11V. Partial Draft, 8 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
When it was vain to deny that our measures were good, they resorted to motives, & alledged they proceeded from bad motives. the taxes they admitted were unnecessary, but we did not suppress them because they were unnecessary, but because it would be popular. to the public however this question is of no importance. whether their agents do good, because they are good, or because it will please...
12VI. Partial Draft, 8 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In the great mass of our country Middle Southern & Westward The progress towards a final consolidn of sentiment in matters of government has reached that ultimate term beyond which perhaps it is not desirable it should extend. that there should be some difference of opn, some opponents to the prevailing one is certainly wholsome. they are as watchmen over every department of the government,...
13XII. Notes on the Second Inaugural Address, 8 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Notes on a Draught for a second inaugural Address. The former one was an exposition of the principles on which I thought it my duty to administer the government. the second then should naturally be a Compte rendu, or a statement of facts, shewing that I have conformed to those principles. the former was promise : this is performance . yet the nature of the occasion requires that detail should...
14List of Interim Appointments, 8 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
List of appointments made by the President of the United States, subsequent to the rising of the Senate in March 1804 John Armstrong Esq. Minister Plenipotentiary to France. James Monroe Esq. Minister Extray. and Plenipotentiary Singly, to the Court of Spain, for the same purpose that Charles Pinckney Esqr. was heretofore united with him, and submitted to, and approved by the Senate. Ephraim...
15II. Draft Bill, 23 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
An act Regulating the clearance of Armed vessels— Be it enacted &ca that no vessel armed or provided with the means of being armed at Sea, in which, or the Cargo whereof, a Citizen or inhabitant of the US. shall be interested or embarked shall Receive at any Custom house of the US. any clearance, or be suffered to leave the port where she is found so armed or providd. but on Security given to...
16I. Bill for the Preservation of Peace in Harbors and Waters of the United States, 22 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
An Act for the more effectual preservation of the peace in the harbors and waters of the US. & on board vessels. Foreign armed vessels within the harbours. committing breaches of law. A.G. l. 4. after ‘felony’ insert ‘infraction of revenue-law or other statute.’ I had rather extend the provision to cases cognisable by the authority of individual states. but if this be objectionable, the cases...
17Memorandum of Tasks for James Dinsmore, 24 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
work to be done by mr Dinsmore. ✓ finish the Dome room. ✓ double the door of the cellar under the tea-room. ✓ do the gutturs of the house with sheet iron. h hang the sashes of all the windows. ✓ a. finish <base & caps & architraves of> Hall & parlour ✓ put up the Venetian blinds from Washington ✓ a. remodel the 2. pr sash doors of the parlour. the outer new folding doors to be made of pine,...
18Memorandum of Tasks for John Hemings, 24 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
reserved for J. Hemings. All the Chinese railing. Venetian blinds for the Porticos. the 3. remaing. Angular Portals. the Aviary. facings &c of windows of covered ways folds of window shutters. closet of my bed chamber store rooms in the loft. MS ( MHi ); undated; entirely in TJ’s hand; on other side of sheet containing “Work to be done by mr Dinsmore,” dated 24 Sep. (see Memorandum of Tasks...
19Memorandum of Tasks for John Perry, 24 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Perry. to floor & shelve the loft ✓ lath the Wood-room & put a good door. ✓ pale in the nursery, enlarging it to what it used to be. pales 4. f. high, to be rived, & made close enough to keep out hares. ✓ make the chicken coop. do the roof of the N.W. offices. mr Stewart will put on the sheet iron when it comes. the North passage is to be covered next; then the South passage, taking off...
20Enclosure: Petition of Charles Brown, 10 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The humble Petition of Charles Brown an unfortunate Black-Man most respectfully Sheweth—That He has been in confinement in Washington County Goal ever since last November & that He has sufferd the Law but is totally unable to extricate Him self from prison not having it his Power to pay the fine & Fees— He is upwards of fifty five Years of Age & has a Wife living in George who has been...
