1From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 5 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors of July. 31. came to hand yesterday. I have no hesitation in approving of the purchase recommended by Genl. Sumpter, but I retain the papers a post longer to make myself acquainted with them. indeed the volume of my mail is such that subjects which require any consideration cannot be dispatched during the single evening & morning of the post’s stay. hence I shall generally on...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 6 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The division of Louisiana into districts relating to the military as much as to the civil administration, will you be so good as to consider those proposed by Governor Harrison, and we will then consider the subject. my idea would be not to fix precisely the dividing line between the districts, as we have not information enough for that, but to use such a mode of designation for these as we do...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 13 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you more militia resignations, as also a petition of Benjamin Dame of Newington praying the discharge of his son under age enlisted in the army. this being a matter of right, and not of discretion in us, which he might effect by a Habeas Corpus, I hold it a duty that he be discharged. if I recollect rightly we did the same in a similar case on some former occasion. Accept assurances...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 12 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of the 14th. of August I inclosed you a note respecting some abuses said to have been committed in the works at Newport. tho’ I am since informed that the facts are possibly or even probably true, yet I find they were sent to me under a forged name. this may render circumspection necessary, as it certainly lessens the probability of the truth of the information. I thought it...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 6 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The Spanish government has adopted all the angry passions of Yrujo respecting the act of Congress for the collection district at Mobile, and has written a letter to Pinckney in a stile which renders more serious measures possible. in this situation it behoves us to have every man at N. Orleans who can be spared from other places. not recollecting the force we have there actually, can you by...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 6 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
On further view and consideration of the papers from Genl. Sumpter, and Colo. Senf I continue of opinion that we ought to purchase the lands spoken of by them, about 4, or 500. acres, and further would approve of a purchase of any quantity within the limits of the act of assembly (2000 acres) considering that they must [be moderate in their] price as yet and that much will be wanting for...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 19 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
A candidate for the office of Genl. Irvine is now presented of a higher order than we have before had. I do not know how far Colo Miles may possess that mercantile fitness which the duties of the office call for, but on all other points he stands on so high ground as to overrule the charitable inclinations we might have felt for other candidates. the respectability of his character, and his...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 29 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from E. I. Dupont who has established a gunpowder manufactory at Wilmington. if the public can with advantage avail themselves of his improvements in that art, it would be to encourage improvement in one of the most essential manufactures. I should be the more gratified by it as it would gratify his father who has been a faithful & useful friend to this country. during...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 27 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 22d. was recieved last night, and I now return the papers it inclosed. the exact statement of the boundary of cession by the Choctaws to the British is indeed important. I know not the character of Purcell [. . .] writer, but the minuteness of the details call for credit. I think the [spirit] of our former instructions is to be observed, but as they looked only generally [to] the...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 20 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 15th is recieved and I now return mr Bowdoin’s letter forwarded in it. his doctrine is unquestionably sound. I have enjoyed uninterrupted good health, the story of the five physicians notwithstanding. by this post I recieve the opinions of the Secretaries of the Treasury & navy as well as yours on the subject of our Barbary affairs. I had before asked & recieved that of the...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 29 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed papers came in the letter from Capt Lewis which I sent you: but not having been able to read this till last night they are now sent, and are interesting.—I cannot make out whether the party of Osages who were killed were some of those deputed to us. if they were not, it would carry us farther into Indian concerns, than we would wish to go, to take serious notice of it. if the...
