Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 5 October 1802

From Albert Gallatin

Treasury Department 5th Octer. 1802

Sir

I have the honor to enclose a letter from Mr Kirby Supervisor of Connecticut, in which he requests to be discharged from the duties of his office. The Commissioner of the revenue with whom I consulted on the occasion agrees with me that the whole direct tax having been collected in that State, and the amount of outstanding duties being trifling and ascertained, no inconvenience can arise from the office being immediately discontinued. The second section of the Act to repeal the internal taxes authorizes the President of the United States to discontinue any of the offices of supervisor whenever the collection of the internal duties & direct tax shall have been so far completed in any State or District as, in his opinion, to render that measure expedient. The propriety of exercising that authority so far as respects Connecticut is respectfully submitted.

I have the honor to be with great respect Sir Your obedt. Servt.

Albert Gallatin

RC (DLC); at foot of text: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received from the Treasury Department on 5 Oct. and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Ephraim Kirby to TJ, 22 Sep. 1802.

For the presidential authority to DISCONTINUE the office, see U.S. Statutes at Large description begins Richard Peters, ed., The Public Statutes at Large of the United States . . . 1789 to March 3, 1845, Boston, 1855–56, 8 vols. description ends , 2:148–9. On 6 Oct., Gallatin informed Ephraim Kirby that considering the “situation of the district,” the president thought it was “most consistent with the public interest that the office of Supervisor for Connecticut should be discontinued” effective 10 Oct. Kirby would receive information for the closing of the accounts from William Miller, commissioner of the revenue (Gallatin, Papers description begins Carl E. Prince and Helene E. Fineman, eds., The Papers of Albert Gallatin, microfilm edition in 46 reels, Philadelphia, 1969, and Supplement, Barbara B. Oberg, ed., reels 47–51, Wilmington, Del., 1985 description ends , 7:600).

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