Thomas Jefferson Papers

From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Habersham, 24 March 1801

To Joseph Habersham

Washington Mar. 24. 1801.

Sir

I duly recieved your favor of yesterday. mr Barney’s memorial had before been delivered in. you may rest assured that no suspicions or distrust of the offices will be hastily admitted. I propose to consider the Post office as within the department of state, to which I have ever been of opinion it more properly belongs than to the treasury. the laws certainly do not contemplate it as a subject of revenue. when mr Madison arrives therefore I will propose to him to examine and satisfy himself as to the general arrangements, which I have no doubt he will find quite satisfactory. particular complaints may be a subject of conversation & enquiry from time to time. complaints are very numerous. many I have no doubt are groundless. some I presume are founded. whenever these are discovered, removals will of course be expected. Accept assurances of my high respect & esteem.

Th: Jefferson

PrC (DLC); at foot of text: “Colo. Habersham. Post Master Genl.”

For TJ’s opinion that the post office should be under the jurisdiction of the State Department, not the Treasury, see Vol. 23:184, 187n.

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