Thomas Jefferson Papers

John Rhea to Thomas Jefferson, 9 March 1811

From John Rhea

Washington 9th March 1811

Sir

The inclosed will afford, (it is presumed) no information to You, accept it, however, as an Evidence of the high respect and Esteem which for you is Entertained—by me. accept Sir, my best wishes for your felicity—Your Obedt servt

John Rhea

RC (MHi); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr Late President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 13 Mar. 1811 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Rhea to his constituents, Washington, D.C., 25 Feb. 1811, describing the fiscal condition of the United States and progress made on paying the national debt; reporting the passage of a statehood act for Orleans Territory, the ports of which are of particular significance to Tennessee; detailing the background leading up to the Embargo, including decrees and orders issued by France and Great Britain; justifying decisions made by the federal government in response to French and British actions; discussing the possible consequences of France’s apparent revocation of the Berlin and Milan decrees; declaring that American domestic conditions are fortuitous; and predicting a glorious future for the nation (Raleigh Register, and North-Carolina State Gazette, 21 Mar. 1811, at head of text: “Letter from Mr Rhea, of Tennessee, To his Constituents”; reprinted in Noble E. Cunningham Jr., ed., Circular Letters of Congressmen to Their Constituents, 1789–1829 [1978], 2:752–60).

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  • Rhea, John; letters from search
  • Rhea, John; sends constituent circulars to TJ search
  • Tennessee; J. Rhea’s letters to constituents in search