Thomas Jefferson Papers
You searched for: “Alien and Sedition Acts” with filters: Author="Barbour, James"
sorted by: date (descending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-31-02-0278

To Thomas Jefferson from James Barbour, 20 January 1800

From James Barbour

Richmond Jany. 20th. 1800

Dear Sir

I received last night under cover from you Mr. Coopers pamphlet for which accept my thanks. The Legislature here will adjourn I presume on Saturday next after the most important Session We have had for some years. The report produced by my Colleague Mr Madison I suppose has long since reached you as well as instructions to our Senators. Amongst other subjects contemplated in the instructions is the opposing a Law predicated upon the principle that the common law was appurtenant to the general government to this was introduced an amendment by the opposition copied verbatim from Mr Madisons report and unanimously agreed to by the house. It appeared however in the sequel that this by that party was intended as a finessee. The Senate merely for greater certainty recommended an ammendment the words “by Congress” in that part which goes to this effect, and so far also as such other parts may be adopted as necessary &c. The opposition contended that they meant by the expression the Judiciary as well as Congress, however they were left in the most pitiful minority some of their warmest Friends deserting; both those subjects have passed the Senate by much larger majorities than were contemplated. 15. to 6. We have also passed in the lower house a law directing a general ticket but by only a majority of five votes. We have preserved the principle of Districting as far as is compatible with a general ticket by declaring that there shall be one Elector from each District. This law will likewise unquestionably pass the Senate. This law excited the opposition more sensibly than any measure which has obtained this Session. The others being merely opinions were somewhat easily digested but when this measure was discovered, to operate something more than opinion and might lead to consequences which they deprecate it rendered some of the Chiefs perfectly intolerable. Their opposition wore the appearance of the most complete chagrin and disappointment. The general ticket will (as far as I can learn) amongst the People be received extremely well and forbodes the most suspicious effects. I will bring my letter to a close fearful that I have already detained you too long upon subjects in detail.

Accept Sir my wishes for your welfare I am Respty

Js. Barbour

RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 25 Jan. 1800 and so recorded in SJL.

James Barbour (1775–1842) of Orange County read law with a Richmond attorney and became a member of the Virginia bar at the age of eighteen. Entering the House of Delegates in the term that began in December 1798, he immediately played a key role in assailing the Alien and Sedition Acts and supporting the Virginia Resolutions. Barbour’s plantation, Barboursville, was located near Montpelier, and as his early actions in the legislature demonstrated, he considered James Madison to be a political mentor. An indispensable proponent of Republican measures and ideals in Virginia, Barbour became Speaker of the House of Delegates in 1809, governor in 1812, and a U.S. senator two years after that. He then became a strong advocate of the National Republican program, favoring a strong federal role in internal improvements, serving in John Quincy Adams’s administration as secretary of war and minister to Britain, and supporting Henry Clay’s bids for the presidency. Barbour promoted innovative agricultural techniques. He built a house at Barboursville using a design and advice from TJ, and assisted TJ in securing funding for the University of Virginia (ANB description begins John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, New York and Oxford, 1999, 24 vols. description ends ; Leonard, General Assembly, description begins Cynthia Miller Leonard, comp., The General Assembly of Virginia, July 30, 1619–January 11, 1978: A Bicentennial Register of Members, Richmond, 1978 description ends 213; Charles D. Lowery, James Barbour: A Jeffersonian Republican [Tuscaloosa, Ala., 1984], 19, 53; Kimball, Jefferson, Architect, description begins Fiske Kimball, Thomas Jefferson, Architect, Boston, 1916 description ends 73–4, 185–6, plate 206; Nichols, Architectural Drawings, description begins Frederick Doveton Nichols, Thomas Jefferson’s Architectural Drawings, Compiled and with Commentary and a Check List, Charlottesville, 1978 description ends 34).

Index Entries