1I. Preliminary Draft: Naturalization, [before 12 November 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
recommend a revisal of the law respecting citizens. every man has a right to live somewhere on the earth. and if somewhere, no one society has a greater right than another to exclude him. becoming indeed a member of any society, he is bound to conform to the rules formed by the majority. but has the majority a right to subject him to unequal rules, to rules from which they exempt themselves. I...
2II. Partial Draft: Appointments and Post Office, [before 12 November 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
You are not unapprised, fel. cit , of the differences of opn which prevaild among our citizens as to the proceedings of the govmt, legislative & Exec; and that all offices were given exclusively to those who thought with the govmt. when I was called to administer the Exve functions, rigorous justice would have required that the proscribed party constituting in fact the bulk of the nation...
3III. Partial Draft: Judiciary, Juries, and Naturalization, [before 12 November 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
Judiciary. The Judiciary system of the US. and especially that portion of it recently erected will of course present itself to the contemplation of Congress; and that they may judge of the proportion which the institution bears to the business it has to perform, I have caused to be procured from the several states and now lay before Congress an exact statement of all the cases decided since...
4IV. To James Madison, 12 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you give this inclosed a serious revisal, not only as to matter, but diction? where strictness of grammar does not weaken expression, it should be attended to in complaisance to the purists of New England. but where by small grammatical negligences, the energy of an idea is condensed, or a word stand for a sentence, I hold grammatical rigor in contempt. I will thank you to expedite it,...
5VI. From Albert Gallatin, [ca. 14–15 November 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr Nourse acts, & has for ten years acted, as agent for the disbursements of this department for contingent expences amounting during that period to about 100,000 dollars. On settlement of his accounts there is a deficiency of 202 dollars, arising either from some expence not entered, or for which he had neglected to take a voucher, or from some voucher lost. He thinks it hard, as this was a...
6V. To Albert Gallatin, 14 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Gallatin to examine the inclosed rough draught of what is proposed for his first communication to Congress: not merely the part relating to finance but the whole. several paragraphs are only provisionally drawn, to be altered or omitted according to further information. the whole respecting finance is predicated on a general view of the subject, presented...
7VII. Calculation of Annual Debt Payment, [ca. 15 November 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
A debt of 21,955,900. D bearing an interest of 1,310,401.50 is to be paid in 8. years, by eql. annl. paimts. what is the annual paiment? if the interest were uniform, it would be of 6. pr. cent wanting an insensible fraction. but 6,481,700. D. bears an interest of 8. p. cent, = 518,536. then 15,474,200. D. must be at 5 117 1000 p. cent =
8VIII. From Albert Gallatin, [on or before 16 November 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose some hasty remarks on the message— The incorrectness of the documents of exports of foreign articles compels me after much labour to abandon the plan on which I had intended to calculate the impost and, as the next best, I will prepare one in the following form which rests on documents on which we may depend, being those of duties & drawbacks actually paid. For each of the ten years...
9IX. Albert Gallatin’s Remarks on the Draft Message, [on or before 16 November 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
foreign powers friendly — effect if redress is meant, it seems wrong to raise expectations which probably will be disappointed— Quere whether Mr King’s negotiation should be hinted at? Indians Should not the attempt to treat be mentioned, stating also the determination not to press upon them any disagreeable demand? This to guard against any blame which the imprudence of the Commissrs. might...
10X. Albert Gallatin’s Memorandum on Reporting of Expenses, [on or before 16 November 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
Outlines &a. 1. Specific appropriations—for each object of a distinct nature, and one to embrace for each department all contingencies including therein every discretionary expenditure 2. Each appropriation to refer to a calendar year, & the surplus remaining unexpended after having satisfied the demands on the appropriation from that year, to be carried to the surplus fund; that is to say, to...
11XI. To James Madison, [16 November 1801 or after?] (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as once more to revise this? altho’ I have not entirely obliterated all the passages which have been thought objectionable, yet I have very much reduced & smoothed them. still verbal & minor corrections of style or sentiment will be thankfully recieved & made. RC ( ViU ); undated, but perhaps written after TJ saw Gallatin’s remarks and made changes to the early draft....
12XII. Robert Smith’s Remarks on the Draft Message, [on or before 21 November 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
page 1st . I sent a small squadron of frigates into the Mediterranean with overtures of conciliation and with instructions to assure the Bey of Tripoli of my cordial disposition to preserve with him a State of peace; but with orders at the same time, in case of a declaration of war by that Regency, to protect our Commerce against depradation and our Citizens against Captivity. The Measure was...
13XV. Levi Lincoln’s Remarks on the Message, [ca. 27 November 1801–8 December 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
The Address. relieved from the danger— 2 page—3 line Quere—if the word from had not better be inserted as the word commerce understood is the object on which the verb seems immediately to operate Page 3d. — Quere, whether postage on newspapers had not better be added to the list of duties to be suspended. The means of instruction and of spreading knowledge are generally in all the States, not...
14XIII. Fair Copy, First Annual Message, [by 27 November 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
Fellow citizens of the Senate & House of Representatives. Peace. It is a circumstance of sincere gratification to me, that on meeting the great council of our nation, I am able to announce to them, on grounds of reasonable certainty, that the wars & troubles, which have for so many years afflicted our sister-nations, have at length come to an end; & that the communications of peace & commerce...
15XIV. To Levi Lincoln, 27 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you the message on the state of the nation to be sent to Congress on their meeting. I will ask the favor of you to give it serious perusal & to favor me with such observations, corrections & queries as you may think expedient: to observe also on any negligences of style, which may be corrected without weakening expression: for wherever by a small sacrifice of the rigorous rules of...
16Editorial Note: Drafting the Annual Message to Congress (Jefferson Papers)
Article 2, Section 3, of the Constitution specifies that the president “shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union.” Washington and Adams performed the function by addressing Congress at the opening of the session in the fall. Adams gave his last such address on 22 Nov. 1800, soon after the convening of the second session of the Sixth Congress (Vol....