Thomas Jefferson Papers

Henry Dearborn to Thomas Jefferson, [before August 1805]

From Henry Dearborn

[before 19 Aug. 1805]

Sir

You have undoubtedly observed the Attacks made in Duanes & Jacksons papers on the appointment of Davy, in this case, those rival papers appear to differ only in the mode of attack, but feel eaqual zeal in the prosicution of the war, by all means, whether fair or foul. as long as they will confine their hostile views to me, I shall feel perfectly easey, beleiving as I do, that they have no just cause of complaint—as to the illegallity of the appointment, I presume there can be no doubt but that you at all times possessed sufficient authority to place the general superintendence of the Indian factory business in such persons as you might think proper, that fund having been placed specially under your own direction, or in other words, under the immediate direction of the President of the U.S.—in addition to the subordinate agents who are to retain the goods at the several factories, and who are particularly mentioned in the law, other persons must necessarily be imploy’d to purchase, pack, & transport the goods to the respective factories, & receive the furs & peltries, dispose of them, and keep regular accounts of the whole concern, the law leaves the whole of this part of the business to the discretion of the President of the U.S. of course he is either authorised to make the necessary appointments for transacting these important parts of the business, or he must perform it himself, or not attempt to carry the sistem into opperation at all.

on the subject of exporting the furs & peltries, & importing such goods as cannot at all times be otherwise procured, I am confident that there will be no cause of complaint either as to punctuallity or economy,—and I am well persueaded that the business will be conducted by Mr. Davy, with great regularity & correctness.

Yours,

H. Dearborn

RC (DLC); undated; endorsed by TJ as received 19 Aug. 1805 and “Davy” and so recorded in SJL.

Attacks made in Duanes & Jacksons papers: in Philadelphia beginning in early August, William Jackson’s Political and Commercial Register and William Duane’s Aurora issued stories criticizing TJ’s appointment of William Davy as the principal agent for the Native American trade. Jackson’s newspaper published an anonymous piece signed by “A Friend to American mechanics and manufacturers,” which alleged that Davy had exported pelts for personal gain rather than selling them to the city’s hatters. Duane, while taking caution not to question Davy’s qualifications, alleged that he had gotten the job because Alexander James Dallas had interceded on his behalf with the War Department and that the appointment was illegal because it had no basis in statute (Aurora, 12, 13 Aug.; TJ to Dearborn, 29 Mch. 1805).

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