To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, 3 November 1792
From George Washington
Philadelphia Novr. 3d. 1792.
Dear Sir
Your letter to Messrs. Carmichael and Short (now returned) is full and proper. I have added a word or two with A pencil, which may be inserted or not as you shall think best. The intention of them is to do away the charge of1 Sovereignty over more2 than are within our own territory.
The erazures from the Speech—as you advise—are made, except exchange the word “high” for “just.” If facts will justify the former (as I think they indubitably do)3 policy, I conceive, is much in its favor: For while so many unpleasant things are announced as the Speech contains, it cannot be amiss to accompany them with communications of a more agreeable Nature. I am always—Yours
Go: Washington
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Mr. Jefferson.” Dft (DNA: RG 59, MLR). FC (Lb in DLC: Washington Papers); follows variations in Dft. Recorded in SJPL.
TJ had submitted a draft of his 3 Nov. 1792 letter to Carmichael and Short in a brief covering note to the President of this date (RC in DNA: RG 59, MLR, not recorded in SJL; Tr in Lb in same, SDC). See note 2 to that dispatch for a revision TJ made in accordance with the President’s suggestion above.
TJ’s proposed erazures from the President’s forthcoming annual message to Congress are contained in his letter to Washington of 1 Nov. 1792.
1. Here in the Dft Washington interlined “assumed.”
2. At this point in the Dft Washington interlined “of the Creeks.”
3. Parenthetical phrase interlined in Dft.