12Memorandum for Henry Dearborn, 22 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Observations on mr Hawkins’s letter of Dec. 22. 1802. Our proceedings on the subject of the deed by the Speaker of the Creeks to mrs Darant should be decisive, prompt and exemplary. if she be an Indian (which I should not expect as she is the sister of Mc.Gillivray) we cannot punish her. if she be an American citizen, the Attorney of the US. in the Missisipi territory might be instructed to...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 13 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 8th. was recieved yesterday. I cannot [but consider?] the case of the French negroes at New York as substantially within the police of the state: and that [cases] of that kind will not be as well provided against by the General government as by the government of the place. our relations with it are only incidental, to wit, as it comes within the laws of contraband or...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, [5 March 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
I have been looking into the case which is the subject of Majr. Foreman’s letter from St. Mary’s , stating that the Govr. of E. Florida proposes to enlist souldiers within our territory for an expedition against the Creeks . the statute of June 14. 1797. is only against naval enterprizes. but that of Mar. 3. 1799 regulating intercourse with the Indians, comes perfectly up to this case in...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 8 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I last night recieved the account of Genl. Irvine’s death , and at the same time the inclosed applications for the continuance of the office in his family, which are certainly very strong. the single one in behalf of Capt Jones must be merely idle, as it is most improbable that he would accept of it. I inclose the whole however for your information. Irvine is a real loss to us. Not having...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 31 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Stoddart, Secretary of the Navy having early in this month informed me by letter of his desire to resign that office, and having continued in it ever since, on my request only, I hereby authorize & appoint you to recieve the charge of the department from him, and to perform the duties of it until a Secretary of the Navy shall be formally appointed. Accept assurances of my high...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 9 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
It is represented to me on the part of a person of the name of Solomon Sessum living at Tarburgh in N. Caroline, in independant circumstances, but himself & wife both old, that Roderick Sessums their son was, in the year 1795, during a fit of intoxication, enlisted by a Captn. Rickard then recruiting in that quarter. that being at Natchez in 1800, when his time was to expire, the father with...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 26 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from mr Jackson of Tennissee, formerly a Senator from that state on the subject of Colo. Butler. he is a man of great integrity and respectability; carried sometimes beyond strict reason by an overwarm and excellent heart. another from judge Campbell on the subject of Doctr. Vandyke. I also return the one from him to you covering mine. on the subject of the robbery...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 3 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the day before. with respect to the slanders in which the two mr Hunts were implicated, I assure you on my sacred honour that I never heard one word uttered but from mr Granger and one other person, who does not reside in this part of the country, nor is any way connected with the government; and the sole object of his communicating with me was to engage me...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 5 September 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
About a twelvemonth after we came into the administration we learnt by a letter from mr Simpson that our predecessors had promised to the Emperor of Marocco 100. gun carriages. you have known most of the unlucky circumstances which have baffled our execution of it. the last however is but recently known. we had desired mr Simpson to have them made in Europe, or to offer the value to the...
21From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 15 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
As soon as I possibly could after my arrival here, I prepared the general instructions for our mission up the Arkansa & Red rivers, but could not make a fair copy of them in time for the last post. they are inclosed in the letter to mr Dunbar which I send open for your perusal, and then to be forwarded to him. it will enable you to see and to supply what is deficient, and to alter whatever on...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 29 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very much pleased to find that the Choctaws agree to sell us their country on the Missisipi, and think we ought to accept it to any extent they will agree to, only taking care the price be not too high. they are poor; and will probably sell beyond what will pay their debts, so as to be entitled to an annual pension, which is one of the best holds we can have on them. their strength & the...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 16 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter from Govr. Tatnall and petition from the inhabitants over the Cherokee boundary, on a subject which Colo. Wafford had before presented to us , renders it necessary to advert again to it. I think we have had some information from our Commissioners of the unsuccessful endeavors they used, according to our instructions, to obtain indulgence for these settlers, but I do not...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 1 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to consider & direct how the 3000. D. may be apportioned in the details of the Arcansa expedition ? to wit how much for pay, for instruments & other articles of outfit which cannot be furnished from the military fund, & how much may be laid out in light articles for barter & presents to the Indians. this last article should be made as large as the fund will admit....
25From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, Henry Dearborn, and Robert Smith, 5 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of the Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary at War & Secretary of the Navy to carry into execution the inclosed resolution of the H. of representatives of May 3. 1802. desiring a statement of expenditures from Jan. 1. 1797. by the Quarter Master Genl. the Navy agents, for the Contingencies of the Naval & Military establishments and the Navy contracts for timber &...
