James Madison Papers

Motion to Renew Thomas Jefferson’s Appointment as Peace Commissioner, [12 November] 1782

Motion To Renew Thomas Jefferson’s Appointment as
Peace Commissioner

MS (NA: PCC, No. 36, I, 431). In JM’s hand. Docketed, “Motion of Mr. Madison Passed 12 Novr. 1782.”

[12 November 1782]

That the appointment of Thomas Jefferson Esqr. as a Minister Plenipotentiary for negociating peace, made on the   day of   be and the same is hereby renewed;1 and that on his acceptance thereof he be invested with all the powers and be subject to all the instructions which have been, or may be issued by Congress, to the Ministers Plenipo: for negociating peace, in the same manner as if his original appointment had taken effect.2

1Congress had appointed Jefferson on 14 June 1781, but he declined in a letter of 4 August 1781 (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XX, 648; Boyd, Papers of Jefferson description begins Julian P. Boyd et al., eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (17 vols. to date; Princeton, N.J., 1950——). description ends , VI, 94, 113; Papers of Madison description begins William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (5 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). description ends , III, 154, n. 5; IV, 13, n. 3; JM to Randolph, 30 September 1782, and n. 7).

2Having been seconded by Theodorick Bland, the motion was adopted by Congress without a division (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXIII, 720–21). See Notes on Debates, 12 November 1782.

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