Томас Джефферсон
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 5 (of 9)
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Monticello, August 9, 1808.
Dear Sir,– * * * * * I have some apprehension the tories of Boston, &c., with so poor a head of a Governor, may attempt to give us trouble. I have requested General Dearborne to be on the alert, and fly to the spot where any open and forcible opposition shall be commenced, and to crush it in embryo. I am not afraid but that there is sound matter enough in Massachusetts to prevent an opposition of the laws by force. I am glad to see that Spain is likely to give Bonaparte employment. Tant mieux pour nous. Accept affectionate salutations.
TO MR. GALLATIN
Monticello, August 11, 1808.
Dear Sir,—Your letters of July 29th and August 5th, came to hand yesterday, and I now return you those of Wynne, Wolsey, Quincy, Otis, Lincoln, and Dearborne. This embargo law is certainly the most embarrassing one we have ever had to execute. I did not expect a crop of so sudden and rank growth of fraud and open opposition by force could have grown up in the United States. I am satisfied with you that if orders and decrees are not repealed, and a continuance of the embargo is preferred to war, (which sentiment is universal here), Congress must legalize all means which may be necessary to obtain its end. Mr. Smith, in enclosing to me General Dearborne's and Lincoln's letters, informs me that immediately on receiving them he gave the necessary orders to the Chesapeake, the Wasp and Argus. Still I shall pass this letter and those it encloses, through his hands for information. I am clearly of opinion this law ought to be enforced at any expense, which may not exceed our appropriation. I approve of the instructions to General Lincoln, for selling the revenue cutter there and buying another, and also of what you propose at New London and Portsmouth, and generally I wish you to do as to the revenue cutters what you shall think best, without delaying it to hear from me. You possess the details so much better than I do, and are so much nearer the principal scenes, that my approbation can be but matter of form. As to ordering out militia, you know the difficulty without another proclamation. I advise Mr. Madison to inform General Turreau that the vessels we allow to the foreign ministers are only in the character of transports, and that they cannot be allowed but where the number of persons bears the proportion to the vessel which is usual with transports. You will see by my last that on learning the situation of affairs in Spain, it had occurred to me that it might produce a favorable occasion of doing ourselves justice in the south. We must certainly so dispose of our southern recruits and armed vessels as to be ready for the occasion. A letter of June 5th from Mr. Pinckney says nothing more than that in a few days he was to have a full conference on our affairs with Mr. Canning. That will doubtless produce us immediately an interesting letter from him. I salute you affectionately.
P. S. I this day direct a commission for General Steele, vice General Shee, deceased.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Monticello, August 12, 1808.
Dear Sir,—Yours of July 30th came to hand yesterday. It has consequently loitered somewhere two posts. I am glad to learn the prompt aid you have afforded the Treasury department. To let you further understand the importance of giving all the aid we can, I pass through your hands my letter of this day to Mr. Gallatin, with those it encloses, which I will pray you, after perusal, to seal and put into the post-office. In the support of the embargo laws, our only limit should be that of the appropriations of the department. A letter of June 5th from Mr. Pinckney informs us he was to have a free conference with Canning, in a few days. Should England get to rights with us, while Bonaparte is at war with Spain, the moment may be favorable to take possession of our own territory held by Spain, and so much more as may make a proper reprisal for her spoliations. We ought therefore to direct the rendezvous of our southern recruits and gun-boats so as to be in proper position for striking the stroke in an instant, when Congress shall will it. I have recommended this to General Dearborne, as I now do to yourself. Mr. Fulton writes to me under a great desire to prepare a decisive experiment of his torpedo at Washington, for the meeting of Congress. This means of harbor-defence has acquired such respectability, from its apparent merit, from the attention shown it by other nations, and from our own experiments at New York, as to entitle it to a full experiment from us. He asks only two workmen for one month from us, which he estimates at $130 only. But should it cost considerably more I should really be for granting it, and would accordingly recommend it to you. This sum is a mere trifle as an encroachment on our appropriation. I salute you with affection and respect.
TO THE SECRETARY AT WAR
Monticello, August 12, 1808.
