Title: Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 4
Author: Thomas Jefferson
Editor: Thomas Jefferson Randolph
Release date: September 30, 2005 [eBook #16784]
Most recently updated: February 25, 2021
Language: English
Credits: Produced by David Widger
| Contents |
| Illustrations |
| Volume I. |
| Volume II. |
| Volume III. |
CONTENTS
LETTER I. TO LEVI LINCOLN, August 30, 1803
LETTER II. TO WILSON C NICHOLAS, September 7, 1803
LETTER III. TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH, October 4, 1803
LETTER IV. TO M. DUPONT DE NEMOURS, November 1, 1803
LETTER V. TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, November 4,1803
LETTER VI. TO DAVID WILLIAMS, November 14, 1803
LETTER VII. TO JOHN RANDOLH, December 1, 1803
LETTER VIII. TO MR. GALLATIN, December 13, 1803
LETTER IX. TO DOCTOR PRIESTLEY, January 29, 1804
LETTER X. TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, March 3, 1804
LETTER XI. TO GIDEON GRANGER, April 16, 1804
LETTER XII. TO MRS. ADAMS, June 13,1804
LETTER XIII. TO GOVERNOR PAGE, June 25, 1804
LETTER, XIV. TO P. MAZZEI, July 18, 1804
LETTER XV. TO MRS. ADAMS, July 22, 1804
LETTER XVI. TO JAMES MADISON, August 15, 1804
LETTER XVII. TO GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE, August 30, 1804
LETTER XVIII. TO MRS. ADAMS, September 11, 1804
LETTER XIX. TO MR. NICHOLSON, January 29, 1805
LETTER XX. TO MR. VOLNEY, February 8, 1805
LETTER XXI. TO JUDGE TYLER, March 29, 1805
LETTER XXII. TO DOCTOR LOGAN, May 11, 1805
LETTER XXIII. TO JUDGE SULLIVAN, May 21, 1805
LETTER XXIV. TO THOMAS PAINE, June 5, 1805
LETTER XXV. TO DOCTORS ROGERS AND SLAUGHTER, March 2, 1806
LETTER XXVI. TO MR. DUANE, March 22, 1806
LETTER XXVII. TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, March 24,1806
LETTER XXVIII. TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, April 13, 1806
LETTER XXIX. TO MR. HARRIS, April 18, 1806
LETTER XXX. TO THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA
LETTER XXXI. TO COLONEL MONROE, May 4, 1806
LETTER XXXII. TO GENERAL SMITH, May 4,1806
LETTER XXXIII. TO MR DIGGES, July 1, 1806
LETTER XXXIV. TO MR. BIDWELL, July 5, 1806
LETTER XXXV. TO MR. BOWDOIN, July 10, 1806
LETTER XXXVI. TO W. A. BURWELL, September 17, 1806
LETTER XXXVII. TO ALBERT GALLATIN, October 12, 1806
LETTER XXXVIII. TO JOHN DICKINSON, January 13, 1807
LETTER XXXIX, TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, February 28,1807
LETTER XL. TO JAMES MONROE, March 21, 1807
LETTER XLI. M. LE COMTE DIODATI, March 29, 1807
LETTER XLII. TO MR. BOWDOIN, April 2, 1807
LETTER XLIII. TO WILLIAM B. GILES, April 20, 1807
LETTER XLIV. TO GEORGE HAY, June 2, 1807
LETTER XLV. TO ALBERT GALLATIN, June 3, 1807
LETTER XLVI. TO GEORGE HAY, June 5, 1807
LETTER XLVII. TO DOCTOR HORATIO TURPIN, June 10, 1807
LETTER XLVIII. TO JOHN NORVELL, June 11, 1807
LETTER XLIX. TO WILLIAM SHORT, June 12, 1807
LETTER L. TO GEORGE HAY, June 12, 1807
LETTER LI. TO GEORGE HAY, June 17, 1807
LETTER LII. TO GEORGE HAY, June 19,1807
