Thomas Jefferson Papers
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To Thomas Jefferson from Nathaniel Macon, 24 May 1801

From Nathaniel Macon

Buck Spring 24 May 1801

Sir

Your favor of the 14 instant has been received, and the enclosed put in the post office at Warrenton for Mr. Potter, I have written to him fully on the appointment, and have hopes that he will accept, I have candidly stated to him, the probability of the act under which he is appointed being repealed, I saw him last week, though not knowing whether he would be appointed, I did not say so much to him, as I have written, I will endeavor again to see him in two or three weeks, if I should I will inform you the result of our conversation

In every recommendation I shall carefully endeavor to select such as can discharge the duty of the office, and have been uniformly Democratic, although I do not wish any person turned out office, who was a whig in the Revolutionary war, for any opinions he may now hold, yet I would not recommend one for office who had not been always Republican; I am confident that Mr. Potter would not suffer by a comparison with Sitgreaves or Hill

I have been informed that the collector at Edenton, was during the war, a New York Long Island Tory, but of the fact I have not sufficient information to speak positive, if it be so, ought he to be continued, The fact I suppose can be ascertained next winter at Washington

I am pretty well assured, that a systematic opposition may be expected, it was probably organized at Washington last winter. I have been a good deal about since my return, and find the feds every where, trying to impress their principles on the people, but without effect. General Davie is not returned, I shall endeavor to see him as soon as possible, I sincerely hope that he may be willing to undertake the negotiations with the Indians

Your acquaintance Mr. Willie Jones is I fear not long for this world, he is unable to walk, and there is no probability, that he ever will again

I am with great respect Sir Yr. most Obt. Sevt

Nathl Macon

RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 30 May and so recorded in SJL.

New York native Samuel Tredwell emigrated to North Carolina around 1785 and had served as collector at edenton since February 1793. His father, Benjamin Tredwell, signed a declaration of loyalty to the king in 1776. He was not replaced by TJ and retained the Edenton collectorship until his death in 1827 (JEP description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States … to the Termination of the Nineteenth Congress, Washington, D.C., 1828, 3 vols. description ends , 1:129; New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 43 [1912], 128, 221; Newport Mercury, 18 Aug. 1827).

William R. Davie would decline TJ’s offer to be a commissioner to treat with the Cherokee (Joseph Anderson and William Cocke to TJ, 5 Mch. 1801).

Willie Jones served in the Continental Congress in 1780 and carried a message to TJ from the Virginia delegation in December of that year. He died 18 June 1801 (Biog. Dir. Cong. description begins Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–1989, Washington, D.C., 1989 description ends ; Vol. 4:203).

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