31III. Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 15 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I have formed an opinion, quite satisfactory to myself, that the adjournments of Congress may be by law, as well as by resolution, without touching the constitution. I am now copying fair what I had written yesterday on the subject and will have the honor of laying it before you by ten aclock.—The address to the President contains a very full digest of all the arguments urged against the bill...
32IV. Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 15 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson begs pardon of the President for being later in sending the inclosed than he had given him reason to expect. The sole cause has been that the act of copying took him longer than he had calculated. He will have the honor of waiting on the President to answer any thing which he may have omitted materially in these papers. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed: “The President of [the...
33V. Jefferson’s Opinion on the Constitutionality of the Residence Bill, 15 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
A Bill having passed the two houses of Congress, and being now before the President, declaring that the seat of the federal government shall be transferred to the Patowmac in the year 1790 [i.e. 1800], that the session of Congress next ensuing the present shall be held at Philadelphia, to which place the offices shall be transferred before the 1st. of December next, a writer in a public paper...
34To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 17 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
The bill on the intercourse with foreign nations restrains the President from allowing to Ministers plenipotentiary or to Chargés more than 9000. and 4500. Dollars for their “personal services & other expences.” this definition of the objects for which the allowance is provided, appearing vague, the Secretary of state thought it his duty to confer with the gentlemen heretofore employed as...
35III. Observations on the Diplomatic Establishment as provided for by Congress, [17 July 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
The bill on the intercourse with foreign nations restrains the President from allowing to Ministers plenipotentiary or to Chargés more than 9000. and 4500. Dollars for their ‘personal services and other expences.’ This definition of the objects for which the allowance is provided, appearing vague, the Secretary of state thought it his duty to confer with the gentlemen heretofore employed as...
36IV. Estimates of Funds Required for the Diplomatic Establishment, 1790–1791, [19 July 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Dollars Minister Plenipotentiary. His salary 9000. His Outfit. Suppose it to happen once in 7. years, will average 1285. His Return at a Quarter’s salary, will average 321. Extras. viz. Gazettes, translating, printing, aids to poor American sailors, couriers and postage about 350. His Secretary 1350. 12,306. Estimate for a Chargé des affaires. Chargé des affaires. His salary 4500 His...
37To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 22 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
Th. Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President the extract he desired from his letter of May 4. 1787. He finds by a note, which he does not know however where he got, that the city of Mexico is about 200. miles from the sea. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DLC:GW . Ever since Alexander Hamilton’s July conversations with Major Beckwith about the Anglo-Spanish war crisis,...
38From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 22 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President the extracts he desired from his letter of May 4. 1787. He finds by a note, which he does not know however where he got, that the city of Mexico is about 200. miles from the sea. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by Washington: “22d. July. 1790 State of the Portuguese in So. America.” Not...
39Opinion on McGillivray’s Monopoly of Commerce with Creek Indians, 29 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. Mc.Gillivray, with a company of British merchants, having hitherto enjoyed a monopoly of the commerce of the Creek nation, with a right of importing their goods, duty-free, and considering these privileges as the principal sources of his power over that nation, is unwilling to enter into treaty with us, unless they can be continued to him. And the question is how this may be done...
40From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 6 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inform the President that in a conversation with Mr. Hawkins yesterday evening, it came out that he had seen Mcgillivray’s letter to Govr. Houston, and Houston’s answer: he thinks they were dated the latter end of 1784. but is sure they were some time in the year preceding the treaty of Galphinton to which he was sent. He recites the substance and purport of...
41To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 8 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
Th. Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President the following papers. 1. the secret letter & paper of Aug. 2. for mister Carmichael. 2. the secret letter for the Chevalr de Pinto. 3. a letter for mister Joshua Johnson. on supposition that, delivering them himself to Colo. Humphreys, he might wish to comment to him on their contents, and particularly as to the 1st to qualify such of the...
42V. Secretary of State to the President, 8 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
on supposition that, delivering them himself to Colo. Humphreys, he might wish to comment to him on their contents, and particularly as to the 1st. to qualify such of the considerations as he may think need qualification, and to enlarge such as are too restrained. He will observe two or three small differences between the considerations of Aug. 2. now inclosed, and the first copy left with the...
43To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 26 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
On consideration of the letter of our bankers of Jan. 25. 1790. the Secretary of the Treasury’s answer to it, and the draught of powers and instructions to him. I am of opinion, as I always have been, that the purchase of our debt to France by private speculators would have been an operation extremely injurious to our credit; and that the consequence foreseen by our bankers, that the...
44Jefferson’s Opinion on Fiscal Policy, 26 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
On consideration of the letter of our bankers of Jan. 25. 1790. the Secretary of the Treasury’s answer to it, and the draught of powers and instructions to him, I am of opinion, as I always have been, that the purchase of our debt to France by private speculators would have been an operation extremely injurious to our credit; and that the consequence foreseen by our bankers, that the...
45To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 28 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
Opinion on the Questions stated in the President’s note of August 27. 1790. I am so deeply impressed with the magnitude of the dangers which will attend our government if Louisiana & the Floridas be added to the British empire, that in my opinion we ought to make ourselves parties in the general war expected to take place, should this be the only means of preventing the calamity. But I think...
46X. First Opinion of the Secretary of State, 28 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I am so deeply impressed with the magnitude of the dangers which will attend our government if Louisiana and the Floridas be added to the British empire, that in my opinion we ought to make ourselves parties in the general war expected to take place, should this be the only means of preventing the calamity. But I think we should defer this step as long as possible; because war is full of...