26From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 21 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The guarding our arms at New London & Manchester stands on totally different ground. the former was at my request, delivered verbally to Governor Monroe about the 15th. of April 1801. certainly not a week sooner or later. the latter was in the time of the insurrection of their slaves and no more chargeable to the Union than the other expences of their militia on that occasion. I should have...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 28 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I am just making the last arrangements for my departure. the inclosed proposition of Monsr. Dupont for the purification of our Saltpetre being of some magnitude I have thought it best to forward his letter to you, that you may decide on it yourself, and give him an answer. we have nothing material from Europe except the communication from his Britannic Majesty that understanding we were...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 13 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much pleased with both the ideas suggested by Lyons , viz. 1. to proceed from Knoxville direct through the Cherokee Creek & Choctaw country to Natchez. 2. to encourage individuals to make terms with the Indians on their private account for establishing farms along the line at every 15. or 30. or 45. miles distance as can be obtained. but instead of going from Knoxville to Natchez in a...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 13 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a petition from Aaron Goff of Vermont praying the release of his son under age. the fact of infancy being established, the discharge becomes a matter of right. I have the pleasure to inform you that William Clarke accepts with great glee the office of going with Capt Lewis up the Missouri. in the moment of my departure from Washington mrs Madison informed me you had a thought...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 6 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
In the case of Crutchelow & John Williams , two of the murderers of the Indians who have fled, had the case happened in any of the states which proceed according to the forms of the English law, an indictment would be preferred to a grand jury, the witnesses called to appear, and on it’s being found a true bill, a capias issues, which being returned non est inventus, an Exigent goes out, on...
31From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 27 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. Smith the writer of one of the inclosed letters is the republican […] in the place of Page lately elected to Congress in Virginia. a man of very great respectability. setting that aside, our service is not so urgent as to render it necessary to drag sons from their fathers. the affection of citizens to their government is worth cultivating as it’s best support. these considerations would...
32From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 1 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been able to give the inclosed so little time that the suggestions of alteration which I make are merely for your consideration. in order to keep the subject clear I would propose to transpose the paragraphs so as to touch 1st. on their Civil powers generally. 2d. intrusions on land. 3. the military. 4. the militia. for this purpose I suggest something like the following. Section 1. to...
33From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 17 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 12th. the duties proposed to be levied on us by the Spanish Government at Mobille, require certainly very serious attention. their bearings on what we had determined to do at Baton rouge, must come into consideration at the same time. the want of papers here to remind me exactly of the regulations we had established, and the distressing situation of my...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 3 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from mr Boudinot to whom an answer is promised as soon as I shall hear from you on the subject. I think this mr Blackburn called on us, and recieved such assurances as then gave him satisfaction. as we have in other instances encouraged the cooperation of the Quakers in Indian civilization, it is to be considered whether we may with advantage do the same with other sects...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 5 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose for your consideration a paper addressed to me from Lieutt. Landais of the Artillery, to consider & decide whether any thing & what should be done in consequence of it.—I formerly referred to your consideration the petition of John Rowe , confined in jail for having counselled or procured a souldier to desert. he was sentenced to 3. months imprisonmt. & to paiment of costs . his 3....
36From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 3 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter shews the writer to be really a curiosity. I think he might be told that you had communicated to me the substance of his letter: that the information relative to the olives & to Genl. Gadsden was very gratifying to me. that as to the gunboats, (his 3d subject) that mode of defending our harbours would probably be pursued: that the boats will not all be on one model, but...
37From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 17 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Altho’ the communication of the within to me might be considered as confidential, yet it is so important that Wilkerson’s maneuvres should be understood that I send it for your perusal, in confidence also. he is turning on us the batteries of our friends in aid of his own. the business of the Commission terminated on the 16th. of Jan. when the order for the upper posts was given, as that...
38From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 12 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson incloses to Genl. Dearborne more candidates for the succession to Genl. Irvine. he has just recieved a letter from mr Dupont the father in which is the following paragraph. ‘continue your friendship to me. extend it to my children. I hope you have your powder made and your saltpeter refined at their manufactory 1. because it is without comparison the best in the US. and one of...