LETTER LIII. TO GOVERNOR SULLIVAN, June 19, 1807
LETTER LIV. TO GEORGE HAY, June 20, 1807
LETTER LV. TO DOCTOR WISTAR, June 21, 1807
LETTER LVI. TO MR. BOWDOIN, July 10, 1807
LETTER LVII. TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, July 14, 1807
LETTER LVIII. TO JOHN PAGE, July 17, 1807
LETTER LIX. TO WILLIAM DUANE, July 20, 1807
LETTER LX. TO GEORGE HAY, August 20, 1807
LETTER LXI. TO GEORGE HAY, September 4, 1807
LETTER LXII. TO GEORGE HAY, September 7, 1807
LETTER LXIII. TO THE REV. MR. MILLAR, January 23, 1808
LETTER LXIV. TO COLONEL MONROE, February 18, 1808
LETTER LXV. TO COLONEL MONROE, March 10, 1808
LETTER LXVI. TO RICHARD M. JOHNSON, March 10, 1808
LETTER LXVII. TO LEVI LINCOLN, March 23, 1808
LETTER LXVIII. TO CHARLES PINCKNEY, March 30, 1808
LETTER LXIX. TO DOCTOR LEIB, June 23, 1808
LETTER LXX. TO ROBERT L. LIVINGSTON, October 15, 1808
LETTER LXXI. TO DOCTOR JAMES BROWN, October 27, 1808
LETTER LXXII. TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LINCOLN, November 13, 1808
LETTER LXXIII. TO THOMAS JEFFERSON RANDOLPH, November 24, 1808
LETTER LXXIV. TO DOCTOR EUSTIS, January 14, 1809
LETTER LXXV. TO COLONEL MONROE, January 28, 1809
LETTER LXXVI. TO THOMAS MANN RANDOLPH, February 7, 1809
LETTER LXXVII. TO JOHN HOLLINS, February 19, 1809
LETTER LXXVIII. TO M. DUPONT DE NEMOURS, March 2, 1809
LETTER LXXIX. TO THE PRESIDENT, March 17, 1809
LETTER LXXX. TO THE INHABITANTS OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY, April 3, 1809
LETTER LXXXI. TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, June 13, 1809
LETTER LXXXII. TO THE PRESIDENT, August 17, 1809
LETTER LXXXIII. TO DOCTOR BARTON, September 21, 1809
LETTER LXXXIV. TO DON VALENTINE DE FORONDA, October 4, 1809
LETTER LXXXV. TO ALBERT GALLATIN, October 11, 1809
LETTER LXXXVI. TO CÆSAR A. RODNEY, February 10, 1810
LETTER LXXXVII.* TO SAMUEL KERCHEVAL, February 19,1810
LETTER LXXXVIII. TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO, February 26, 1810
LETTER LXXXIX. TO DOCTOR JONES, March 5, 1810
LETTER XC. TO GOVERNOR LANGDON, March 5, 1810
LETTER XCI. TO GENERAL DEARBORN, July 16,1810
LETTER XCII. TO J. B. COLVIN, September 20, 1810
LETTER XCIII. TO MR. LAW, January 15, 1811
LETTER XCIV. TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH, January 16, 1811
LETTER XCV. TO M. DESTUTT TRACY, January 26, 1811
LETTER XCVI. TO COLONEL MONROE, May 5, 1811
LETTER XCVII. TO GENERAL DEARBORN, August 14, 1811
LETTER XCVIII. TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH
LETTER XCIX. TO JOHN ADAMS, January 21, 1812
LETTER C. TO JOHN ADAMS, April 20, 1812
LETTER CI. TO JAMES MAURY, April 25, 1812
LETTER CII. TO THE PRESIDENT, May 30, 1812
LETTER CIII. TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, June 11, 1812
LETTER CIV. TO JUDGE TYLER, June 17,1812
LETTER CV. TO COLONEL WILLIAM DUANE, October 1, 1812
LETTER CVI. TO MR. MELISH, January 13, 1813
LETTER CVII. TO MADAME DE STAEL-HOLSTEIN, May 24, 1818
LETTER CVIII. TO JOHN ADAMS, May 27, 1813
