From Thomas Jefferson to the House of Representatives, 31 January 1805
To the House of Representatives
To the House of Representatives
of the United States:
In compliance with the desire of the House of representatives expressed in their resolution of yesterday, I have to inform them that by a letter of the 30th. of May last from the Secretary at War to Samuel Hammond a member of the house, it was proposed to him to accept a commission of Colonel Commandant for the District of Louisiana when the new government there should commence. by a letter of the 30th. of June he signified a willingness to accept; but still more definitively by one of Oct. 26. a copy of which is therefore now communicated. a Commission had been made out for him bearing date the 1st. day of October last, and forwarded before the reciept of his letter of October 26. no later communication has been recieved from him nor is any thing later known of his movements.
Th: Jefferson
Jan. 31. 1805.
RC (DNA: RG 233, PM, 8th Cong., 2d sess.); endorsed by a House clerk. PoC (DLC). Notation in SJL: “Hammond.” Enclosure: Samuel Hammond to Henry Dearborn, 26 Oct. 1804 (Enclosure No. 2 to Dearborn to TJ, 31 Jan.).
resolution of yesterday: on 30 Jan., the House asked the president whether Samuel Hammond had accepted an executive appointment and, if so, on what date. Isaac A. Coles presented TJ’s reply on 1 Feb. The following day, the House unanimously declared Hammond’s seat vacated and ordered a copy of the resolution sent to the governor of Georgia (, 5:112-13, 116).