are now returned. on some of them I will make short observations merely for your consideration and determination. Rademaker & Hills. I really think the good which may result from permitting...
1168From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 27 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I suppose the object of the inclosed information was to obtain a pardon; but as Judge Potter’s means of information respecting the opinion of the Supreme court in a like case may be imperfect, I think it would be best that the Attorney General should enquire into the case, and say whether a pardon ought to go on the ground of the illegality of the judgment.—I propose to leave this for...
1169From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 31 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you all the papers recieved from you by yesterday’s mail, except mr Burnley’s, which I shall send to the Secretary at war. altho’ all the appointments below field-officers are made, it is possible some may decline & open a way for new competition. I have observed that Turreau’s letters have for some time past changed their style unfavorably. I believe this is the first occasion he has...
1170From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours by yesterday’s mail is recieved & I now return Pinckney’s & Graham’s letters. I thought it best to forward the passport for Hill’s vessel to mr Graham direct lest it should lose a post by going in to Montpelier. with mr Grymes’s request of a vessel I can do nothing till further advised. the application is new, and I think unnecessary, as I presume the trade to N.O. is sufficiently open...
1171From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 16 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I retain mr Wilson’s letter, and return you his two certificates, as he may wish to keep them. If I ever heard his name before it has entirely escaped me. I do not believe he has been misrepresented to me, & doubt if he has been represented in any way. DNA : RG 59—LAR—Letters of Application and Recommendation.
1172From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 28 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Robert H. Jones of N. Carolina to be District attorney for N. Carolina. he resides at Warrenton. ViU .
1173From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 29 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The passport for the Leonidas goes by this post to the Collector of Norfolk. I return you Jarvis’s, Hackley’s & Montgomery’s letters, and send you Hull’s, Hunt’s, Clarke’s & Mr Short’s for perusal & to be returned. on this last the following questions arise. When exactly shall the next vessel go? whence? is not the secrecy of the mission essential? is it not the very ground of sending it while...
1174From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 5 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 3d. is recieved. I also have recieved a letter from B. R. Randolph. who he is I know not. he may be of a family of Randalls of the neighborhood of Petersburg, who have lately begun to spell their names Randolph , tho’ totally unconnected with those of that name. one of them was not long since convicted of the murder of his father, and the family is generally in very ill...
1175From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 9 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 7th. was recieved yesterday, but the post was so late, and arriving with his portmanteau open threw me into great alarm, as I expected a large sum of money in the mail. I was relieved by finding it safe. I return you Pinckney’s Joy’s, Claiborne’s, Foronda’s and Bailey’s letters. would it not be worth while to send Erskine a copy of Bailey’s letter, to observe to him that this...
1176From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 12 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 10th. came to hand yesterday & I return you Foronda’s, Tufts, Soderstrom’s & Turreau’s letters. I think it is become necessary to let Turreau understand explicitly that the vessels we permit foreign ministers to send away are merely transports for the conveyance of such of their subjects as were here at the time of the embargo, that the numbers must be proportioned to the vessels...
1177From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 16 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 14th. is recieved and I now return the papers which accompanied it. I must cry peccavi as to the answer to Sullivan’s letter. I found it in the letter itself. I now inclose you two letters from mr Short. I fancy he is right in supposing that by the time he could arrive at the Baltic, it’s navigation would be uncertain, if not impracticable; but certainly it would be closed before...
1178From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The government of the US. will not make itself an accomplice in the crimes of invading a foreign nation which never did it a wrong, in the abduction of their people and selling them in slavery. PPAmP .
1179From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 19 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 17th. came to hand yesterday. I wrote to mr Gallatin that the principle to govern our indulgencies of vessels to foreign ministers, was that it was fair to let them send home all their subjects caught here by the embargo & having no other means of getting home, proportioning the tonnage permitted to the number of persons according to the rules in the transport service; and that...
1180From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 5 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The last post brought me the counter addresses now inclosed. that from Ipswich is signed by 40. persons, the town meeting which voted the petition consisted of 30. there are 500. voters in the place. the Counter address of Boston has 700. signatures. the town meeting voting the petition is said to have consisted of 500. in the draught of an answer inclosed, I have taken the occasion of making...
1181From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 6 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you Pinckney’s letter the complection of which I like. If they repeal their orders we must repeal our embargo. if they make satisfaction for the Chesapeake, we must revoke our proclamation, and generalize it’s operation by a law. if they keep up impressments, we must adhere to non intercourse, manufactures & a navigation act. I inclose for your perusal a letter of mr Short’s. I inform...
1182From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 13 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you a letter of Short’s for perusal, & one of Edgar Patterson asking what is already I presume provided for. one of General Armstrong which I do not well understand because I do not recollect the particular letter which came by Haley. I presume the counsel he refers to is to take possession of the Floridas. this letter of June 15. is written after the cession by Carlos to Bonaparte of...
1183From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you all your papers except Irvine’s which I have not yet entirely read. as far as I have gone they abate much of the hopes which Montgomery’s letter might have excited. it is true that Irvine’s opinions must be influenced by the French versions at Madrid, & Montgomery’s by the popular rumors always afloat in such scenes. no answer surely shd. be given to Bollman, nor should...
1184From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 20. & 21. were recieved yesterday. I have sent on the letter to Turreau without alteration. it was as little as either the stile or matter of his letter deserved. I shall be with you probably on Wednesday. mr Barlow stays with us till then, & returns at the same time. The bearer is mr Chisolm the bricklayer who wished to see you before your departure. Dinsmore has suggested a...
1185From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
In the wild range which Tatham’s head takes, he often hits on good ideas. those explained in the within letter merit real attention. he knows the localities of that quarter; & should the idea of an artificial bason on the Middle grounds be found impracticable (for want of foundation) Lynhaven bay, deepened at it’s entrance becomes the sole resource for defending the Chesapeake; & the...