Dear Sir,—Yours of July 27th has been received. I now enclose you the letters of Hawkins, Harrison, Wells, Hull, and Claiborne, received from the war office, and as I conjecture, not yet seen by you. Indian appearances, both in the northwest and south, are well. Beyond the Mississippi they are not so favorable. I fear Governor Lewis has been too prompt in committing us with the Osages so far as to oblige us to go on. But it is astonishing we get not one word from him. I enclose you letters of Mr. Griff and Maclure, which will explain themselves. A letter of June 5th from Mr. Pinckney, informs us he was to have a free conference with Canning in a few days. Should England make up with us, while Bonaparte continues at war with Spain, a moment may occur when we may without danger of commitment with either France or England seize to our own limits of Louisiana as of right, and the residue of the Floridas as reprisal for spoliations. It is our duty to have an eye to this in rendezvousing and stationing our new recruits and our armed vessels, so as to be ready, if Congress authorizes it, to strike in a moment. I wish you to consider this matter in the orders to the southern recruits, as I have also recommended to the Secretary of the Navy, as to the armed vessels in the South. Indeed, I would ask your opinion as to the positions we had better take with a view to this with our armed vessels as well as troops. The force in the neighborhood of Baton Rouge is enough for that. Mobile, Pensacola and St. Augustine, are those we should be preparing for. The enforcing the embargo would furnish a pretext for taking the nearest healthy position to St. Mary's, and on the waters of Tombigbee. I salute you with affection and respect.
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Monticello, August 12, 1808.
Dear Sir,—Yours of the 10th came to hand yesterday, and I return you Fronda's, Tuft's, Loderstrom's, and Turreau's letters. I think it is become necessary to let Turreau understand explicitly that the vessels we permit foreign ministers to send away are merely transports, for the conveyance of such of their subjects as were here at the time of the embargo; that the numbers must be proportioned to the vessels, as is usual with transports; and that all who meant to go away must be presumed to have gone before now,—at any rate, that none will be accommodated after the present vessel. We never can allow one belligerent to buy and fit out vessels here, to be manned with his own people, and probably act against the other. You did not return my answer to Sullivan. But fortunately I have received another letter, which will enable me to give the matter an easier turn, and let it down more softly. Should the conference announced in Mr. Pinckney's letter of June 5th, settle friendship between England and us, and Bonaparte continue at war with Spain, a moment may occur favorable, without compromitting us with either France or England, for seizing our own from the Rio Bravo to Perdido, as of right, and the residue of Florida, as a reprisal for spoliations. I have thought it proper to suggest this possibility to General Dearborne and Mr. Smith, and to recommend an eye to it in their rendezvousing and stationing the new southern recruits and gun-boats, so that we may strike in a moment when Congress says so. I have appointed General Steele successor to Shee. Mr. and Mrs. Barlow, and Mrs. Blayden, will be here about the 25th. May we hope to see Mrs. Madison and yourself then, or when? I shall go to Bedford about the 10th of September. I salute you with constant affection and respect.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR SULLIVAN
Monticello, August 12, 1808.
Sir,—Your letter of July 21st has been received some days; that of July 23d not till yesterday. Some accident had probably detained it on the road considerably beyond its regular passage. In the former you mention that you had thought it advisable to continue issuing certificates for the importation of flour, until you could hear further from me; and in the latter, that you will be called from the Capital in the fall months, after which it is your desire that the power of issuing certificates may be given to some other, if it is to be continued.
In mine of July 16th I had stated that, during the two months preceding that, your certificates, received at the Treasury, amounted, if I rightly recollect, to about 60,000 barrels of flour, and a proportionable quantity of corn. If this whole quantity had been bonâ fide landed and retained in Massachusetts, I deemed it certain there could not be a real want for a considerable time, and, therefore, desired the issues of certificates might be discontinued. If, on the other hand, a part has been carried to foreign markets, it proves the necessity of restricting reasonably this avenue to abuse. This is my sole object, and not that a real want of a single individual should be one day unsupplied. In this I am certain we shall have the concurrence of all the good citizens of Massachusetts, who are too patriotic and too just to desire, by calling for what is superfluous, to open a door for the frauds of unprincipled individuals who, trampling on the laws, and forcing a commerce shut to all others, are enriching themselves on the sacrifices of their honester fellow citizens;—sacrifices to which these are generally and willingly submitting as equally necessary whether to avoid or prepare for war.
