1Resolution of the General Assembly Appointing Jefferson Governor, 2 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Resolved that Thomas Jefferson Esquire, be appointed Governor or Chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth, for one Year, he having been elected to that Office by joint ballot of both Houses of Assembly. MS ( PHi ); engrossed copy on parchment, signed by the speakers of the two houses and endorsed: “resoln: of Ass: appt. of Govr.” Another MS ( Vi ), headed “Virginia to wit. In the House of...
2III. Reply of Senate to House of Delegates concerning Money Bills, [9 December 1777] (Jefferson Papers)
The Senate wish to have their institution clearly understood, and the bounds of their authority marked, satisfied that a wide door must stand open to contest, were this not to be the case. They prize very highly the harmony so justly valued by the House of Delegates; whilst that reigns, the public happiness will probably be most effectually sustained. This principle, so useful in the conduct...
3Appointment by the General Assembly of a Committee to Investigate and Publish Findings concerning Virginia’s Western … (Jefferson Papers)
Resolved that a Committee of five to wit George Mason, Thomas Jefferson, Arthur Lee, Edmund Randolph and Thomas Walker Esquires be appointed and vested with full Powers to collect all Documents and Proofs necessary for establishing the Right of this State to it’s Western Territory as stated by the Act of Government in 1776. To state such Right and apply the Proofs in Support thereof. That the...
4To James Madison from the Virginia General Assembly, 22 February 1817 (Madison Papers)
At the moment when you are about to lay down the power with which the voluntary suffrages of an enlightened country have invested you, and to retire to that peaceful calm which your devotion to the public service has hitherto denied you, the General Assembly of Virginia cannot forbear to tender you, on behalf of the good people of your native state, a brief expression of their esteem, their...
5V. Communication from House of Delegates to Senate concerning Money Bills, [9 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
Reasons to be offered at the conference to be desired of the Senate in answer to their reasons delivered at the last conference. The house of delegates not being satisfied with the reasons urged by the Senate in support of their amendments to the resolution for allowing to Thomas Johnson the sum of £15-5-6 have desired this second conference to shew the insufficiency of the said reasons and to...
6Bill for Dividing the Counties of Augusta and Botetourt, [16 December 1777–12 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
[Whereas] it is represented to this present Session of Assembly by the Inhabitants of Augusta and Botetourt Counties that they labour under great Inconveniencies by Reason of the great Extent of the said Counties and Parishes Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly that from and after the first Day of February next the said County and Parish of Augusta shall be divided by a Line...
7Bill concerning Inoculation for Smallpox, [27 December 1777] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas the Small-pox, at this time in many parts of the Commonwealth is likely to spread and become general, and it hath been proved by incontestible experience that the late discovery’s and Improvements therein have produced great Benefits to Mankind, by rendering a Distemper, which taken in the common way is always dangerous and often fatal, comparatively mild and safe by Inoculation, and...
8Bill for Lessening the Evils of Securityship, [before June 1779?] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas the laws permitting one person to become bound for another have been found in experience to be of more harm than help to the citizens of this commonwealth, by encouraging merchants and others to extend credits beyond the abilities of their debtors to pay, by giving fatal facilities to thoughtless and unprincipled spendthrifts to continue their extravagant courses till they have not...
9Enclosure II: Resolution of the Virginia Assembly, 1 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
Resolved that Thomas Massey Esqr., or in case of his death or failing to act through other cause, such other person as shall be appointed by the Executive in his stead, be authorized in conjunction with the person appointed or to be appointed on the part of Maryland, to open and keep in repair a convenient Road from such part of the Waters of the Potowmack, to such part of the River Cheat or...
10Bill Amending Act for Fixing the Allowance of Members of the General Assembly, [31 May 1779] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas by an act intituled ‘an act for fixing the allowance of the members of general assembly’ passed at this present session by authority from the body of the people it was provided that the said allowances should be of 50. pounds of neat tobacco by the day for attendance on assembly, two pounds of the like tobacco for every mile they must necessarily travel going to or from the same,...
