Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from George Slaughter, 13 April 1781

From George Slaughter

Louisville April 13th 1781

Sir

As the inclosed copy of the proceedings of the Commissioners appointed to examine into the conduct of Captain James Francis Moore purchasing Commissary for this department by which you will observe that I have not proved the charge against that Gentleman I have nothing to say in justification of my conduct more than that I had put too much confidence in the information whom I before thought were men of the strictest Varacity and honour but as I have been inadvertinly led to make those charges, in Justification to Capt. Moore’s character am in duty bound to make him all the satisfaction in my Power therefore hope that no part of the information recited in my Letter of the 17th. January last respecting that Gentleman will injure him in your esteem.

I am Yr. Excellency’s Mo. Obt Huml Servt,

Geo: Slaughter

RC (Vi); in a clerk’s hand, signed by Slaughter; addressed and endorsed. Enclosure (filed with the letter in Vi): Report, captioned as follows: “At a Meeting of the Commissioners appointed by Brigadier General Clark the 13th. day of April 1781. for the purpose of enquiring into the conduct of Capt. William Shannon & Capt. James Francis Moore, Purchasing Commissarys in the Western Department, on the complaint of Maj. George Slaughter. Present John Floyd, Isaac Cox, William Oldham & Robert Todd Gentlemen”; the report is signed by all the commissioners and absolves both Shannon and Moore of the several charges of peculation brought against them by Slaughter.

On the subject of Slaughter’s charges, see Slaughter to TJ, 17 Jan. 1781; TJ to George Rogers Clark, 19 Feb. 1781; and Slaughter to TJ, 14 and 18 Apr. 1781.

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