Thomas Jefferson Papers
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To Thomas Jefferson from David Meade Randolph, 10 January 1804

From David Meade Randolph

Richmond 10th. January 1804

Sir,

The right of appeal to your Excellency might well be questioned, were it not for a lively recollection of your singular affability towards me at a time when you supported a less elevated station, and when too, I was in the exercise of an inferior office, the honor of which it is my present object to rescue from injust opprobrium.

When it was deemed consistent with the wellfare of my country that the powers and duties of the Marshal of this district shou’d be transfered to another, I felt no emotions other than an ardent desire of evincing to the world and to my friends, that I had, in no instance betraied the confidence of your predecessors, or abused the trusts which belonged to that highly responsible office. And in pursuit of that valued object, I considered it of primary importance promptly to liquidate my Accounts Current with the United States, and to acquit myself of such monies as had, for the public benefit, been suffered to remain in my hands. Conformably with this idea, I forthwith addressed certain communications to the proper departments viz: of 17th & 27th May 1801—& subsequently two of 6th. July—19th August and 29th September of the same year—as also 8th. May, 21 August & 29th December 1802, to all which, with due humility, I beg your attention, assuring myself, that in your own high sense of honor, and sacred regard for character, I shall find that relief which facts may warrant, and which a faithful conduct shall have merited.

I have the honor to be with respectful consideration, your obedient Servant

D M Randolph

Late marshal of the

district of Virginia

RC (DLC); addressed: “His Excellency Thomas Jefferson President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 14 Jan. and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures: Randolph to Madison, Richmond, 6 July 1801, noting that the Treasury Department has not approved payment for his work on the census of 1800; as compensation, he requests that he be allowed to deduct $386.84 from the federal funds he still holds (Madison, Papers description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, J. C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, Chicago and Charlottesville, 1962- , 37 vols.: Sec. of State Ser., 1986- , 10 vols.; Pres. Ser., 1984- , 8 vols.; Ret. Ser., 2009- , 2 vols. description ends , Sec. of State Ser., 1:385). Other enclosures not found, but see below. Enclosed in TJ to Gallatin, ca. 14 Jan. (not recorded in SJL and not found, but see TJ to Randolph, 23 Jan. 1804).

affability towards me: while secretary of state, TJ recommended Randolph for the collectorship at Bermuda Hundred if William Heth resigned. The vacancy did not occur. In 1791, TJ supported Randolph’s appointment as U.S. marshal for Virginia (Washington, Papers description begins W. W. Abbot, Dorothy Twohig, Philander D. Chase, Theodore J. Crackel, Edward C. Lengel, and others, eds., The Papers of George Washington, Charlottesville, 1983- , 60 vols.: Confed. Ser., 1992-97, 6 vols.; Pres. Ser., 1987- , 18 vols.; Ret. Ser., 1998-99, 4 vols.; Rev. War Ser., 1985- , 22 vols. description ends , Pres. Ser. , 2:121n; Vol. 16:278, 279n, 352, 509; Vol. 22:189, 219).

Shortly after TJ took office, he removed Randolph as marshal for packing juries and withholding money due the Treasury. Randolph’s communications with the State and Treasury Departments in May and July 1801 primarily concerned payment for his work on the census of 1800 and the remission of James T. Callender’s $200 fine. On 30 May, John Steele, comptroller of the Treasury, informed Randolph that he owed the U.S. $2,428.03, not including the $200 he had received from Callender (Madison, Papers description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, J. C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, Chicago and Charlottesville, 1962- , 37 vols.: Sec. of State Ser., 1986- , 10 vols.; Pres. Ser., 1984- , 8 vols.; Ret. Ser., 2009- , 2 vols. description ends , Sec. of State Ser., 1:143, 236-7, 385; Vol. 33:117n, 158n, 574n, 673, 675; Vol. 34:190).

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