121From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 18 April 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 April 1803, Department of State. “In answer to your letter of the 12th. inst.… I approve of the House of Sir F. Baring & Co. as Bankers of the monies to be remitted to London for objects connected with the Department of State, so long as they remain the bankers of the Treasury Department in their general transactions. The accounts of former reimbursements for the expense of prize-causes, in...
122From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 21 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The act of Congress 1789. c. 9. assumes on the General government the maintenance & repair of all lighthouses, beacons, buoys & public piers then existing, and provides for the building a new lighthouse . this was done under the authority given by the constitution ‘to regulate commerce,’ was contested at the time as not within the meaning of these terms, & yielded to only on the urgent...
123From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 5 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Th Jefferson asks the favor of a consultation with the heads of Departments on Saturday at 11 OClock— RC ( NHi : Gallatin Papers); partially dated; addressed: “The Secretary of the Treasury.” Not recorded in SJL . consultation : see Notes on a Cabinet Meeting, 7 May . According to TJ’s notes, cabinet meetings were held on 10 other Saturdays between 16 July 1803 and 25 Feb. 1809. He may have...
124From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 28 May 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 May 1803, Department of State . Requests that a warrant for $600 be issued “on the appropriation for the contingent expences of the Department of State … in favor of Christopher S. Thom he to be charged and held accountable for the same.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14). 1 p. JM requested that Gallatin issue additional warrants, in amounts ranging from $190 to $43,000, for...
125From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 7 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof is mr Mansfield , to be appointed Surveyor vice Putnam. he is come to get whatever information you think necessary to have communicated to him for the proper discharge of his duties. he is informed that when the other duties of his office will admit, he is to make a survey of the Missisipi, & to fix certain geographical points such as the South end of Lake Michigan, the West...
126From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 15 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Those who are compelled by law to come to a public office have a right to be treated there with temper, attention & complaisance. interest teaches this to the private shopkeeper; reason & duty should do it to the public officer; and a continued course of harsh & rude conduct to those who come on business, will be good cause of removal. in the construction of a law, he should understand that...
127From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 22 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter to Thornton is civil both in matter & manner, and entirely proper. I dare say Irvine will do very well as Surveyor at Buffalo. he seems so far to have conducted himself well as Indian agent. I do not know Oliver Phelps’s particular character, except that he has all the sagacity of a Connecticut man, and is attached to the little band . but I do not see that his recommendation need...
128From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 22 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Coxe may be informed with truth that the information he says he has recieved is entirely without foundation, no such resolution as he alludes to having ever been formed, and mr Madison & Capt Lewis too guarded to have ever spoken of it, had it been formed. but in truth a pretended rumor of removal is the common ground for application for an office. With respect to Hays the Marshal of West...
129From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 2 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The arrangement you propose as to supervisors is approved. to wit Vermont. the marshal to do the duties New York. the Naval officer . Rhode isld. either Nichols the Navl. officer of Newport, or Slocum the Surveyor. Newport has complained with reason that all general offices have been given to Providence, & none to Newport. New Jersey. not to the loan officer . the Marshal or any other officer...
130From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 9 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
It is but a fortnight before we shall separate, and there will be but a month between our return & the meeting of Congress, & that crowded by the business which will accumulate during our absence. it is well therefore to make up our minds on such subjects as we can before we separate. Louisiana is an important one. it is our duty in the first place to obtain the information supporting it which...
131From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 9 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
It is proposed to appoint Rodney & Williams Commrs. for the Natchez district, & Kirby for that of Tombigby. a 2d for that is wanting. Rob. C. Nicholas (son of George) is recommended. he is not a lawyer; nor has any lawyer offered, but one who is concerned in one of the companies. mr Garrard of Kentucky, who wished to be a judge of Indiana has occurred to me. but I do not know that he would...
132From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 12 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The strengthening the revenue cutters by the addition of another mate & 2. hands is approved. while our cutters must be large enough to go safely to sea, and should be well manned for their size, we should avoid making them larger than safety will require; because many small vessels will watch the coast better than a few large ones. resistance will not be attempted probably. Genl. Muhlenberg’s...
133From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 25 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
We agreed that the address of the Ward committees ought not to be formally answered. but on further reflection I think it would be better to write a private letter to one of the members, in order that he may understand the true grounds on which the subject rests, & may state them informally to his colleagues. I think these grounds so solid that they cannot fail to remove this cause of division...
134From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 8 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
It is suggested to me (indirectly from the person himself) that Jerome Bonaparte is at Baltimore under the name of Monsr. Dalbarton, with a son of Rewbell, and that they mean to ask a passage to France in one of our frigates. if this be the fact, he will have satisfied thereof the minister of his nation, thro’ whom we shall be apprised of it, & relieved from all trouble in deciding on it. this...
135From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 18 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 8th. inst. yesterday I recieved your two favors of the 11th. there ought to be no further hesitation with E. Livingston. the importation of negroes from the French islands ought to be vigorously withstood: but I think we should not tread back our steps as to the reduction of the size of our revenue cutters on bare supposition that they will be resisted. when such a...