Still further, however, to secure the State against all danger of want, I will request you to continue issuing certificates, in the moderate way proposed in your letter, until your departure from the Capital, as before stated, when I will consider it as discontinued, or make another appointment if necessary. There is less risk of inconvenience in this, as, by a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, of May 20th, the collectors were advised not to detain any vessel, the articles of whose lading were so proportioned as to give no cause of suspicion that they were destined for a foreign market. This mode of supply alone seems to have been sufficient for the other importing States, if we may judge from the little use they have made of the permission to issue certificates.
Should these reasonable precautions be followed, as is surmised in your letter of July 21st, by an artificial scarcity, with a view to promote turbulence of any sort or on any pretext, I trust for an ample security against this danger to the character of my fellow citizens of Massachusetts, which has, I think, been emphatically marked by obedience to law, and a love of order. And I have no doubt that whilst we do our duty, they will support us in it. The laws enacted by the general government, will have made it our duty to have the embargo strictly observed, for the general good; and we are sworn to execute the laws. If clamor ensue, it will be from the few only, who will clamor whatever we do. I shall be happy to receive the estimate promised by your Excellency, as it may assist to guide us in the cautions we may find necessary. And here I will beg leave to recall your attention to a mere error of arithmetic in your letter of July 23d. The quantity of flour requisite on the data there given, would be between thirteen and fourteen thousand barrels per month. I beg you to accept my salutations, and assurances of high respect and consideration.
TO MR. FULTON
Monticello, August 15, 1808.
Sir,—Immediately on the receipt of your letter of the 5th, I wrote to the Secretary of the Navy, recommending a compliance with your request of the workmen. Although no public servant could justify the risking the safety of an important seaport, solely on untried means of defence, yet I have great confidence in those proposed by you as additional to the ordinary means. Their small cost, too, in comparison with the object, ought to overrule those rigorous attentions to keep within the limits of our appropriations, which have probably weighed with the Secretary in declining the proposition. You are sensible, too, that harassed as the offices are daily by the visions of unsound heads, even those solid inventions destined to better our condition, feel the effects of being grouped with them. Wishing every success to your experiment, I salute you with esteem and respect.
TO MR. I. SMITH
Monticello, August 15, 1808.
Sir,—I this moment receive your favor of the 12th, with Captain Saunders' letter on the acquisition of a site for a battery at Norfolk. I think that, instead of acceding to the proposition to take the whole three acres at $1,500, it will be better to accept the other alternative of Mr. Thompson, to have the ground valued by proper persons. In this case too it should be attempted to restrain the purchase to the half acre, as desired by the Secretary at War, but if the owner insists on selling the whole or none, the whole should be taken rather than let the works of defence be delayed. You will be pleased to give instructions accordingly.
The despatches hitherto received at the War Office, and forwarded to me, I have from time to time sent directly to General Dearborne, on the presumption they had not yet been seen by him. If this is wrong, be so good as to notify me of it. I return you Captain Saunders' letter, and tender you my salutations.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR TOMPKINS
Monticello, August 15, 1808.
