To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Simons, 5 December 1803
From Robert Simons
Mount Republic Decr 5 1803
Dear Sir,
As an old Soldier; who has met with severe Losses in the Mercantile line; I Request Your Friendship in nominating me as Collector for the Port of New Orleans.
Major P. Butler and Genl Sumter can Inform you of my Character, as to Family I am an Elder Brother of the Collector of the Port of Charleston; and I am of Opinion that after holding the Office applied for as long as he has held his, that I Will give you equal Satisfaction.
I am Dear Sir with Sentiments of Respect and Esteem Your most Obt Hble Servt
Robt Simons
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr. President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 30 Dec. and “to be Collector N.O.” and so recorded in SJL.
Robert Simons (1758-1807) was an elder brother of Charleston collector James Simons. A veteran of the American Revolution and former merchant at Georgetown, South Carolina, Simons dabbled in politics in the 1790s and early 1800s as an unsuccessful candidate for Congress and vocal foe of John Jay’s mission to Great Britain and the resultant Jay Treaty. In public letters written in 1794, he declared Jay’s appointment as special envoy to be “both unconstitutional and tyrannical” and urged the election of Republicans to Congress. Two years later, he sent petitions to James Madison in the House of Representatives calling for the impeachment of George Washington and the 20 members of the Senate who supported the treaty (South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, 37 [1936], 145, 150; State Gazette of South-Carolina, 12 Dec. 1785; Charleston City Gazette and Daily Advertiser, 14 June, 29 Aug. 1794, 12 Oct. 1796, 20 Sep., 20 Oct. 1800; , 16:210-11, 220, 237-8).