To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Mulligan, 26 April 1804
From Francis Mulligan
Mizicksborough near Charleston Sou. Carolina.
April 26th. 1804.
Sir
The kind, and polite, attention, you were pleased to Shew me, during my Stay, at the Seat of Government, demands, my most cordial, And Sincere thanks, and will ever Stamp on my mind, the most Heartfelt, Sensations, of Gratitude, and Esteem.—
Deeply impressed, as I feel, with those Sentiments, I conceived it A duty, incumbent in me, to make it the first, and principle, object of my enquiries, on my return, into the general Opinions, and Sentiments of the best informed, And most influential characters, Amongst us With a View, to Assertain the best possible information in my Power, respecting the probable result, of the Deliberations, of Our Legislature on the Amendment of the Constitution, at their meeting on the 10th. of may next At Columbia, and I am extreamely happy, that An Occasion So favourably presents itself in communicating to you.—
That notwithstanding, all the Subterfuges, and wicked machinations, Practiced by the Disorganising Federalists, added to the Writings of an Influencial Senator, opposed to the measure, will avail but little, So Sanguine do I feel, under the Strongest impressions, that the Amendment, with out any manner of doubt, in my mind, Will inevitably be adopted.—
The Governor of this State, arrived here on Saturday eveng. last from his Seat, (the hills of Santee,) with whom I had the Honour, of a Friendly Visit, with, this morning, It is I hope, but doing Justice, to the goodness of his heart, in communicating to you, the kind and Friendly Enquiries, he has been pleased to make for you, Hopeing That, at Some period, not far distant, he might have it in his power, To realise that, which he had long contemplated, in the pleasure of Seeing you
I pray you to accept my most respectful, and Sincere Wishes, for your long life, and happy continuance at the Head of our administration, and Believe with every Sentiment of respectful Veneration,
your Hbe. Obt. Servt.
Frs. Mulligan
RC (ViW: Tucker-Coleman Collection); at foot of text: “Ths; Jefferson Esqe. President U States”; endorsed by TJ as received 14 May and so recorded in SJL.
Charleston resident Francis Mulligan (ca. 1749-1823) was a former ferry operator, grocer, and revenue collector who in 1804 owned a brokerage and commission business. He had been pursuing a federal appointment since 1795, applying for the post of naval officer for Charleston or “any vacancy.” In 1802, Mulligan made two appeals to Gallatin for the post of supervisor of the revenue in South Carolina. A year later, following the recommendation of Governor James B. Richardson, TJ appointed him a bankruptcy commissioner. Traveling to Washington in early 1804, Mulligan sought an appointment as marshal of Louisiana. That summer, he was an applicant for commissioner of loans in South Carolina, but questions had surfaced regarding his integrity. Mulligan continued to seek a federal appointment until at least 1813 (Charleston Morning Post and Daily Advertiser, 26 Feb. 1787; Charleston City Gazette and Daily Advertiser, 18 Jan. 1792; South-Carolina State-Gazette, 12 May 1794; Charleston Courier, 29 Aug. 1823; , Miscellaneous, 1:287; , 18:211-12; , 6:409; Vol. 37:711; Vol. 39:585-6; Vol. 42:506; Gallatin to TJ, 23 July 1804, second letter).
influencial senator: Pierce Butler. For his opposition to the Twelfth Amendment, see Vol. 42:459-60.