LETTER CIX. TO JOHN ADAMS, June 15, 1813
LETTER CX. TO JOHN W. EPPES, June 24, 1813
LETTER CXI. TO JOHN ADAMS, June 21, 1813
LETTER CXII. TO JOHN ADAMS, August 22, 1813
LETTER CXIII. TO JOHN W. EPPES, November 6, 1813
LETTER CXIV. TO JOHN ADAMS, October 13, 1813
LETTER CXV. TO JOHN ADAMS, October 28, 1813
LETTER CXVI. TO THOMAS LIEPER, January 1, 1814
LETTER CXVII. TO DOCTOR WALTER JONES, January 2,1814
LETTER CXVIII. TO JOSEPH C. CABELL, January 31, 1814
LETTER CXIX. TO JOHN ADAMS, July 5, 1814
LETTER CXX. TO COLONEL MONROE, January 1, 1815
LETTER CXXI. TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, February 14, 1815
LETTER CXXII.* TO MR. WENDOVER, March 13, 1815
LETTER CXXIII. TO CÆSAR A. RODNEY, March 16, 1815
LETTER CXXIV. TO GENERAL DEARBORN, March 17, 1815
LETTER CXXV. TO THE PRESIDENT, March 23,1815
LETTER CXXVI. TO JOHN ADAMS, June 10,1815
LETTER CXXVII. TO MR. LEIPER, June 12, 1815
LETTER CXXVIII. TO JOHN ADAMS, August 10,1815
LETTER CXXIX. TO DABNEY CARR, January 19, 1816
LETTER CXXX. TO JOHN ADAMS, April 8, 1816
LETTER CXXXI. TO JOHN TAYLOR, May 28,1816
LETTER CXXXII. TO FRANCIS W. GILMER, June 7,1816
LETTER CXXXIII.* TO BENJAMIN AUSTIN, January 9, 1816
LETTER CXXXIV. TO WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD, June 20, 1816
LETTER CXXXV. TO SAMUEL KERCHIVAL, July 12, 1816
LETTER CXXXVI. TO JOHN TAYLOR, July 21, 1816
LETTER CXXXVII. TO SAMUEL KERCHIVAL, September 5, 1816
LETTER CXXXVIII. TO JOHN ADAMS, October 14, 1816
LETTER CXXXIX. TO JOHN ADAMS, TO JOHN ADAMS
LETTER CXL. TO JOHN ADAMS, May 5, 1817
LETTER CXLI. TO MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, May 14, 1817
LETTER CXLII. TO ALBERT GALLATIN, June 16, 1817
LETTER CXLIII. TO JOHN ADAMS, May 17, 1818
LETTER CXLIV. TO JOHN ADAMS, November 13, 1818
LETTER CXLV. TO ROBERT WALSH, December 4, 1818
LETTER CXLVI. TO M. DE NEUVILLE, December 13, 1818
LETTER CXLVII. TO DOCTOR VINE UTLEY, March 21, 1819
LETTER CXLVIII. TO JOHN ADAMS, July 9, 1819
LETTER CXLIX. TO JUDGE ROANE, September 6,1819
LETTER CL. TO JOHN ADAMS, December 10, 1819
LETTER CLI. TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 13, 1820
LETTER CLII. TO JOHN HOLMES, April 22, 1820
LETTER CLIII. TO WILLIAM SHORT, August 4, 1820
LETTER CLIV. TO JOHN ADAMS, August 15, 1820
LETTER CLV. TO JOSEPH C. CABELL, November 28, 1820
LETTER CLVI. TO THOMAS RITCHIE, December, 25, 1820
LETTER CLVII. TO JOHN ADAMS, January 22, 1821
LETTER CLVIII. TO JOSEPH C CABELL, January 31, 1821
LETTER CLIX. TO GENERAL BRECKENRIDGE, February 15, 1821
LETTER CLX. TO — — — NICHOLAS, December 11,1821
LETTER CLXI. TO JEDIDIAH MORSE, March 6, 1822
LETTER CLXII. TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN WATERHOUSE, June 26, 1822
LETTER CLXIII. TO JOHN ADAMS
LETTER CLXIV. TO WILLIAM T. BARRY, July 2, 1822
LETTER CLXV. TO DOCTOR WATERHOUSE, July 19, 1822
LETTER CLXVI. TO JOHN ADAMS
LETTER CLXVII. TO DOCTOR COOPER, November 2, 1822
LETTER CLXVIII. TO JAMES SMITH, December 8, 1822
LETTER, CLXIX. TO JOHN ADAMS, February 25, 1823