Sir,—I have this day received your Excellency's favor of the 9th instant, and I now return you the papers it enclosed. The case of opposition to the embargo laws on the Canada line, I take to be that of distinct combinations of a number of individuals to oppose by force and arms the execution of those laws, for which purpose they go armed, fire upon the public guards, in one instance at least have wounded one dangerously, and rescue property held under these laws. This may not be an insurrection in the popular sense of the word, but being arrayed in warlike-manner, actually committing acts of war, and persevering systematically in defiance of the public authority, brings it so fully within the legal definition of an insurrection, that I should not hesitate to issue a proclamation, were I not restrained by motives of which your Excellency seems to be apprized. But as by the laws of New York an insurrection can be acted on without a previous proclamation, I should conceive it perfectly correct to act on it as such, and I cannot doubt it would be approved by every good citizen. Should you think proper to do so, I will undertake that the necessary detachments of militia called out in support of the laws, shall be considered as in the service of the United States, and at their expense. And as it has been intimated to me that you would probably take the trouble of going to the spot yourself, I will refer to your discretion the measures to be taken, and the numbers to be called out at different places, only saying, as duty requires me to fix some limit, that the whole must not exceed five hundred men without further consulting me. Should you be willing to take the trouble of going to the place, you will render a great public service, as I am persuaded your presence there will be such a manifestation of the public determination to support the authority of the laws, as will probably deter the insurgents from pursuing their course. I think it so important in example to crush these audacious proceedings, and to make the offenders feel the consequences of individuals daring to oppose a law by force, that no effort should be spared to compass this object. As promptitude is requisite, and the delay of consulting me on details at this distance might defeat our views, I would rather, where you entertain doubts, that you would satisfy yourself by conference with the Secretary of the Treasury, who is with you, and to whom our general views are familiar. I salute you with esteem and high respect.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
Monticello, August 15, 1808.
Dear Sir,—Yours of the 6th and 9th, are just now received, as well as a letter from Governor Tompkins on the subject of aiding the revenue officers on the Canada line with militia. I refer you on this subject to my answer to him, and pray you to encourage strongly his going to the spot himself, and acting according to the urgencies which will present themselves there. Should you have satisfactory evidence of either mala fides or negligence in Pease, he shall be removed without ceremony. I do not know the residence of Greene of Massachusetts. The opinion you have given in the case stated by Ellery is certainly correct. No civil officer of the States can take cognizance of a federal case. Considering our determination to let no more vessels go so far as the Cape of Good Hope, I see nothing in the case of the brig Resolution, Craycroft, to justify a change of the rule, and therefore cannot consent to a vessel's being sent there. The case of the Chinese Mandarin is so entirely distinct, that it can give no ground for this claim. The opportunity hoped from that, of making known through one of its own characters of note, our nation, our circumstances and character, and of letting that government understand at length the difference between us and the English, and separate us in its policy, rendered that measure a diplomatic one in my view, and likely to bring lasting advantage to our merchants and commerce with that country.
I enclose you the rough draught of a letter I have written to Governor Sullivan, in answer to two of his. It was done on consultation with Mr. Madison.
I informed you in mine of the 11th that I had directed a commission for General Steele as successor to Shee. This was certainly according to what had been agreed upon at Washington, the event of Shee's death being then foreseen and made the subject of consultation with yourself, Mr. Rodney, and, I believe, Mr. Madison. The call for the militia from all the States having been agreed on in April, I have taken for granted it was going on. I will look to it, as also to the fortifications of New York. I salute you with affection and respect.
TO GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE
Monticello, August 16, 1808.
Sir,—General Dearborne being on a visit to the province of Maine, your letter to him (the date not recollected) was sent to me from his office, and, after perusal, was forwarded to him. As the case of the five Alabamas, under prosecution for the murder of a white man, may not admit delay, if a conviction takes place, I have thought it necessary to recommend to you in that case to select the leader, or most guilty, for execution, and to reprieve the others till a copy of the judgment can be forwarded, and a pardon sent you; in the meantime letting them return to their friends, with whom you will of course take just merit for this clemency, our wish being merely to make them sensible by the just punishment of one, that our citizens are not to be murdered or robbed with impunity.
I have learnt with real mortification that the engineers successively appointed, have withdrawn from their undertaking to carry on the defensive works of New Orleans. It is more regretted as capable persons in that line are more difficult to be got, and it takes so long for the information to come here, and the place to be supplied. Two other persons applied to here have declined going. Whether General Dearborne has at length been able to engage one I am not informed. I fear that these disappointments will lose us the season in a work which more than any other it was my desire to have had completed this year. Certainly these losses of time shall be shortened by us as far as is in our power. I salute you with esteem and respect.
