Joseph C. Cabell to Thomas Jefferson, 23 January 1818
From Joseph C. Cabell
Richmond. 23d Jan. 1818.
Dear Sir,
As I came out of the Capitol to-day, I received from one of the doorkeepers the enclosed copy of the bill reported by the Committee of Schools & Colleges, which I have hastily looked over, and in regard to which I confess myself greatly disappointed. Indeed, Sir, the prospect before us is dreary. Perhaps the subject may be dressed up in the House, but when a committee begins so inauspiciously, the1 affair generally ends in smoke. I really think that our only safe course is to look around, select suitable persons, and try to prevail on them to come into the next Assembly. It is a subject of infinite delicacy, and should be handled with great discretion: but a few weeks will shew it is our only dependence. I have not been as quick in getting an answer from the banks as you may desire. It will not be till friday 30th2 that I shall be able to procure a written answer. But I have ascertained to my satisfaction, that according to the rules of the institution, the Visitors will be obliged to render themselves liable in their individual capacities, in order to procure the proposed loan. As I came from the Capitol to-day, I heard the result of the Ayes & noes in the lower House on the question to postpone the Resolution for removing the Seat of Govt. It was postponed by a large majority. It is just that I should observe that both your representatives voted for the postponement. I hope you will excuse my writing you on such paper: as I did not know my deficiency till I sat down: and I believe you would like a speedy communication. I am Dr Sir, faithfully yours
Joseph C. Cabell
RC (ViU: TJP-PC); addressed: “Mr Jefferson Monticello”; stamped; franked; postmarked Richmond, 24 Jan.; endorsed by TJ as received 28 Jan. 1818 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: “A Bill Providing for the endowment of Primary Schools, Academies, Colleges, and an University,” which was presented to the House of Delegates on 20 Jan. 1818 by Robert G. Scott of the Committee of Schools and Colleges (printed Dft bill in Vi: RG 79, House of Delegates, Rough Bills; [1817–18 sess.], 134–5).
Albemarle County’s representatives in the Virginia House of Delegates were Jesse Winston Garth and Dabney Minor.
1. Cabell here canceled “work.”
2. Reworked from “29th.”
Index Entries
- A Bill Providing for the endowment of Primary Schools, Academies, Colleges, and an University search
- banks; in Va. search
- Cabell, Joseph Carrington; and establishment of Central College search
- Cabell, Joseph Carrington; as Va. state senator search
- Cabell, Joseph Carrington; letters from search
- Cabell, Joseph Carrington; on Va. General Assembly search
- Central College; bank loan for search
- Central College; establishment of search
- Central College Board of Visitors; and funding for college search
- education; in Va. search
- Garth, Jesse Winston; as Va. legislator search
- Minor, Dabney; as Va. legislator search
- Richmond, Va.; banks in search
- Scott, Robert G.; as Va. legislator search
- Virginia; and education search
- Virginia; banks in search
- Virginia; General Assembly search
- Virginia; House of Delegates search