LETTER CLXX. TO JOHN ADAMS, April 11, 1823
LETTER CLXXI. TO THE PRESIDENT, June 11, 1823
LETTER CLXXII. TO JUDGE JOHNSON, June 12, 1823
LETTER CLXXIII. TO JAMES MADISON, August 30,1823
LETTER CLXXIV. TO JOHN ADAMS, September 4, 1823
LETTER CLXXV. TO JOHN ADAMS, October 12, 1823
LETTER CLXXVI. TO THE PRESIDENT, October 24,1823
LETTER CLXXVII. TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, November 4, 1823
LETTER CLXXVIII. TO JOSEPH C CABELL, February 3, 1824
LETTER CLXXIX. TO JARED SPARKS, February 4, 1824
LETTER CLXXX. TO EDWARD LIVINGSTON, April 4, 1824
LETTER CLXXXI. TO MAJOR JOHN CARTWRIGHT, June 5,1824
LETTER CLXXXII. TO MARTIN VAN BUREN, June 29, 1824
LETTER CLXXXIII. TO EDWARD EVERETT, October 15, 1824
LETTER CLXXXIV. TO JOSEPH C. CABELL, January 11, 1825
LETTER CLXXXV. TO THOMAS JEFFERSON SMITH, February 21, 1825
LETTER CLXXXVI. TO JAMES MADISON, December 24, 1825
LETTER CLXXXVII. TO WILLIAM B. GILES, December 25, 1825
LETTER CLXXXVIII. TO WILLIAM B. GILES, December 26, 1825
LETTER CLXXXIX. TO CLAIBORNE W. GOOCH, January 9, 1826
LETTER CXC. TO [ANONYMOUS], January 21, 1826
LETTER CXCI. TO JAMES MADISON, February 17,1826
THOUGHTS ON LOTTERIES.
LETTER CXCII. TO JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, March 30, 1826
LETTER CXCIII. TO MR. WEIGHTMAN, June 24, 1826
ANA. EXPLANATION OF VOLUMES IN MARBLED PAPER
List of Illustrations
Book Spines, 1829 Set of Jefferson Papers
Steel Engraving by Longacre from Painting of G. Stuart
Titlepage of Volume Three (of Four)
Pages With Greek Phrases and Tables:
TO LEVI LINCOLN.
Monticello, August 30, 1803.
Deak. Sir,
The enclosed letter came to hand by yesterday’s post. You will be sensible of the circumstances which make it improper that I should hazard a formal answer, as well as of the desire its friendly aspect naturally excites, that those concerned in it should understand that the spirit they express is friendly viewed. You can judge also from your knowledge of the ground, whether it may be usefully encouraged. I take the liberty, therefore, of availing myself of your neighborhood to Boston, and of your friendship to me, to request you to say to the Captain and others verbally whatever you think would be proper, as expressive of my sentiments on the subject. With respect to the day on which they wish to fix their anniversary, they may be told, that disapproving myself of transferring the honors and veneration for the great birthday of our republic to any individual, or of dividing them with individuals, I have declined letting my own birthday be known, and have engaged my family not to communicate it. This has been the uniform answer to every application of the kind.
On further consideration as to the amendment to our constitution respecting Louisiana, I have thought it better, instead of enumerating the powers which Congress may exercise, to give them the same powers they have as to other portions of the Union generally, and to enumerate the special exceptions, in some such form as the following.
