1From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 25 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I now lay before Congress a statement of the militia of the United States, according to the latest returns recieved by the Department of War DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
2From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 30 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I transmit to Congress a letter recently recieved from our Minister at the court of St. James’s, covering one to him from the British Secretary of State, with his reply. these are communicated, as forming a sequel to the correspondence which accompanied my message to both houses of the 17th. instant. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
3From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 17 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
I communicate to Congs. certain letters which passed between the B. Secy. of State Mr. Canning, and Mr. P. our Minister Plenipoty. at London. When the Documents concerning the relations between the U. S. & G. B. were laid before Congs. at the Commencement of the Session, the answer of Mr. P: to the letter of Mr. Canning, had not been received; and a communication of the latter alone, would...
4From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 17 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I communicate to Congress certain letters which passed between the British Secretary of State, mr Canning, & mr Pinckney our Minister Plenipotentiary at London. when the documents concerning the relations between the United States & Great Britain were laid before Congress, at the commencement of the session, the answer of mr Pinckney to the letter of mr Canning had not been received, and a...
5From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 13 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I now render to Congress the account of the fund established for defraying the contingent expences of government for the year 1808. of the 20,000. D. appropriated for that purpose, 2000. D. were deposited in the hands of the Attorney General of the US. to pay expences incident to the prosecution of Aaron Burr & his accomplices, for treasons & misdemeanors alledged to have been committed by...
6From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 6 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I now lay before Congress a statement of the works of defence which it has been thought necessary to provide in the first instance for the security of our seaport towns & harbours, & of the progress towards their completion. their extent has been adapted to the scale of the appropriation, & to the circumstances of the several places. The works undertaken at New York are calculated to annoy and...
7From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 5 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I communicate for the information of Congress the report of the Director of the mint, of the operations of that establishment during the last year. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
8From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 30 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I lay before the legislature a letter from Governour Claiborne, on the subject of a small tribe of Alibama Indians, on the Western side of the Missisipi, consisting of about a dozen families. like other erratic tribes in that country, it is understood that they have hitherto moved from place to place according to their convenience, without appropriating to themselves exclusively any particular...
9From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 30 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
At the request of the Governor, the Senate & House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pensylvania, I communicate certain resolutions entered into by the said Senate & House of Representatives, & approved by the Governor on the 23d. instant. It cannot but be encouraging to those whom the nation has placed in the direction of their affairs, to see that their fellow citizens will press...
10From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 13 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I now transmit to both houses of Congress a report of the Commissioners appointed under the act of Mar. 29. 1806. concerning a road from Cumberland to Ohio, being a statement of the proceedings under the said act, since their last report communicated to Congress, in order that Congress may be enabled to adopt such further measures as may be proper under existing circumstances. DNA : RG...
11From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 1 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I transmit to both houses of Congress a Report from the Surveyor of the public buildings, of the progress made on them, during the last season, of their present state, of the expenditures incurred, and of those which may be requisite for their further prosecution. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
12From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 8 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
It would have been a source, fellow Citizens, of much gratification if our last communications from Europe had enabled me to inform you, that the belligerent nations, whose disregard of neutral rights has been so destructive to our commerce, had become awakened to the duty and true policy of revoking their unrighteous edicts. that no means might be omitted to produce this salutary effect, I...
13From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 8 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The documents communicated with my public message of this day contain such portions of the correspondences therein referred to, of the ministers of the US. at Paris & London, as relate to the present state of affairs between those governments & the US. and as may be made public. I now communicate confidentially such supplementory portions of the same correspondences as I deem improper for...
14From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 22 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I transmit to both houses of Congress a letter from the Envoy of his Britannic Majesty at this place to the Secretary of state on the subject of certain British claims to lands in the territory of Missisipi, relative to which several acts have been heretofore passed by the legislature. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
15From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 2 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Believing that the confidence & union of our fellow citizens at the present crisis will be still further confirmed by the publication of the letter of mr Champagny to Genl. Armstrong and that of mr Erskine to the Secretary of State, communicated with my message of the 30th. Ult. and therefore that it may be useful to except them from the confidential character of the other documents...
16From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 30 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my messages of the 22d. instant letters have been recieved from our Ministers at Paris & London, extracts from which, with a letter to Genl. Armstrong from the french minister of foreign relations, & a letter from the British Envoy residing here, to the Secretary of State, I now communicate to Congress. They add to the materials for estimating the dispositions of those Governments...
