From Thomas Jefferson to Abraham Baldwin, 1 May 1802
To Abraham Baldwin
Washington. May 1. 1802.
Dear Sir
A mr Putnam of Georgia was lately appointed to the command of a revenue cutter on the recommendation of yourself, Genl. Jackson & mr Milledge; and I trust on good grounds. the Washington Federalist however of Apr. 30. charges him with having been tried and convicted of having stolen a gold watch. a charge so specific brought forward in the public papers, I have always supposed sufficient to make it the duty of the Executive to enquire into it. it becomes necessary therefore for mr Putnam to justify himself if innocent: and as we do not hold courts of enquiry, the only way would be by bringing the question before a jury by way of action against the three editors Caldwell, Kirkland & Rind. may I ask from your friendship to apprize mr Putnam that we shall expect to hear from him on this subject? Accept assurances of my high consideration & esteem.
Th: Jefferson
PrC (DLC); at foot of text: “Mr. Baldwin”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso.
For the RECOMMENDATION, see note to TJ to the Senate, 10 Mch. CHARGE SO SPECIFIC: the accusation against Henry Putnam was included in the extract of a letter from Savannah printed in the Washington Federalist. THREE EDITORS: according to the masthead, the newspaper was edited by William A. Rind “& Co.” Elias B. Caldwell, clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court, was referred to as an editor of the newspaper in 1804. Putnam resigned his position in early 1804 ( , 1:95–6; Tyranny of Printers, 240–1; , v. 1, pt. 1:163–5, 168n; Washington Federalist, 30 Apr. 1802; , 9:343; Gallatin to TJ, 16 Feb. 1804).