‘Louisiana, as ceded by France to the United States, is made a part of the United States, its white inhabitants shall be citizens, and stand, as to their rights and obligations, on the same footing with other citizens of the United States, in analogous situations. Save only that as to the portion thereof lying north of an east and west line drawn through the mouth of Arkansas river, no new State shall be established, nor any grants of land made, other than to Indians, in exchange for equivalent portions of land occupied by them, until an amendment of the constitution shall be made for these purposes.
‘Florida also, whensoever it may be rightfully obtained, shall become a part of the United States, its white inhabitants shall thereupon be citizens, and shall stand, as to their rights and obligations, on the same footing with other citizens of the United States, in analogous situations.’
I quote this for your consideration, observing that the less that is said about any constitutional difficulty, the better: and that it will be desirable for Congress to do what is necessary, in silence. I find but one opinion as to the necessity of shutting up the country for some time. We meet in Washington the 25th of September to prepare for Congress. Accept my affectionate salutations, and great esteem and respect.
Th: Jefferson.
TO WILSON C NICHOLAS.
Monticello, September 7, 1803.
Dear Sir,
Your favor of the 3rd was delivered me at court; but we were much disappointed at not seeing you here, Mr. Madison and the Governor being here at the time. 1 enclose you a letter from Monroe on the subject of the late treaty. You will observe a hint in it, to do without delay what we are bound to do. There is reason, in the opinion of our ministers, to believe, that if the thing were to do over again, it could not be obtained, and that if we give the least opening, they will declare the treaty void. A warning amounting to that has been given to them, and an unusual kind of letter written by their minister to our Secretary of State, direct. Whatever Congress shall think it necessary to do, should be done with as little debate as possible, and particularly so far as respects the constitutional difficulty. I am aware of the force of the observations you make on the power given by the constitution to Congress, to admit new States into the Union, without restraining the subject to the territory then constituting the United States. But when I consider that the limits of the United States are precisely fixed by the treaty of 1783, that the constitution expressly declares itself to be made for the United States, I cannot help believing the intention was not to permit Congress to admit into the Union new States, which should be formed out of the territory for which, and under whose authority alone, they were then acting. I do not believe it was meant that they might receive England, Ireland, Holland, &tc. into it, which would be the case on your construction. When an instrument admits two constructions, the one safe, the other dangerous, the one precise, the other indefinite, I prefer that which is safe and precise. I had rather ask an enlargement of power from the nation, where it is found necessary, than to assume it by a construction which would make our powers boundless. Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction. I say the same as to the opinion of those who consider the grant of the treaty-making power as boundless. If it is, then we have no constitution. If it has bounds, they can be no others than the definitions of the powers which that instrument gives. It specifies and delineates the operations permitted to the federal government, and gives all the powers necessary to carry these into execution. Whatever of these enumerated objects is proper for a law, Congress may make the law; whatever is proper to be executed by way of a treaty, the President and Senate may enter into the treaty; whatever is to be done by a judicial sentence, the judges may pass the sentence. Nothing is more likely than that their enumeration of powers is defective. This is the ordinary case of all human works. Let us go on then perfecting it, by adding, by way of amendment to the constitution, those powers which time and trial show are still wanting. But it has been taken too much for granted, that by this rigorous construction the treaty power would be reduced to nothing. I had occasion once to examine its effect on the French treaty, made by the old Congress, and found that out of thirty odd articles which that contained, there were one, two, or three only, which could not now be stipulated under our present constitution. I confess, then, I think it important, in the present case, to set an example against broad construction, by appealing for new power to the people. If, however, our friends shall think differently, certainly I shall acquiesce with satisfaction; confiding, that the good sense of our country will correct the evil of construction when it shall produce ill effects.
No apologies for writing or speaking to me freely are necessary. On the contrary, nothing my friends can do is so dear to me, and proves to me their friendship so clearly, as the information they give me of their sentiments and those of others on interesting points where I am to act, and where information and warning is so essential to excite in me that due reflection which ought to precede action. I leave this about the 21st, and shall hope the District Court will give me an opportunity of seeing you. Accept my affectionate salutations, and assurances of cordial esteem and respect.
Th: Jefferson.