17From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 25 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I now lay before Congress a statement of the militia of the United States according to the latest returns, recieved by the department of War. from the State of Delaware alone no return has been ever made. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
18From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 25 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
In proceeding to carry into exn the act &c. it is found that the sites most advantageous for the defence of our harbours & rivers, and sometimes the only sites competent to that defence, are in some cases the property of minors (incapable of giving a valid consent to their alienation), in others belong to persons who on no terms will alienate, and in others the proprietors demand such...
19From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 25 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
In proceeding to carry into execution the act for fortifying our ports and harbours, it is found that the sites most advantageous for their defence, and sometimes the only sites competent to that defence are, in some cases the property of minors incapable of giving a valid consent to their alienation, in others belong to persons who may refuse altogether to alienate, or demand a compensation...
20From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 25 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I transmit to both houses of Congress a report from the Surveyor of the public buildings of the progress made on them during the past season, of their present state, and of that of the funds appropriated to them. these have been much exceeded by the cost of the work done, a fact not known to me till the close of the season. the circumstances from which it arose are stated in the report of the...
21From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose two messages, the one public, the other confidential, with their respective documents under separate covers. those of the Confidential message consist only of such passages or articles as, being improper for publication, have been stricken out of the papers of the other. it is probable therefore that both may be better understood by being read alternately, taking up each separate...
22From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
At the opening of the present session I informed the legislature that the measures which had been taken with the government of Great Britain for the settlement of our Neutral and National rights and of the conditions of commercial intercourse with that nation, had resulted in articles of a treaty which could not be acceded to on our part; that instructions had been consequently sent to our...
23From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
In a separate message of this date I have communicated to Congress so much as may be made public of papers which give a full view of the present state of our relations with the two contending powers of France & England. every one must be sensible that in the details of instructions for negociating a treaty, and in the correspondence & conferences respecting it, matters will occur which...
24From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 18 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The scale on which the military academy at West point was originally established is become too limited to furnish the number of well instructed subjects in the different branches of artillery and engineering, which the public service calls for. the want of such characters is already sensibly felt, and will be increased with the enlargement of our plans of military preparation. the Chief...
25From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 17 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have heretofore communicated to Congress the decrees of the government of France of November 21. 1806. and of Spain of Feb. 19. 1807. with the orders of the British government of January & November 1807. I now transmit a decree of the emperor of France of Dec. 17. 1807. and a Similar decree of the 3d. of January last of his Catholic majesty: with the letter of our Charge des affaires at...
26From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 7 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
In the city of New Orleans, & adjacent to it are sundry parcels of ground, some of them with buildings & other improvements on them, which it is my duty to present to the attention of the legislature. the title to these grounds appears to have been retained in the former sovereigns of the province of Louisiana, as public fiduciaries, & for the purposes of the province. some of them were used...
27From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 26 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose for the information of Congress, letters recently recieved from our ministers at Paris & London, communicating their representations against the late decrees & orders of France and Great Britain, heretofore transmitted to Congress. these documents will contribute to the information of Congress as to the dispositions of those powers, & the probable course of their proceedings towards...
28From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 25 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The dangers to our country arising from the contests of other nations, and the urgency of making preparation for whatever events might affect our relations with them, have been intimated in preceding messages to Congress. to secure ourselves by due precautions, an augmentation of our military force, as well regular, as of volunteer militia, seems to be expedient. the precise extent of that...
29From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 19 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The states of Pensylvania, Maryland & Virginia having, by their several acts, consented that the road from Cumberland to the State of Ohio, authorised by the act of Congress of March 29. 1806. should pass through those states, and the Report of the Commissioners, communicated to Congress with my message of Jan. 31. 1807. having been duly considered, I have approved of the route therein...
30From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 15 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I communicate for the information of Congress a letter from the Consul of the United States at Malaga to the Secretary of State, covering one from mr Lear our Consul at Algiers, which gives information that the rupture threatened on the part of the Dey of Algiers has been amicably settled and the vessels siezed by him are liberated. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
31From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 9 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I communicate to Congress, for their information, a letter from the person acting in the absence of our Consul at Naples, giving reason to believe, on the affidavit of a Capt. Sheffield of the American schooner Mary Ann, that the Dey of Algiers has commenced war against the United States. for this no just cause has been given on our part, within my knolege. we may daily expect more authentic &...
32From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 2 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Having recieved an official communication of certain orders of the British government against the Maritime rights of Neutrals, bearing date the 11th. of November 1807. I transmit them to Congress, as a further proof of the increasing dangers to our Navigation and Commerce which led to the provident measure of the act of the present session laying an embargo on our own vessels. DNA : RG...
33From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 8 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I now render to Congress the Account of the fund established for defraying the Contingent expences of government for the year 1807. of the sum of 18,012. Dollars 50. cents which remained unexpended at the close of the year 1806, 8736. Dollars 11. cents have been placed in the hands of the Attorney General of the US. to enable him to defray sundry expences incident to the prosecution of Aaron...
