To James Madison from John Ross, 12 January 1807 (Abstract)
From John Ross, 12 January 1807 (Abstract)
§ From John Ross. 12 January 1807, Saint Marys, Ga. “Persuaded that the most proper mode of approaching The President is thro the medium of your Department, I have the Honor of forwarding herewith a Petition signed by myself and a few of the inhabitants of this place who apprehend that a due Report on certain charges against The Official Conduct of our Collector hath not yet been made by The Secretary of The Treasury And as the delay is attended with sensible injury to the Peace and welfare of this community it is hoped that in this way a full investigation will take place and a final decision be obtained.1
“In the month of October and also in November last recommendations in favor of Abraham Bissent Esqr. signed by a large number of People in this County were forwarded to the Secretary of The Treasury2 since which nothing has been received here touching the subject—not even an acknowledgement that they were duly received.”
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1801–9, filed under “Bissent”). 2 pp.
1. The Treasury Department investigated accusations that collector Randolph McGillis “had received interest on revenue bonds for which he had not at the time accounted with the Treasury” but could not substantiate the accusations. Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin concluded that “the cause of that uncertainty must be ascribed to the collector’s irregularity, & his want of compliance with the forms established by the Treasury for rendering revenue accounts” and recommended McGillis’s removal (Gallatin to Thomas Jefferson, 13 Mar. 1807 [DLC: Jefferson Papers]).
2. Gallatin forwarded the petitions for Bissent to Jefferson on 13 March 1807 (ibid.). Jefferson appointed Bissent to the post while Congress was recessed from 4 March to 8 November 1807, and the Senate approved the appointment on 18 November (Senate Exec. Proceedings, 2:56–57, 59).