21Notes on Dispatches from William C. C. Claiborne, 4 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
July 4. Govr. Claiborne’s lre May 24. 04. St. Julien’s case the local judge should decide if crimes commd under Span. govmt are cognisable under ours & proceed accdly do. May 29. dispute between 2. priests . let their chief decide French privateer with American prize. do. May 30. his expences . do. June 2. his answer to the impertinencies of Govr. Folch perfect MS ( DLC : TJ Papers,...
22Opinion on the Edward Stevens Claim, 12 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Doctr. Stevens’s case. I consider the annual act which appropriates a given sum to the expences of intercourse with foreign nations, as a sufficient authority to the President (the constitutional organ of foreign intercourse) to expend that sum for the purposes of foreign intercourse, at his discretion. if he abuses that discretion he is responsible for it in a constitutional way. the legal...
23Memorandum on Appointments, 29 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Tomson J. Skinner of Massachusets to be Commissioner of loans for Massachus ets William Few of New York to be Commissioner of loans for New York Daniel Humphreys of New Hampshire to be Atty for the US. in the district of New Ha mpshire Thomas Rutter of Maryland to be Marshal for the district of Maryland. Joshua Prentiss of Massachusets to be Surveyor of the of Marblehead and Inspector of the...
24Notes on a Cabinet Meeting, 26 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
1804. May. 26. Present the Secretaries and Atty Genl. What terms of peace with Tripoli shall be agreed to? if successful, insist on their deliverg. up men without ransom, and reestablishing old treaty without paying any thing. if unsuccessful, rather than have to continue the war, agree to give 500. D. a man, (having first deducted for the prisoners we have taken) and the sum in gross &...
25Notes on Curing Herring, 22 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Hollis —Hollis near Bushtown Maryland, comes every year to fish in the Patowmac opposite Alexandria. he says that it is best to leave the head on the fish, because when taken off the fish becomes much drier. he considers what is called gobbing them as much the best method, that is to take out the gills & entrails, & leave the row and head. he has sold this year @ 3⅓ D. the barrel he will...
26Topics for Consultation with the Secretary of War, 16 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
May 16. Deptmt War. Pichon’s complt of not returng salute to flag at N.O. Presents to Indns. at St. Louis. tobo. Whiskey. Capt. Lewis says 2000 D war between Kickapoos & oth. Indns. E. of Misipi, & Osages Homestubbe’s talk. Poutewatamies have killed the Indian murderers Capt Stoddart . barracks wanted at St. Louis a stone fort intended as only a bastion. gorge wants closing best to erect...
27Topics for Consultation with Heads of Departments, 15 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
May. 15. 04 State Judge Davies’s enquiries mr Merry’s case Pichon’s memorial he hazards general assertions neither proved nor true the law of nations does not make a nation responsible for acts of individuals out of it’s limits. yet friendly nations do watch to a certain degree. does France watch the atrocities of it’s privateers men with & without commissions it to be assurd. on our part of...
28Enclosure: Party Affiliation of South Carolina State Senators, 12 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Names of the Senators of Sou. Carolina Those marked R. are Republicans, D. are doubtful, and F. are Federals Jno. Gailliard President, R J Blake R R Marion R R Barnwell F Jno. McPherson F J Blasinghame D C. C. Pinckney F Josh. Calhoun R R Pinckney, F Levy Casey—R J. Postell Senr. F Wm. A Deas—F B Rogers—F Elias Earl—R Arthur Simpkins R Ths. Farrar R OBrian Smith R C Godwin
29VI. Draft Bill in Chancery, 5 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
To George Wythe, judge of the High court of Chancery of the district of Richmond in the commonweatlth of Virginia. Humbly complaining sheweth unto your honor your orator Craven Peyton of the county of Albemarle that Bennet Henderson late of the same county being in his lifetime seized & possessed in feesimple of a tract of land therein on the Rivanna river surrounding & adjacent to the town...
30Declaration of Trust with Craven Peyton, 4 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
This indenture made on the 4th. day of May 1804. between Craven Peyton of the one part and Thomas Jefferson of the other, both of the county of Albemarle, witnesseth that Whereas the said Craven hath, at various times, and by various contracts deeds & other instruments, purchased from the widow & representatives of the late Bennet Henderson all their rights & interests in a tract of land held...
