John W. Butler to Thomas Jefferson, 24 June 1809
From John W. Butler
Baltimore, 24th June, 1809.
[S]ir
Having commenced the publication of the enclosed Paper, and being solicitous to grace my list with a name so deservedly dear to the Republican cause, I take the liberty of forwarding you the first number of the Maryland Republican, accompanied by a Proposal, to which, if it should meet your approbation, you will please to signify your patronage by returning it (with your Signature) to your obliged Humble Servt
John W. Butler.
P.S. Please direct to J. W. Butler, Annapolis.
RC (DLC); corner torn; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson, Esq. Monticello, Va.”; franked and postmarked; endorsement by TJ torn. Recorded in SJL as received 29 June 1809. Enclosures: (1) Annapolis Maryland Republican, 17 June 1809. (2) Proposals By John West Butler, for Publishing a Paper in the City of Annapolis, To Be Called The Maryland Republican (Annapolis, 18 May 1809), with Butler as editor declaring himself “unreservedly a disciple of the Jefferson school, and that his whole efforts shall be directed to support those great principles of political truth which has rendered the late President’s name so deservedly dear to his countrymen, and extended his fame as a statesman throughout the world” (printed broadside in DLC; corner torn).
John West Butler was an Annapolis bookseller, printer, and publisher. He described himself as a young Federalist when he obtained a book subscription from TJ in 1801, at which time he was active professionally in Baltimore as well as Annapolis. He published the weekly and semiweekly Annapolis Maryland Republican from 17 June 1809 to 1 July 1811, when he sold it to Jehu Chandler (, 1:223, 251; Butler to TJ, 13 Apr. 1801, and TJ to Butler, 8 May 1801 [DLC]).