11Bill concerning Escheats and Forfeitures from British Subjects, [4 June 1779] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas during the connection which subsisted between the now United states of America and the other parts of the British empire, and their subjection to one common prince the inhabitants of either part had all the rights of natural born subjects in the other and so might lawfully take and hold real property, and transmit the same by descent to their heirs in fee simple, which could not be...
12Bill to Amend an Act for Raising a Supply of Money, [14 October 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas the Taxes Collected by virtue of the Act intituled “an Act for raising a supply of money for Public Exigencies” are not sufficient to answer the purposes of the said Act and Whereas great inequality and injustice have arisen from the various opinions of Assessors in their valuation of Taxable property, and greater evils are still likely to arise if the same mode of Taxation is pursued....
13Bill for Sequestering British Property, [13 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas divers persons, subjects of Great Britain, had, during our connection with that Kingdom, acquired estates real and personal within this Commonwealth and had also become entitled to debts to a considerable amount, and some of them had commenced suits for the recovery of such debts before the present troubles had interrupted the administration of Justice, which suits were at that time...
14Bill to Amend the Act Establishing a General Court, [27 October 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
[Be it enacted by the general Assembly] That instead of the Days heretofore set apart for the Trial of Criminal Causes in the General Court held in the months of March and October the said Court shall at the Commencement of the said Terms enter upon the Trial thereof as null those for capitol offences as others setting apart the four first Days, for that Purpose, but the Judges may direct the...
15I. Bill for Establishing a Land Office and Ascertaining the Terms and Manner of Granting Waste and Unappropriated Lands … (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas there are large Quantities of waste and unappropriated Lands within the territorial Limits of this Commonwealth, the granting of which will encourage the Migration of Foreigners hither, promote Population, increase the annual Revenue, and create a Fund for discharging the Public Debt, Be it enacted by the General Assembly that an Office shall be and is hereby constituted for the...
16Bill Appointing the Place for Holding the High Court of Chancery and the General Court, [20 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas by the acts constituting the High court of Chancery and General court, the said courts are to be holden at such place as the legislature shall direct, and no place hath as yet been appointed for that purpose: Be it therefore enacted by the General assembly that for the term of one year after the end of this present session of assembly, and from thence to the end of the session then...
17Bill for Giving the Members of the General Assembly an Adequate Allowance, [12 December 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas it is just that the members of General assembly, delegated by the people to transact for them the legislative business, should, while attending that business, have their reasonable sustenance defrayed, dedicating to the public service their time and labors freely and without account: and it is also expedient that the public councils should not be deprived of the aid of good and able...
18Bill for Regulating the Appointment of Delegates to the Continental Congress, [12 May 1777] (Jefferson Papers)
Be it enacted by the General assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia that there shall be annually chosen five delegates to act on the part of this Commonwealth in General Congress any three of whom shall have power to sit and vote. The delegates to be chosen in this present session of Assembly shall continue in office till the day of and those hereafter to be chosen at the said annual...
19Order of Virginia Council Placing Henry Hamilton and Others in Irons, 16 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
In COUNCIL, June 16, 1779. The Board proceeded to the consideration of the letters of Colonel Clarke , and other papers relating to Henry Hamilton, Esq; who has acted some years past as Lieutenant Governour of the settlement at and about Detroit, and commandant of the British garrison there, under Sir Guy Carleton as Governour in Chief; Philip Dejean , Justice of the Peace for Detroit, and...
20Bill Providing a Supply for the Public Exigencies, [20 May 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas in order to carry into effect the several acts passed at this present session of General assembly for raising a regiment of horse, for raising a battalion of infantry for garrison duty, for raising volunteers to join the grand army [for recruiting the continental army] and [other purposes therein mentioned, and the resolutions of the twenty ninth of May one thousand seven hundred and...
