Henry Dearborn to Thomas Jefferson, 7 August 1805
From Henry Dearborn
Washington August 7th. 1805
Sir
I take the liberty of enclosing a letter I have written to Govr. Hamilton of S. Carolina in reply to the one he wrote to Mr. Madison.
On reading the letter if you should think it exceptionable, I will thank you for such remarks as you may deem proper on the letter generally. but if you should concider it as proper to be forwarded, I will thank you to have it sealed & put into the post office.
with sentiments of the highest respect & esteem, I am Sir Your Huml. Servt.
H Dearborn
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 10 Aug. and “Charleston fortifns” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Dearborn to Paul Hamilton, 7 Aug.; Dearborn has seen Hamilton’s letter of 12 July to the secretary of state on fortifications in Charleston’s harbor; the reason that the general government has not allocated funds toward the erection of permanent fortifications is that such an allocation requires that a state cede the property to the United States, and the South Carolina legislature has yet to approve such a measure; Dearborn has mentioned the situation to the state’s representatives in Congress without apparent effect; if “suitable sites for fortifications” are ceded, the government will not delay in “erecting such works as shall be considered necessary and proper” (FC in Lb in DNA: RG 107, MLS).