34From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 8 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I communicate for the information of Congress the Report of the Director of the Mint of the operations of that establishment during the last year. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
35From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 29 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I communicate to Congress the inclosed letters from Governor Hull respecting the Indians in the vicinity of Detroit residing within our lines. they contain information of the state of things in that quarter which will properly enter into their view in estimating the means to be provided for the defence of our country generally. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
36From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 17 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The communications now made, shewing the great & increasing dangers with which our vessels, our seamen and merchandize are threatened, on the high seas & elsewhere, from the belligerent powers of Europe, and it being of the greatest importance to keep in safety these essential resources, I deem it my duty to recommend the subject to the consideration of Congress, who will doubtless percieve...
37From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 7 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Having recently recieved from our late Minister Plenipotentiary at the court of London a duplicate of dispatches, the original of which has been sent by the Revenge schooner not yet arrived, I hasten to lay them before both houses of Congress. they contain the whole of what has passed between the two governments on the subject of the outrage committed by the British ship Leopard on the frigate...
38From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 23 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreeably to the assurance given in my message at the opening of the present session of Congress, I now lay before you a copy of the proceedings & of the evidence exhibited on the arraignment of Aaron Burr & others before the Circuit Court of the United States held in Virginia in the course of the present year, in as authentic form as their several parts have admitted. NNFoM .
39From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 27 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Circumstances, fellow Citizens, which seriously threatened the peace of our Country have made it a duty to convene you at an earlier period than usual. the love of peace so much cherished in the bosom of our Citizens, which has so long guided the proceedings of their public Councils, & induced forbearance under so many wrongs, may not ensure our continuance in the quiet pursuits of industry....
40From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 19 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I transmit to Congress a letter from our Ministers Plenipotentiary at London, informing us that they have agreed with the British Commissioners to conclude a treaty on all the points which had formed the object of their negociation, & on terms which they trusted we would approve. Also a letter from our Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris, covering one to him from the Minister of Marine of that...
41From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 11 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I transmit to both houses of Congress the laws adapted by the government and judges of the territory of Michigan from the 1st. day of July 1806. to the 1st. day of January of the present year. DNA : RG 233—LRHR—Legislative Records of the House of Representatives.
42From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 11 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I now lay before Congress a statement of the Militia of the United States, according to the latest returns recieved by the department of war. from two of the states no returns have ever been recieved. DNA : RG 233—LRHR—Legislative Records of the House of Representatives.
43From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 10 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I communicate for the information of Congress a letter from Cowles Meade, Secretary of the Missisipi territory, to the Secretary at War, by which it will be seen that mr Burr had reached that neighborhood on the 13th. of January. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
44From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 10 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance with the request of the House of Representatives, expressed in their resolution of the 5th. inst., I proceed to give such information, as is possessed, of the effect of Gunboats in the protection & defence of harbours, of the numbers thought necessary, & of the proposed distribution of them among the Ports & Harbours of the United States. Under present circumstances, & governed...
45From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 6 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The government of France having examined into the claim of M. de Beaumarchais against the United States, and considering it as just & legal, has instructed it’s minister here to make representations on the subject to the government of the US. I now lay his Memoir thereon before the legislature the only authority competent to a final decision on the same. Privately owned.
46From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 6 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I lay before Congress the laws for the government of Louisiana passed by the Governor & judges of the Indiana territory at their session at Vincennes begun on the 1st. of October 1804. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
47From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 31 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In execution of the act of the last session of Congress entitled ‘an act to regulate the laying out & making a road from Cumberland in the state of Maryland to the state of Ohio,’ I appointed Thomas Moore of Maryland, Joseph Ker of Ohio, & Eli Williams of Maryland Commissioners to lay out the said road, & to perform the other duties assigned to them by the act. The progress which they made in...
48From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 28 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
By the letters of Capt Bissel who commands at Fort Massac, and of mr Murrell, to General Jackson of Tennissee, copies of which are now communicated to Congress, it will be seen that Aaron Burr past Fort Massac on the 31st. of December, with about ten boats navigated by about six hands each, without any military appearance; and that three boats with ammunition were said to have been arrested by...
49From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 27 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I now render to Congress the Account of the fund established for defraying the Contingent expences of government for the year 1806. No occasion having arisen for making use of any part of the balance of 18,012. Dollars 50. cents unexpended on the 31st. day of December 1805. that balance remains in the treasury. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
50From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 27 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I communicate for the information of Congress the Report of the Director of the mint of the operations of that establishment during the last year. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.