Christian Schultz to Thomas Jefferson, 19 July 1823
From Christian Schultz
Schultz’s Range Virginia July 19–1823
Venerable Sir
Thrice have I attempted to address you,1 and thrice have I torn up my notes,2 under the impression that your time must be3 too much engaged with old correspondents, to spare any for new—But my friendship for injured merit have overuled my prudence4
When I sent you my humble, but perharps zealous defence of Mr Dewitt Clinton, by a “Candid Virginian”: I did not intend to tresspass on your time: or avow myself the writer as I now do in a confidential way
I am a native of New York and removed eight years ago to Virginia near the Ohio, where I have settled5 for life6—So that I am, what I profess to be, “a Candid Virginian”
Having known Mr Clinton for nearly one quarter of a century, and enjoyed his friendship and confidence: I am well convinced, that there is no foundation in truth for any of the charges which disappointed office seekers,+ and those who are jealous of his brilliant talents have prefered against him. Being myself perfectly acquainted with all the sources of intrigue in that state,8 which have given rise to the various factions who have assailed Mr C: I felt it a duty due to the high opinion I entertain of his talents, republicanism and patriotism, to expose the fallacy and inconsistency of those charges, in a pamphlet form—Mr C was equally9 ignorant of the contents of the Pamphlet before it was published, as he is of this letter:10 they are both the spontanious effusion of my own warm friendship for him.
One single word from you, Sir, will do more than all I can write in a year. And as you are now above all party or political considerations, it, no doubt, will give you pleasure, to aid in doing Justice to one so deserving of it11—Should you therefore be of opinion, that there is no foundation for those charges, or that they are satisfactorily refuted by documentary evidence:12 you will not only do an act of justice to injured merit, but confer an act of favour and condescension by addressing a line to that effect.
I feel very sensibly, Sir, the awkward position13 in which I stand, since it has become so common for scribblers14 like me to address you, with a view of publishing, what you perharps only intended15 for Private use—I will therefore at least deserve the credit of being candid, and request, in case you honor me with a line, that it may be for the Public eye
C Schultz
RC (MoSHi: TJC-BC); endorsed by TJ as received 30 July 1823 from “Orange Va” (a misreading of “Range Virginia”) and so recorded in SJL. RC (MHi); address cover only; with FC of TJ to William A. Coffey, 4 Sept. 1823, on verso; addressed: “Hon: Thomas Jefferson Montecello Va”; franked; postmarked Schultz’s Range, 19 July. Dft (Lb in ViW).
The defence of mr dewitt clinton was “A Candid Virginian” [Schultz], Positive Facts, Versus Envious Assertions: being an Impartial Review and Refutation of All the Charges preferred against Governor De Witt Clinton ([New York?], 1823). The editor of the “national advocate” was Mordecai M. Noah.
1. Dft: “to write to you.”
2. Reworked in Dft from “I thrown it in the fire” to “I torn my note to pieces.”
3. Dft: “time is.”
4. Dft reads “for an injured man, has overuled all other prudential motives.”
5. Dft: “I shall probably remain.”
6. Remainder of paragraph not in Dft.
7. Note in Dft reads (two words illegible) “The [. . .]sistent Editor of the National Advocate [. . .] the leader of the pack. He supported Governor Yates until he refused him some office of favor and now abuses him.”
8. Preceding three words interlined in Dft.
9. Word interlined in Dft in place of “totally.”
10. Remainder of paragraph not in Dft.
11. Paragraph to this point added perpendicularly in margin of Dft and keyed to this point with a plus sign.
12. Preceding three words not in Dft.
13. RC: “awkard position.” Dft: “awkward predicament.”
14. RC: “scriblers.” Dft: “scribblers.”
15. Dft: “publishing your answers, when perharps you <as yet> only intended them.”
16. RC: “sentiment.” Dft: “sentiments.”
Index Entries
- Clinton, DeWitt; Positive Facts, Versus Envious Assertions: being an Impartial Review and Refutation of All the Charges preferred against Governor De Witt Clinton (“A Candid Virginian” [C. Schultz]) search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; works sent to search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Correspondence; publication of papers search
- National Advocate (New York newspaper); and party politics search
- newspapers; New YorkNational Advocate search
- Noah, Mordecai Manuel; as editor of New YorkNational Advocate search
- Positive Facts, Versus Envious Assertions: being an Impartial Review and Refutation of All the Charges preferred against Governor De Witt Clinton (“A Candid Virginian” [C. Schultz]) search
- Schultz, Christian (“X.Y.Z Cosmopolite”); letter from search
- Schultz, Christian (“X.Y.Z Cosmopolite”); Positive Facts, Versus Envious Assertions: being an Impartial Review and Refutation of All the Charges preferred against Governor De Witt Clinton (written as “A Candid Virginian”) search
- Yates, Joseph C.; as governor of N.Y. search