Thomas Jefferson Papers
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V. The Secretary of State to Daniel Carroll, 24 January 1791

V. The Secretary of State to Daniel Carroll

Philadelphia January 24th. 1791

Dear Sir

The President of the United States desirous of availing himself of your assistance in preparing the federal Seat on the Potomac, [is in hopes you will act as one of the Commissioners directed by the Law for that purpose. I have the honor now to enclose a joint commission for yourself and two others, together with]1 a Copy of the Proclamation meant to constitute your first direction. The President will from time to time communicate such further directions, as circumstances shall call for.—I have the Honor to be with great esteem Dear Sir Your most obt. & most h’ble Servt.

PrC (DLC); in Remsen’s hand, unsigned; at foot of text: “Honorable Daniel Carroll.” FC (DNA: RG 59, PCC No. 120). Enclosures: (1) Commission designating Thomas Johnson and Daniel Carroll of Maryland and David Stuart of Virginia “Commissioners for surveying the District of Territory accepted by the … Act for the Permanent Seat of the Government of the United States and for performing such other Offices as by Law are directed, with full authority for them or any two of them to proceed therein according to Law, and to have and to hold the said office with all the powers, priviledges and Authorities to the same of right appertaining each of them, during the pleasure of the President of the United States, for the time being” (FC in DNA: RG 42, PC, in clerk’s hand including signature of Washington and attestation by TJ, dated 22 Jan. 1791; in the minutes of the proceedings of the Commissioners the commission is preceded by the text of the Residence Act). (2) Proclamation of 24 Jan. 1791.

On this same day TJ wrote Thomas Johnson and David Stuart identical letters (save as indicated below) but not enclosing commissions (PrC in DLC, in Remsen’s hand, unsigned; FC in DNA: RG 59, PCC No. 120). Carroll did not accept the appointment until the session closed, for the reason given in the proceedings of the Commissioners: “Daniel Carroll Esquire, one of the aforesaid Commissioners, at the time of the issuing the Commission, being one of the delegates from the State of Maryland … refusing to Act, there were only two commissioners from that time until the 4th day of March 1791 when Mr. Carrolls time of serving in Congress having elapsed, a new Commission was sent him, and he agreed to serve” (FC in DNA: RG 42, PC). TJ sent Carroll his commission on that day (TJ to Carroll, 4 Mch. 1791; same, RG 59, PCC No. 120).

1The text of the letters to Johnson and Stuart differs from that in square brackets (supplied) and reads as follows: “has appointed you one of the three Commissioners directed by the Law for that purpose. A joint Commission is made out and deposited in the hands of the honorable D. Carroll, who is named second therein. I have the honor to enclose you” &c.

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