211From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 24 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Some letters are recieved which require to be consulted & acted on to-day. if you will be so good as to come here on your arrival at your office, I will send for the other gentlemen. it will be an affair of not more than a quarter of an hour’s consultation. NHi : Papers of Albert Gallatin.
212From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 23 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The words ‘ere long’ & ‘systems of fortifications’ were omitted by oversight in correcting the copy I sent you yesterday. I had made both those amendments in the original. but I have struck out the passage about fortifications altogether, on the principle that where there is a difference of opinion it is better to say too little than too much. affectionate salutations. NHi : Papers of Albert...
213From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 20 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Thomas Jefferson asks the favor of a Consultation with the heads of Departments tomorrow at one Oclock on the subject of the message, & that they will add that of dining with him. NHi : Papers of Albert Gallatin.
214From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 14 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
1. As to the 500. cavalry. if we have peace with Spain, we shall not want them; if War, all our plans must be new moulded: it is therefore only during the present unsettled state . this cannot exceed 6. month from Oct. 1. about which time they probably went into service. this will cost 100,000. D. the proposing to Congress to establish them during the present unsettled state of things, is...
215From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 7 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have considered the claim of General Dearborne for further compensation for the erection of the light house at Cape Hatteras; & of the beacon at Shell-castle island, as stated in your letter of Dec. 13. & the documents accompanying it: and I am of opinion that the situation of the ground on which the erection was made was so materially & disadvantageously different from what both parties...
216From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 22 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Gallatin & wishes to know how he does to-day. he prays him not to think of coming out on account of the meeting proposed to-day unless he finds himself perfectly well. he only wishes for information on the subject in time to prevent the attendance of the other gentlemen if mr Gallatin cannot be with them. NHi : Papers of Albert Gallatin.
217From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 21 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Thomas Jefferson asks the favor of the heads of Departments to meet him at 11. oclock tomorrow morning— NHi : Papers of Albert Gallatin.
218From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 12 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
You witnessed in the earlier part of the administration the malignant & long continued efforts which the federalists exerted, in their newspapers, to produce misunderstanding between mr Madison & myself. these failed compleatly. a like attempt was afterwards made through other channels to effect a similar purpose between Genl. Dearborne & myself, but with no more success. the machinations of...
219From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 11 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed certainly cannot be wrong: can it be taken amiss by mr Nicholson himself? to what place must I address it? I wish it to go by this day’s post, to cut off applications. NHi : Papers of Albert Gallatin.
220From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 7 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have examined the papers respecting the St Domingo trade, and now return them to you. not having a copy of the laws of the last session, I can judge in these cases only from so much of this particular law as is quoted. I think mr Dallas’s answers to the queries proposed to him, (as stated in the Aurora) are sound: and it appears to me that the case stated by Colo. Newton falls a fortiori...
221From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 23 September 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
On the reciept of your letter of the 6th. observing you would leave N. York before an answer could reach you, I retained all the papers accompanying it, & shall carry them with me to Washington. in the mean time the inclosed letter is recieved through mr Madison respecting a vessel concerned in the slave trade, & as it may require your immediate interposition I send it by post. I shall leave...
222From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 2 September 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Not having a copy of the laws of the last session here, I am obliged to ask information from yourself whether the opinion of your chief clerk, mentioned in Thos. Moore’s letter, be correct. it is certainly best not to draw the issuing of warrants out of their regular course, if the words of the law can possibly bear another construction. there is no case, but that of the contingent fund, where...
223From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 31 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the papers respecting the Louisiana board of Commissioners, with only the alteration of omitting the words in the Xth. intruction about which you had doubted yourself. at the same time it is without confidence I give any opinion on this subject, having always considered your knolege on it so exact as to supersede the necessity of my studying it minutely. if any opinion, in aid...
224From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 28 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned hither the day before yesterday & found your two letters of the 15th. I am much pleased with the expectation of mr Thompson’s continuance in office in the Orleans land office. the appointment of Robert Sargent as 2d. mate to the revenue cutter of Delaware is approved. on the subject of the negociation for the Floridas not one word further than is known to you has been recieved. you...
225From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 16 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have made it a rule to grant no pardon in any criminal case but on the recommendation of the judges who sat on the trial, & the district Attorney, or two of them. I believe it a sound rule, & not to be departed from but in extraordinary cases. this occasions me to trouble you with the inclosed petition. it is probable the party petitioning, or his friends, on being informed of the rule, will...