136From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 23 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Aug. 13. and 15. were recieved yesterday. the appointment of a successor to Samuel Bishop must await our re-assembling at Washington. I inclose you the late letters of Livingston & Monroe, for consideration, & to be returned to me when perused. you will find that the French government, dissatisfied perhaps with their late bargain with us, will be glad of a pretext to declare...
137From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 30 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of the 20th. & 22d. came to hand yesterday, and this will go by return of post tomorrow. I now return the letters of Symonds & others on the smugling of negroes into Georgia. his letter to Payne of the revenue cutter will bring to issue the resistance apprehended, and if it be found too great, we must strengthen her. should the Enterprize return here to be refitted, which she...
138From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 9 September 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 September 1803, Department of State . Requests that “remittances may be made to Baring & Co. at London & Willinks & co. at Amsterdam” out of the appropriations stated in the enclosed estimate, which will “answer the demands of the public service” in those places until 1 Apr. 1804. Letterbook copy and letterbook copy of enclosure ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14). Letterbook copy 1 p.; copied into...
139From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 30 September 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
30 September 1803, Department of State . In answer to Gallatin’s letter of 19 Sept. , encloses a copy of his letter to Erving of 19 Apr. and an extract from Erving’s answer. “Though I am without information of the exact amount of the reimbursements of expences in prize causes, it is reasonable to believe that they have been considerable.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14). 1 p....
140III. Referral of the Draft to Albert Gallatin, 3 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Gallatin to examine with rigour the inclosed projet of the message to Congress, and to note on a separate paper the alterations he thinks advantageous. as it is to go thro’ the hands of the other gentlemen of the Cabinet, his immediate attention to it is desireable. he also asks the favor of mr Gallatin to meet the heads of department here tomorrow at 10....
141From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 17 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to enable me this morning to fill up the blank in the following passage of the Message. ‘An account of the reciepts & expenditures of the year ending the 30th. of Sep. last, with the estimates for the ensuing year, will be laid before you by the Secy. of the Treasy. so soon as the reciepts of the last quarter shall be returned from the more distant states. it is already...
142From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 29 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I must ask the favor of you to meet the heads of departments here tomorrow at 12. aclock & afterwards to dine with us. the object is to decide definitively on the arrangements which are to be dispatched Westwardly the next day. Genl. Dearborne & myself had concluded to submit to the meeting a plan little different from that suggested in your letter of yesterday. towit. to send orders to...
143From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 3 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Gallatin, on his arrival at his office, to call & accompany him to the Secretary of State’s office, where a matter of moment & urgency is to be considered. RC ( NHi : Gallatin Papers); addressed: “Mr. Gallatin.” Not recorded in SJL . matter of moment & urgency : on this day the State Department learned that on 17 Aug. a Moroccan cruiser had captured the brig...
144From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 5 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Bell being the lowest bidder for the saltsprings has on that ground the first claim for preference. his character moreover, & the moderation of his views recommend him: but there seems just reason to apprehend he is too moderate, and that he has erred against himself in his calculations, being perhaps too sanguine. it is never the interest of a landlord to break his tenant. in this case it...
145From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 9 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The memoranda you inclosed me from mr Clarke deserve great attention. such articles of them as depend on the executive shall be arranged for the next post. the following articles belong to the legislature. the administration of justice to be prompt. perhaps the judges should be obliged to hold their courts weekly, at least for some time to come. the ships of resident owners to be naturalized,...
146From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 14 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
To avoid the expence to which we are exposed for the rent of Houses for the messengers of the Departments of State, War and navy, General post office and of the accountants of the War and navy Departments, & to provide against accidents of fire to the Buildings occupied by these Departments we conceive that it would be expedient for Congress to make provision for building six small brick...
147From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 1 December 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the letter of mr Miller notifying the resignation of the Supervisor of Maryland, & I approve your proposition of suppressing the office, annexing it’s duties to that of Surveyor of the district of Baltimore with the salary of 250. D. a year & a reasonable allowance for Clerk hire. I return you also your proposed report on the suppression of the Commissionrs. of loans, with an...
148From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 2 December 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 December 1803, Department of State . Requests a warrant for $22,222.22 against the appropriation for Barbary negotiations in favor of James Davidson, holder of the enclosed bill drawn upon JM by James Leander Cathcart to the order of Degen, Purviance, and Company of Leghorn. The sum is to be charged to Cathcart’s account. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14). 1 p.
149From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 13 December 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The Attorney Genl. having considered and decided that the prescription, in the law for establishing a bank, that the officers in the subordinate offices of discount & deposit shall be appointed ‘on the same terms and in the same manner practised in the principal bank’ does not extend to them the principle of rotation established by the legislature in the body of Directors in the principal...
150From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 15 December 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
15 December 1803, Department of State. “Be pleased to issue your Warrant on the appropriation for the Contingent expences of the Department of State, for two hundred dollars, in favor of Christopher S. Thom: he to be charged and held accountable for the same.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14). 1 p. JM made a similar request for four hundred dollars on 7 Feb. 1804 (ibid.).