To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 13 February 1802
From Levi Lincoln
Washington Feby 13. 1802
Sir
By the chronicle, received yesterday, we have learnt the fate of Mr Morton’s motion in the legislature of Massachusetts. If the only object was, to obtain an address, the measure was certainly ill-concerted, they ought first to have known their numbers. It is apparent that the friends to the motion1 did not expect to carry it, but meant it, as a measure to effect future elections. The inclosed letter from Coll. Hitchborn explains the matter, and his preposed motion, for the Senate, is on the same idea. It is evident from the republicans endeavouring to subject the federalists to the imputation of being opposed to particular measures of the administration, they consider these measures as popular in the country, and from the federalists evading a direct vote, by refering the matter to the next session, that they are of the same opinion. I forward, the communications from Mr Hitchborn, to prevent any uneasiness, on the idea, that, republicans had failed of their object.
The letter of Coll. Hay, the republican leader in the Vermont legislature respecting the appointment of Willard, which originally gave you much uneasiness, will I think give you complete satisfaction on that subject, and shew what attention ought to be paid to federal clamor—
If you are not too much engaged permit me to ask you to throw your eye over the letter, I have received from Mr. Waldo. I know these applications are regularly made through the secretary of State, to whom I have mentioned Mr. Waldo’s name. My particular situation with respect to him, he being a family connection is an inducement, for my stating his wishes also directly to yourself. I should have waited on you in person, was it not for an ague in my face, which has afflicted me for several days, and which renders it inconvenient for me to be abroad—
I have the honor to be Sir with highest respect your most obedient Sert
Levi Lincoln
RC (DLC); addressed: “The President of the United States Washington”; endorsed by TJ as received 13 Feb. and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures not found.
For Perez Morton’s motion in the Massachusetts legislature followed up by Benjamin Hichborn, see Hichborn to TJ, 25 Jan.
Udny Hay of Underhill, Vermont, was a member of the state legislature. In the 1790s, he opposed the Washington and Adams administrations and was a leader of the Vermont Democratic Society (John J. Duffy and others, eds., Ethan Allen and His Kin: Correspondence, 1772–1819, 2 vols. [Hanover, N.H., 1998], 2:403n; Journals of the General Assembly of the State of Vermont, At Their Session, Begun … The Eighth Day of October, A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and One [Windsor, Vt., 1802], [5]).
In the expectation that Stephen Cathalan, Jr., would not be recognized by the French government as U.S. commercial agent at Marseilles, John Jones Waldo, who was originally of Massachusetts, had begun to seek the position, enlisting the support of Americans in France such as Fulwar Skipwith and Thomas Sumter, Jr., and asking Robert R. Livingston to bring up the subject in a letter to Madison. In February 1801, John Adams had named Waldo to be commercial agent at Nantes and the Senate confirmed the nomination, but TJ considered it a midnight appointment and declined to send a commission to Waldo (Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser., 2:360, 361n; 3:441, 447; , 381, 385; Vol. 33:173n, 672, 677).
1. MS: “mortion.”