47To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 29 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
On considering more fully the question Whether it will be expedient to Notify to Ld Dorchester the real object of the expedition preparing by Governor St. Clair, I still think it will not be expedient. for If the Notification be early, he will get the Indians out of the way, & defeat our object. If it be so late, as not to leave him time to withdraw them before our stroke be struck, it will...
48Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, 29 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
Proceedings to be had under the Residence act. a territory not exceeding 10. miles square (or, I presume, 100 square miles in any form) to be located, by metes and bounds. 3. commissioners to be appointed. I suppose them not entitled to any salary. [If they live near the place they may, in some instances, be influenced by self interest, & partialities: but they will push the work with zeal. if...
49XI. Second Opinion of the Secretary of State, 29 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
On considering more fully the question Whether it will be expedien[t] to Notify to Ld. Dorchester the real object of the expedition preparing by Governor St. Clair, I still think it will not be expedient. For If the Notification be early, he will get the Indians out of the way, and defeat our object. If it be so late, as not to leave him time to withdraw them before our stroke be struck, it...
50I. Jefferson’s Draft of Agenda for the Seat of Government, [29 August 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Proceedings to be had under the Residence act. A territory not exceeding 10. miles square (or, I presume, 100 square miles in any form) to be located by metes and bounds. 3. commissioners to be appointed. I suppose them not entitled to any salary. [If they live near the place they may, in some instances, be influenced by self interest, and partialities: but they will push the work with zeal....
51Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, 14 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
In conversations with mister Carrol, mister Stoddard and mister Dickens they were properly impressed with the idea that if the present occasion of securing the Federal seat on the Patowmack should be lost, it could never more be regained, that it would be dangerous to rely on any aids from Congress, or the assemblies of Virginia or Maryland, & that therefore measures should be adopted to carry...
52II. Jefferson’s Report to Washington on Meeting Held at Georgetown, [14 September 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
In conversations with Mr. Carrol, Mr. Stoddard and Mr. Deakins they were properly impressed with the idea that if the present occasion of securing the Federal seat on the Patowmack should be lost, it could never more be regained, that it would be dangerous to rely on any aids from Congress, or the assemblies of Virginia or Maryland, and that therefore measures should be adopted to carry the...
53To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 17 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
In the course of the visit we made the day we left Mount Vernon, we drew our host into conversation on the subject of the federal seat. he came into it with a shyness not usual in him. whether this proceeded from his delicacy as having property adjoining George town, or from what other motive I cannot say. he quitted the subject always as soon as he could. he said enough however to shew his...
54IV. Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 17 September 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
In the course of the visit we made the day we left Mount Vernon, we drew our host into conversation on the subject of the federal seat. He came into it with a shyness not usual in him. Whether this proceeded from his delicacy as having property adjoining Georgetown, or from what other motive I cannot say. He quitted the subject always as soon as he could. He said enough however to shew his...
55To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 27 October 1790 (Washington Papers)
I had intended to have set out about this time for Philadelphia, but the desire of having mister Madison’s company, who cannot return for some days yet, and a belief that nothing important requires my presence at Philadelphia as yet, induce me to postpone my departure to the 8th of the ensuing month, so that it will be about the 12th before I can have the honor of waiting on you at Mount...
56From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 27 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I had intended to have set out about this time for Philadelphia, but the desire of having Mr. Madison’s company, who cannot return for some days yet, and a belief that nothing important requires my presence at Philadelphia as yet, induce me to postpone my departure to the 8th. of the ensuing month, so that it will be about the 12th. before I can have the honor of waiting on you at Mount Vernon...
57To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 29 November 1790 (Washington Papers)
Note of letters recieved. Mr Short. July 16. a private letter in which he says it is true that the Queen of Portugal has appointed mr Freire her Minister resident for the U.S. Ignatius Palyart. Philadelphia. Oct. 5. announcing his commission as Consul general for the Queen of Portugal in the U.S. Dumas. Hague. May 26.—July 10.—July 26. nothing new. Nathaniel Gilman. Exeter Sep. 10. } accepting...
58Jefferson’s Memoranda for Washington, [29 November 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Note of letters recieved. Mr. Short. July 16. A private letter in which he says it is true that the Queen of Portugal has appointed Mr. Freire her Minister resident for the U.S. Ignatius Polyart. Phila. Oct. 5. Announcing his commission as Consul general for the Queen of Portugal in the U.S. Dumas. Hague. May 26.—July 10.—July 14. Nothing new. Nathaniel Gilman. Exeter Sep. 10. } accepting...
59Memorandum to George Washington, [29 November 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
A note of subjects, some of which the President may think proper to be mentioned to Congress. The extreme want of a coin: and necessity of pursuing the establishment of a Coinage, and of uniformity in measures, weights and coins. PrC ( DLC : TJ Papers, 59: 10131); entirely in TJ’s hand; undated; brackets in original. Recorded in SJPL under 29 Nov. 1790: “Subjects of speech to Congress.” In his...
60Jefferson’s Draft of Items for the President’s Message to Congress, [3 December 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
The laws you have already passed for the establishment of a judiciary system have opened the doors of justice to all descriptions of persons. You will consider in your wisdom whether improvements in that system may yet be made; and particularly whether an uniform process of execution, on sentences issuing from the federal courts, be not desireable thro’ all the states. The patronage of our...