To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 5 June 1801
From Robert R. Livingston
5th June 1801
Mr. Livingston has the honor to inform the president, that in his opinion the writers of the enclosed have no such political weight or information as should in any sort influence the presidents own sentiments on public measures. They are weak men who have in this instance been probably the dupes of some that are more artful. Mr. Livingston had the honor to state yesterday what he truly believes to be the sense of the more respectable part of the republican party. He trusts that republicanizm is too firmly established to be shaken by a little deviation either on one side or the other, of the line that he understood the president ment to establish—The prest. is too well acquaint’d with mankind to hope that he can even by a regular pursuit of the most wise & virtuous measures satisfy the wishes or silence the murmurs of every man of any party
RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 5 June and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Denniston & Cheetham to TJ, 1 June, which TJ had enclosed in a letter to Livingston of this same date, requesting “Will Chancellor Livingston be so good as to advise Th: Jefferson how much weight should be allowed to the inclosed opinion” and noting “the writers are in the way of information & disclaim personal views; but how far they are qualified to distinguish general from particular opinions, TJ:J. knows not, as he is unacquainted with them” (RC in NHi: Robert R. Livingston Papers; addressed: “Chancellor Livingston”; endorsed by Livingston).
Dupes of some that are more artful: for David Denniston’s connection to the Clintonians in New York and James Cheetham’s to the Burrites, see note to Denniston & Cheetham to TJ, 1 June.