21Bill to Prevent the Importation of Slaves, &c., [16 June 1777] (Jefferson Papers)
To prevent more effectually the practice of holding persons in Slavery and importing them into this State Be it enacted by the General Assembly that all persons who shall be hereafter imported into this Commonwealth by Sea or by Land whether they were bond or free in their native Country upon their taking the Oath of Fidelity to this Commonwealth shall from thenceforth become free and...
22Bill for Establishing a Manufactory of Arms and Extending Navigation through the Falls of James River, [30 October 1779] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas in consequence of certain resolutions of General assembly the Governor with the advice of the council of state on behalf of this commonwealth hath entered into articles of agreement with Messrs. Peter Penet Windel and company of the kingdom of France, which articles are in these words following to wit. Articles of agreement entered into and concluded on the twenty second day of July in...
23Bill Providing Speedy Remedy against Defaulters to the United States, [18 May 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas divers persons receiving money of the United states of America for publick uses, apply it to different purposes, and when called on refuse or neglect to repay the same; others enter into contracts for supplying the army and navy of the United states with provisions and other necessaries, and fail or refuse to comply therewith; and whereas in like cases respecting this commonwealth in...
24Bill to Enforce Attendance of Members of Assembly, [26 May 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Williamsburg, 26 May 1778 ] Preamble of Bill asserts that public business has been delayed and heavy and unnecessary expenses incurred “thro’ want of a sufficient number of members to proceed to business.” Provides that any delegate or senator not attending on opening shall pay “the sum of for every day that he shall continue absent” when the house of which he is a member is unable to do...
25Resolution of Thanks to Jefferson by the Virginia General Assembly, 12–19 December 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
A Motion was made that the House do come to the following Resolution Resolved , that the sincere Thanks of the General Assembly be given to our former Governor Thomas Jefferson Esquire for his impartial, upright, and attentive administration of the powers of the Executive , whilst in office; popular rumours, gaining some degree of credence, by more pointed Accusations, rendered it necessary to...
26Bill to Attaint Josiah Philips and Others, [28 May 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas a certain Josiah Philips labourer of the parish of Lynhaven and county of Princess Anne together with divers others inhabitants of the counties of Princess Anne and Norfolk and citizens of this commonwealth contrary to their fidelity associating and confederating together have levied war against this Commonwealth, within the same, committing murders, burning houses, wasting farms and...
27Advice of Council concerning Prisoners, 8 October 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
The Governor is advised to take proper and effectual measures for knowing from time to time the situation and treatment of our prisoners with the enemy and to extend to theirs with us a like treatment in every circumstance. And also to order to a proper station the prison ship fitted up on recommendation from Congress for the reception and confinement of such prisoners of war as shall be sent...
28II. Report of Committee of House of Delegates on Right of Senate to Alter Money Bills, [4 December 1777] (Jefferson Papers)
The Committee appointed have according to order prepared what they think may be proper to be offered at the conference which is to be desired with the Senate on the subject matter of their amendments to a resolution of the house of delegates for paying to Thomas Johnson the sum of £15-5-6. The house of delegates has desired this conference in order to preserve that harmony and friendly...
29[Resolutions concerning Peace with England, 25 May 1782] (Jefferson Papers)
[Ford, ii , 160, prints a series of resolutions under the date “[June? 1778]” to the effect that “a Proposition from the Enemy to all or any of these United States for Peace or truce separate from their Allies is insidious and inadmissable.” A copy of these resolutions in the hand of John Beckley is in DLC: TJ Papers, 3:448, bearing an endorsement in the hand of Edmund Pendleton which reads in...
30Bill for Dissolving the Vestries of the Parishes of Meherrin and St. Anne, [16 December 1777] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas it hath been represented to this present general assembly, that by the death and resignation of sundry members of the vestries of Meherrin parish, in the county of Brunswick, and of the parish of St. Anne, in the county of Albemarle , there is not a sufficient number of members to hold a vestry in either of the said parishes , by which means the business of the same hath been for a...