571II. To David Williams, 14 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved the volume on the Claims of literature which you did me the favor to send me through mr Monroe; & have read with satisfaction the many judicious reflections it contains on the condition of the respectable class of literary men. the efforts for their relief, made by a society of private citizens, are truly laudable: but they are, as you justly observe, but a palliation of...
572To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Crockett, 15 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The cession of Louisiana to the united States, I expect will make it Necessary for a collector of the revenue to be appointed at the port of New Orleans: If so I would beg leave to inform you Sir, Mr. George Madison of Frankfort, wishes to be considered a candidate for that Office. I have been well acquainted with Mr Madison ever since a small boy his character is equal to any for honesty and...
573To Thomas Jefferson from William Polk, 15 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The warm Attachment I feel to your Person and Principles, as displayed in your Administration I hope will be Accepted as my excuse for troubling you with this Address— I have lately seen an Address signed by a Number of Gentlemen Residing in Worcester County Maryland directed to the Secretary of the Treasury, Soliciting the Removal of William Selby the present Collector of the district of Snow...
574To Thomas Jefferson from John Tarver, 15 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
To attempt an apology for the Liberty I t[ake] in addressing you, or to say what gave birth in my mind the idea of the application is out of my power, but hope that my boldness will find excuse in that exalted goodness which I have, with thousands of others been some Year’s an humble admirer off. My Prayer Honble Sir, is to find employment, in our new acquired and much admired acquisition of...
575Party Affiliation of Federal Officeholders: Editorial Note (Jefferson Papers)
Spurred by dissension in Republican ranks in Philadelphia over Federalists who remained in lucrative offices, Jefferson decided to study the party affiliation of those who had received presidential appointments. Writing Peter Freneau on 20 May, he reviewed his administration’s patronage policy, noting that when he took office the Federalists “possessed all.” By removing those Federalists who...
576The Boundaries of Louisiana: Editorial Note (Jefferson Papers)
The geographic limits of the purchase of Louisiana were ill-defined. Although Jefferson could rightly rejoice that Americans now controlled the entire Mississippi valley, including of course the prize of New Orleans, little else was known about what bounded the acquisition. The purchase treaty merely quoted the vague language of the Treaty of San Ildefonso, which defined Louisiana by “the Same...
577Drafting the Annual Message to Congress: Editorial Note (Jefferson Papers)
Jefferson’s summoning of the new Congress to convene on 17 Oct. and his desire that the legislators be ready to take up the acquisition of Louisiana without delay meant that he would have to prepare his annual message earlier than had been the case in 1801 or 1802. He could, however, rely on the procedures for building the message that he had honed in the previous years. As he had done in...
578Jefferson’s Letters to David Williams: Editorial Note (Jefferson Papers)
Joel Barlow introduced David Williams to James Monroe “as an old friend of Dr. Franklin.” On 20 Sep., Monroe informed the president that he was forwarding Williams’s 1802 London publication, Claims of Literature: The Origin, Motives, Objects, and Transactions of the Society for the Establishment of A Literary Fund . Monroe agreed to present any response Jefferson wished to make to the author....