31III. Notes on Henderson Land Deeds, 30 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
✓ 1799. Dec. 28. James L. Henderson to Tucker Woodson. deed for ‘all his right &c in the lands of his father,’ to wit 1 10 & reversion of dower except his interest in the mill now standing, and the lot occupied by Henderson & Connard; but conveys all the other unsold lots in Milton, in considn of a negro man James or £110. & of the relinqmt of a debt of 152. D. due from sd James to Tucker....
32To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Rodney, 23 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Washington, Mississippi Territory, 23 Apr. 1804 . Rodney sends TJ a detailed account of the western country, including descriptions of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and their respective valleys. He has received only imperfect information regarding the west side of the Mississippi. The business of the land office is progressing, but he awaits the supplementary act from Congress before...
33Notes on Lease to Richard Gamble, 22 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Heads of a lease to Richard Gamble. 5. fields North of the road, of 40 acres each. to wit 4. on the Shadwell tract now leased to J. Perry, and one on the Lego tract, adjoining to the Upper field of Shadwell, including the ground already open there & about Reynolds’s house, & as much more to be opened adjacent as will make up 40. acres. the lease to commence Oct. 15. 1804. (being John Perry’s...
34Instructions for Arkansas River and Red River Expedition, 14 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The government of the US. being desirous of informing itself of the extent of the country lately ceded to them under the name of Louisiana, to have the same, with it’s principal rivers, geographically delineated, to learn the character of it’s soil, climate, productions, & inhabitants, you are appointed to explore , for these purposes, the interesting portion of it which lies on the Arkansa...
35I. Notes on Injunction against John Henderson, 8 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Bill. in 1802. purchased the dower of Eliz. Henderson that John Henderson is digging a race thro’ the lands prays injunction. Answer of J. Henderson. in Nov. 1801. he entered into written contract with the sd Elizabeth relative to sundry matters, & among others that it was agreed that he should have all the sd Eliz’s right to so much of her sd dower lands as might be necessary for the purpose...
36II. Notes on Agreement between Elizabeth Henderson and John Henderson, 8 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
relative to the written agreement between Eliz. & John Henderson the probability is it was only an agreemt instead of a lease of the house . Kemp Catlett was the only witness to it; but he knows nothing of it’s contents, nor does he even remember the appearance of the face of it, having had nothing to do with it but to sign it as a witness. Richard Price saw the instrument soon after it’s...
37IV. Response to the Washington Federalist, 13 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The Washington Federalist of the 1st. inst. has published what he calls the ‘Etiquette of the court of the US.’ in his facts, as usual, truth is set at nought, & in his principles little correct to be found. the Editor having seen a great deal of unfounded stuff on this subject, in that & other papers of a party whose first wish it is to excite misunderstandings with other nations, (even with...
38Notes on a Conversation with Aaron Burr, 26 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Jan. 26. Colo Burr the V.P. calls on me in the evening, having previously asked an opportunity of conversing with me. he began by recapitulating summarily that he had come to N.Y. a stranger some years ago, that he found the country in possn of two rich families, (the Livingstons & Clintons) that his pursuits were not political & he meddled not. when the crisis however of 1800. came on, they...
39Continuation of an Examination of the Boundaries of Louisiana, 15 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
P.S. the Northern boundary of Louisiana, Coterminous with the possessions of England. The limits of Louisiana have been spoken of, in the preceding statement , as if those established to the West & North, by the charter of Louis XIV. remained still unaltered. in the West they are so, as already explained. but, in the North, a material change has taken place. with this however it was...
40II. Canons of Etiquette, 12 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Canons of Etiquette to be observed by the Executive. 1. Foreign ministers arriving at the seat of government pay the first visit to the ministers of the nation, which is returned: and so likewise on subsequent occasions of reassembling after a recess. 2. The families of foreign ministers recieve the 1st. visit from those of the National ministers, as from all other residents and as all...