151From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 1 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I am just returned from a visit to mr Madison whom I went to consult on certain matters. I communicated to him the papers from Simpson & Gelston inclosed to me in yours of Aug. 20. and which I now reinclose to you. we are both satisfied with Simpson’s refusal to enter the guns of a vessel as part of her description in her clearance, and if you are of our opinion we think it would be well to...
152From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 8 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
As we shall have to lay before Congress the proceedings of the British vessels at N. York it will be necessary for us to say to them with certainty which specific aggressions were committed within the common law, which within the Admiralty jurisdiction, & which on the high seas. the rule of the common law is that wherever you can see from land to land all the water within the line of sight is...
153From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 4 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The appointment of Jonathan Delano to be keeper of the light house at Seguin island; and of James Taylor to be keeper of the light house in Shell castle island is approved. commissions are directed for David Broadie Hampton Edmund Key. Llewellensbg RC ( CtNlCG ); at foot of text: “The Secretary of the Treasury.” PoC ( DLC ); lacks postscript. Notation in SJL : “Delano. Taylor.”
154From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 13 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The case of the Kentucky collection would be intolerable were we not bound to tolerate not only the law but the defects of the law, & the partialities of jurors in it’s execution. whether the law is defective will be seen on the appeal. what are the subtleties by which the lawyers contrive delays is not sufficiently stated to judge the judge ; but he is an honest man, and of reading &...
155From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 1 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Joseph Howland is approved as Keeper of the Light House at Clarke’s point near New Bedford Mas. RC ( DNA : RG 26 , Records of the United States Coast Guard, Records of the Lighthouse Service, Miscellaneous Unbound Correspondence, 1801-1808 [1952]); addressed: “The Secretary of the Treasury”; endorsed by a clerk and by Gallatin. is approved : see Gallatin to TJ, 31 Oct.
156From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 10 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you David Greenlaw’s affidavit to be forwarded to the District Attorney of N. Carolina as you propose. you can add the fact mentioned in Govr. Page’s letter that Greenlaw is at his father’s in Northumberland county Virginia, where he will remain till the 3d. of December to be ready to assist in bringing to justice the persons named in his affidavit. I presume it will be well to...
157From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 7 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Rob. C. Nicholas ought certainly to be required to go to Fort Stoddart and sign the certificates. the Collectorship of Yeocomico seems to lie between Plummer & Tapscott in my judgment. in yours it is Tapscott & Mc.kinney. let Mc.kinney be the man therefore. I should have thought of Plummer as giving more respectability to the office, & an old public servt. but only on the condition of his...
158From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 15 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have attended to the letter of Aaron Powers , who claims lands at St. Anthony’s falls under an Indian grant to Carver the traveller. these lands being within the former limits of Virginia, were subject to the laws of Virginia till her cession of them to the US. and then to the conditions of the cession. by the laws of Virginia Indian grants were nullities except when made to the government:...
159From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 26 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The character given us of the person who leased the Salines was so favorable, that this being the first complaint we have had of him, I should think it best not to act on it directly ourselves. but as the distance is so great, and our means of knowing what is going on very imperfect, so that abuses might be great before we should hear of & could remedy what would you think of communicating the...
160From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 26 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The question arising on Mr Simons’ letter of Jan. 10. is Whether sea-letters shall be given to the vessels of citizens neither born nor residing in the US? Sea-letters are the creatures of treaties. no act of the ordinary legislature requires them. the only treaties now existing with us, & calling for them are those with Holland, Spain, Prussia & France. in the two former we have stipulated...
161From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 27 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
On the question who are to pay the petty jurors in the courts of the US. in private cases? it must be admitted there is room for doubt. the act of 1792 c. 36. § 3. says ‘the compensations shall be to each grand & petit juror so much to witnesses summoned in any of the courts of the US. so much’ etc. without saying who should pay either; whether the US. should pay all the jurors & witnesses or...
162From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 4 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I am at a loss what to do in Gantz’s case . because people are poor and have families, they must not be lawless. judge Winchester thinks the forfeiture too heavy for the offence altho it is agreed he has committed it knowingly & intentionally. in these cases it has been usual for the judge, after the party has suffered so much as he thinks proportioned to his offence, to certify it, and the...
163From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 17 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to adopt either the former or latter proposition at the Salines, as you shall think best? if you think them equally good, perhaps it will be as well to leave to Govr. Harrison the choice , as it might increase his activity and responsibility to execute his own plan. I am quite ignorant of the situation of such a claim as that of Abernethie’s inclosed. will you be kind...
164From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 3 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of 26. March is recieved and I learn with real concern the danger that a temporary loan may be necessary, because we know how it will be perverted to throw dust in the eyes of the people. however if no other expedient can be used we must meet it—I have no expectation that Monroe will be able to get any acknolegement of boundary which we can admit. the next best measure will be to...