39From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 27 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a newspaper with a Lexington article respecting the Osage chiefs. Govr. Harrison in a former letter I think proposed the purchasing all the Piankishaw lands on the Ohio. this would be infinitely preferable to nibbling about the Saline. I doubt the expediency of buying the Pioria lands West of the Missisipi, unless a bargain could be made at the same time with some other tribe to...
40From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 8 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
It is suggested to me (indirectly from the person himself) that Jerome Bonaparte is at Baltimore under the name of Monsr. Dalbarton , with a son of Rewbell, and that they mean to ask a passage to France in one of our frigates. if this be the fact, he will have satisfied thereof the minister of his nation, thro’ whom we shall be apprised of it, and relieved from all trouble in deciding on it....
41From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 27 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from Capt Barron at Westpoint, on which be pleased to do what you think right. The object of the kind enquiries in your letter of the 19th. is no more. she left us on the day of the date of my last letter to you. this event will occasion my stay here to be about a week longer than I had originally intended. I suppose it will still be a fortnight before I shall be with...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 13 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 7th. with the inclosed papers came to my hand only last night. I now return the papers with an entire approbation of your letter to Govr. Harrison & proceedings. the white people who are among the Indians, having designs of their own to answer, & no principle to restrain them, make great use of lies to effect their purposes, and fabricate them from time to time according to the...
43From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 3 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter recieved from Governor Strong on the subject of the military articles furnished us with the fort . considering that our predecessors may have engaged more fully than we suppose, and that in all cases where a state is urgent, the General government ought to exercise towards it the liberality & indulgence of a parent, I should be for yielding whatsoever was not too...
44From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 2 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you mr Griswold’s letter. the measure he proposes is exactly to reverse our politics. instead of inviting Indians to come within our limits, our object is to tempt them to evacuate them. I suppose the smoothest answer would be that being connected with the English in friendship, good faith requires that we should not interfere with the inhabitants of their territories, nor attempt to...
45Memorandum for Henry Dearborn on Indian Policy, 29 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Hints on the subject of Indian boundaries, suggested for consideration An object, becoming now of great importance, is the establishment of a strong front on our Western boundary, the Missisipi, securing us on that side, as our front on the Atlantic does towards the East. our proceedings with the Indians should tend systematically to that object, leaving the extinguishment of title in the...
46From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 8 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Just as I was leaving Washington, I received the inclosed letter from Colo Matthew Lyon , the suggestions of which I think well worthy our attention, as it is certainly better to prevent Squatters on the lands in the district of Louisiana (as yet it is upper Louisiana) than to have them removed after they shall have firmly established themselves. at present the Spanish laws are in force there....
47From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 16 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter of the Little Turtle to Genl. Wilkinson is so serious, that I suppose it should be answered. among other things I imagine it will be proper to have said to him that tho’ the US. will always protect the Indians in the right to their lands so long as they chuse to keep them, yet they have also always professed themselves ready to buy whenever the Indians chuse to sell. that it will...
48From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 14 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Having had occasion to write more fully to mr Gallatin on the appointments for the customs in Massachusets as well as other places, I beg leave to refer you to that letter which I have asked him to communicate to you, & that you & he will decide definitively what is to be done. I therefore now reinclose the sheet of capt. Crowninsheild’s letter recieved from you. it does not contain any thing...
49From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 13 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his friendly compliments to Genl Dearborne returns him Govr. Mc.kean’s letter; to whom he may say for the Govr’s satisfaction that the letter had been communicated to Th:J. who said that some vague intimation of the purport mentd in the letter had been formerly dropped to him, but it was so little noted that neither the person, nor manner can now be recollected: that...
50From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 9 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you some more resignations of militia commissions. I think we should do well in all cases to know that a commission will be accepted, before [. . .]. We have recieved information that the emperor of Marocco, having asked passports for two vessels loaded with wheat to go to Tripoli while blockaded by us, and being refused, has ordered away our Consul: this demand of his is so palpably...