To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Stanton, Jr., and Samuel J. Potter, 14 December 1803
From Joseph Stanton, Jr., and Samuel J. Potter
City Washington Decr. 14th 1803
Sir/
The Important & desirable aquisition of Louisiana makes It Necessary to Create a Number of Revenue Officers for the Security & Collection of the Same. Permit us to Recomend to your Patronage Peleg S Thompson of Charlestown & State of R Island; He is a young man of 22 years of Age of an Irreproachable Character—His Education & Talents are, We presume, Sufficient to quallify him to perform with Propriety the duty Attached to the Office of Naval Officer or Surveyor of the port of New Orleans; If he Should Be So Auspicious as to be Honored with a nomination from the President & the Constitutional Sanction of the Senate We make No doubt, But, that he will give perfect Satisfaction by a faithfull discharge of his Official duty In a manner Acceptable to his patrons as well as honor to himself; His Conciliating manners & Strict adherence to the Principals of Justice has Gained him the Love and Esteem of all who Know him: With Sintements of high Esteem we are Very Truly your Obedt. Huml Servants
Jos: Stanton
Saml. J. Potter
NB Let it be Remembered that in the State of R Island the district Judge & Attorney Commissioner of Loans all the Collectors of the Revenue Six Surveyors out Nine all Federal Characters and a major part of them as Bitter as wormwood—
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); in Stanton’s hand, signed by both; at head of text: “His Excellency the President United States of America”; endorsed by TJ “Thompson Peleg S. to be Surveyor Customs N.O.” and so recorded in SJL at 14 Dec., joined by a brace with Christopher Ellery and Nehemiah Knight to TJ, 14 Dec.
Samuel J. Potter (1753-1804) served as deputy governor of Rhode Island from 1790 until 1803, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate. A Republican, he attended only one session of Congress before his death at South Kingston on 26 Sep. 1804 (; Newport Mercury, 29 Sep. 1804; Providence Phoenix, 6, 13 Oct. 1804).