165From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 19 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The following Commissions to be issued Michael Baldwin of Ohio to be Marshal Of Ohio Thomas Newton senr. of Virginia to be Collector for the port of Norfolk co. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
166From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 20 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I wish that when Muse was appointed to Tappahanoc we had known that Brett Randolph would accept of it. he is a very worthy & needy man, & one for whom it would be a good act to do something. Colo. Lyon’s applications have been so many & so unsuccessful that, all other qualifications being equal, I should like to prefer the person he recommends: if you know nothing against him. in that case if...
167From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 20 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I think the instructions are perfectly just which provide that if a purchase be made of the Indians adjacent to the Connecticut reserve by the US. the public should be at the expence of surveying all the lines circumscribing their purchase. but if they make no purchase, then those for whom the survey is should pay the expence. it has been sometimes made a question whether Seller or Buyer...
168From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 24 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have no information of the death of judge Bruin, altho I have letters & newspapers from Natchez to Mar. 24. in some of which it would certainly have been mentioned if true. I return you the instrument for Sacket harbour approved. with respect to Claiborne’s accounts I think his situation so totally different from that of all other governors as to justify peculiar indulgences. the office of...
169From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 25 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In answer to your queries I would say 1. the square for the lighthouse on the Missisipi is preferable to the Octagon. in brick or stone the Octagon is strongest, but not so in wood. it is all but impossible to make an Octagon of wood, that will stand at all. 2. the building should be weather boarded; because, as mr Latrobe observes, the lift of the wind is as dangerous as it’s direct impulse,...
170From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 30 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to meet us at 10. oclock tomorrow on a short consultation on the affairs of N. York? NHi : Papers of Albert Gallatin.
171From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 30 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Commissions to be made out Christopher Ellery of Rh odei sland to be Commissioner of loans for the state of Rhodeisland. Augustus Sacket of New York, to be Collector & Inspector of revenue for the port of Sacket harbour. Gideon D. Cobbs of Indiana to be Collector at Massac. Benjamin Sebastan of Kentucky } Comrs. for land titles in the Eastern district of Orleans John Coburn of Kentucky
172From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 1 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to advance to Dollars out of the fund appropriated by the Act of Congress of last session entitled “An Act to provide for the accommodation of the President of the United States”; of which fund he is appointed Agent and is to render his accounts to the Treasury. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
173From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 29 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have no information that the act dividing Orleans into counties is passed. by the papers which came yesterday it appeared to have been twice read and committed. would not the waters of the Red river form one proper district, & the residuary country another? or the waters of the Red-river & the country above & between that & the Misipi for one, and the residuary country the other? The...
174From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 4 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I think mr Hollingsworth’s conduct has been wrong in every point with the Smiths. 1. as to the large bond, when a plaintiff accepts paiment from a def. pending a suit, and does not secure costs he loses them. should he afterwards go on to judgment, it will be against him, the paiment defeating the ground of action. it is the stronger in this case, as not only the writ had not been served, but...
175From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 11 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Gallatin to come half an hour before dinner to-day (say at 3.) to consult on a judge for N. York vice Livingston. NHi : Papers of Albert Gallatin.
176From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 17 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In the case of the rescue of the Felicity by Capt Newcome of the revenue cutter he certainly could not act as a revenue officer. but taking for granted the fact that the Felicity was taken within our jurisdiction, it was the duty of any citizen who had the means of vindicating our jurisdiction to do so. Capt Newcome, with the arms of the US. in his hands, for whatever other purpose they might...
177From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 21 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
the revival of antient slanders under pretext of new evidence, has induced Th:J. to do, what he never took the trouble of doing before, to revise some papers he happens to have here (for most of that date are at Monticello) and to make a statement of the transactions as they really took place, with a view that they shall be known to his friends at least. under this view he taxes mr Gallatin...
178From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 30 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I find by the inclosed letter from Henry Sheaff, that after having been once an immense sufferer as security for Robert Morris, he is now likely to be so again as security for Peter Kuhn. a man in distress may be pardoned the error of supposing that in a public transaction he can have a resource in the private regard of a public officer. but considering him as an innocent security, for a very...
179From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 1 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you Morris’s letter, claiming for Kibber paiment of the bill to be drawn on us for monies due from France to Comfort Sands a bankrupt of whom Kibber is the assignee. the government is in this case merely the channel of paiment. as it is liable to no process from a court, it is bound to do voluntary justice, & precisely as a court would direct if it had authority. the money, claimed by...
180From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 2 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The answer to Morris is perfectly well as it leaves the case open for decision as the fact or law shall be. I have dropt a line to Sheaff to address either yourself or the Comptroller on his case.—the prospect of avoiding a loan is really most pleasing. I observe mr Livingston is arrived, and the newspapers seem to suppose the call for the French money will soon take place. you have not told...