226From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 15 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 7th. was recieved yesterday; and I have this day inclosed mr Sandford’s letter to mr Madison for perusal and to be forwarded by him to you. the skill & spirit with which mr Sandford and mr Edwards conducted the prosecution gives perfect satisfaction. nor am I dissatisfied with the result; I had no wish to see Smith imprisoned: he has been a man of integrity & honor, led astray by...
227From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 18 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Gallatin to attend a consultation at 1. o’clock tomorrow and to do him the favor to dine with him. NHi : Papers of Albert Gallatin.
228From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 17 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the petitions of the inhabitants of Sag-harbor and of the Keeper of the Light house there. the claims of the parties depend on the Indian right of soil, on the legal effect of the Indian conveyances & contracts, & the degree of patronage or guardianship exercised over them by the government of N. York. the rule of decision being the lex loci, the science & authority of the State...
229From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 14 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
A law of the last session provided for making a road from Nashville to Natchez, & another from Cincinnati, by Vincennes to St. Louis. not having a copy of the laws yet, I do not know whether it is necessary for me to take any steps on this subject at present, or what it waits for. can you inform me? The road from Cumberland to Ohio will be an important link in the line to St. Louis. there will...
230From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 12 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have kept the papers on the subject of raising the salaries of certain light-house keepers longer than usual, because I know that the systematic pressure on every government for augmenting salaries requires serious consideration. however if the salaries at present are not properly proportioned among themselves, I think it will be just and expedient to make them so, once for all, & hereafter...
231From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 3 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Norborne Nicholas, mr Smith junr. & mr R. Smith dine with me to-day, en petite comité. will you do us the favor to be of the party? dinner is to be a little earlier than usual that they may pursue their journey. NHi : Papers of Albert Gallatin.
232From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 2 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I learn from an eye-witness that Govr. Page, since his retirement is not only in poverty but real want, & would accept of any thing. the loan office at Richmond will be inevitably vacant in a very short time by the death of the present incumbent, & it is the only place in that state which could be offered mr Page. will you be so good as to inform me of it’s worth in salary & emolument say...
233From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 26 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The Attorney Genl. being absent, we must decide for ourselves the question raised by Colo. Newton’s letter Whether mr Cooper can own a registered vessel? or in other words whether he is a citizen of the US? I hold the right of expatriation to be inherent in every man by the laws of nature, & incapable of being rightfully taken from him even by the united will of every other person in the...
234From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 25 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress adopting a court, adopts all it’s officers. The Sheriff consequently is the competent officer. but as to the Attorney, we can surely employ one in each particular case, until we be authorised to do better. With respect to the revenue cutter at Norfolk, the general idea I had was that having concluded to employ smaller vessels in that service, all the large ones were to be...
235From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 21 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Judging by Price’s survey of Ocracock, the only position for the custom house which seems to come into competition with the point B recommended by mr Taylor, is that part of Beacon island opposite to the point marked a . but perhaps Wallace’s channel may be the most used. the form you propose No. 1. would include Beacon’s island, and on that account would be preferable, as it would give us...
236From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 19 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had a consultation with mr Madison on the application of the British vessel of war for stores we are both of opinion that if by this term be meant sea-stores only, or even munitions be bouche or provisions generally, there can be no objection to their taking them, or indeed any thing except contraband of war . but what should be deemed contraband of war in this case we are not agreed....
237From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 15 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 27th. of April I wrote to Govr. Claiborne in these words. ‘Congress has permitted lots to be taken for M. de la Fayette as low as 500. as. this secures to us the parcel on the canal of Carondelet: but at the same time cuts off those smaller locations proposed by mr Duplantier. indeed it would not be for the interest of the General to let his claim get into collision with any public...
238From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 15 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
It would be satisfactory if mr Newton would state something more than the names of his candidates, such as their residence, character, politics, standing in society, and if he would say which if any is preferable to mr Calvert. can you have an opportunity of consulting him. NHi : Papers of Albert Gallatin.
239From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 22 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the papers which inform us of the construction of the law respecting land claims by the Commissioners of Louisiana, with the Attorney General’s opinion on that construction. this opinion is approved by every member of the administration, as it is by myself. satisfied that no improper motive has produced this mistake of the object of the law in the minds of the Commissioners, I...
240From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 20 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I suppose there can be no difficulty in prolonging the time for filing claims in the Western district of Orleans, as proposed in your letter of yesterday. I should think it much more reasonable & practicable to move the Commrs. to the distant settlements than to force the poor inhabitants to come to them. we shall by that means also be able to get through the Commrs. better information as to...