From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 27 June 1804
To Albert Gallatin
June 27. 04.
Th:J. to mr Gallatin
I do not know that we can better dispose of Belsches’s letter than by sending it to W. C. Nicholas, whose zeal & understanding will do what is best with it. what would you think of recommending application to the Chief Justice to bind the parties to good behavior? or would it be better to send the letter at once to George Hay, who being with the Chief justice & other good lawyers, we may get that question fairly examined.
I do not know that we can do any thing with the papers from Govr. Page respecting Counterfieters. perhaps if you were to deliver them to the Bank they might think them worth pursuing. Affectionate salutns.
P.S. will you consider mr Lincoln’s opn on the case of the President of the Insurance co. at N.Y.
RC (NHi: Gallatin Papers). PoC (DLC); postscript added separately to RC and PoC. Notation in SJL: “vessels arming. counterfieters.”
On 28 June, Gallatin sent a copy of James belsches’s letter to TJ of 16 June to Wilson Cary nicholas. Gallatin instructed Nicholas to investigate the matter and take legal action against the owners or masters of the vessels if they were armed “to force a trade to San Domingo, and to resist the cruizers of one of the belligerent Powers.” Gallatin referred Nicholas to a 1798 act that permitted judges to hold parties for good behavior in cases arising under federal law. On 24 July, Nicholas responded that the revenue cutters had not encountered any suspicious vessels in the Severn River at the time Belsches wrote to TJ (Gallatin to Nicholas, 28 June, RC in MHi; , 9:877-8; , 1:609).
papers from govr. page: see John Page to TJ, 18 June.
For Levi lincoln’s opinion, see Lincoln to TJ, 25 June.