From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sumter, Sr., 11 February 1804
To Thomas Sumter, Sr.
Feb. 11. 04.
Extract of a letter from Philadelphia
‘Mr. Burr is here. he and P. Butler are much together. several federal characters of note are here also; among whom is one of the Pinckneys. all visit him.’
Extract of another letter from Philadelphia.
‘During mr Burr’s stay here he saw much company: among others mr P. Butler in particular. I strongly suspect some arrangements have been made to defeat the proposed amendment, as the latter is about to leave, or has already left this for Carolina. the amendment is before the Jersey legislature. I understood a decision was expected this day. mr Burr has been at Trenton since yesterday.’
Th: Jefferson communicates the above to Genl. Sumpter in confidence, merely that he may understand his colleague. clandestine influence on the governor, to prevent his calling the legislature, is the only thing to be apprehended; & this only because it will prevent that state from the opportunity of pronouncing it’s will, whatever it may be. this communication being for Genl. Sumpter’s private information, Th:J. begs him to burn it, and to accept his friendly salutations.
PrC (MoSHi: Jefferson Papers); endorsed by TJ in ink on verso.
Aaron burr left Washington on 29 Jan. and arrived at Philadelphia on 1 Feb., remaining until 7 Feb. before departing for New York (Matthew L. Davis, Memoirs of Aaron Burr, with Miscellaneous Selections from his Correspondence, 2 vols. [New York, 1836-37], 2:274-6).
The New Jersey legislature ratified the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States on 22 Feb. Governor Joseph Bloomfield forwarded an attested copy of the act to the State Department the following day (Acts of the Twenty-Eighth General Assembly of the State of New-Jersey … Being the Second Sitting [Trenton, 1804], 284-6; , Sec. of State Ser., 6:506).
calling the legislature: on 3 Mch., Governor James B. Richardson of South Carolina issued a proclamation convening a special session of the state legislature on 10 May to consider the proposed Twelfth Amendment (Charleston City Gazette and Daily Advertiser, 8 Mch. 1804; Richardson to TJ, 1 June 1804). Following his message on the opening day of the session, Richardson presented the legislature with two letters from Pierce Butler, dated 6 Dec. 1803 and 3 Apr. 1804, that detailed his opposition to the amendment (FCs in PHi: Pierce Butler Letterbooks, 1787-1822; Charleston Carolina Gazette, 18 May 1804).