1Advice 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...
2To 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...
3V. 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...
4VI. Reply of Senate to House of Delegates concerning Money Bills, [15 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
The Senate conceive that, in the present Question, it is of no consequence whether the constituent Parts of our Legislature resemble the Lords and Commons of Great Britain , or whether the Senate is made to resemble the House of Lords in this or that Particular. Clearly pointed out as they have supposed the Office of the two Houses to be in the matter on which a Difference of Opinion has...
5Resolution 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...
6III. 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...
7Appointment 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...
8Bill 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...
9Bill 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...
10Bill 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...