The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 1 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 1 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
SIR,--The appointment of commissioner to the war office of this
State, having lately become vacant, the Executive are desirous to
place Colonel William Davies, of the Virginian Continentals, in that
office. This gentleman, however, declines undertaking it, unless his
rank in the army, half pay for life and allowance for depreciation
of pay, can be reserved to him; observing with justice, that these
emoluments, distant as they are, are important to a person who has
spent the most valuable part of his youth in the service of his
country. As this indulgence rests in the power of Congress alone, I
am induced to request it of them on behalf of the State, to whom it
is very interesting that the office be properly filled, and I may
say, on behalf of the Continent also, to whom the same circumstance is
interesting, in proportion to its reliance upon this State for supplies
to the southern war. We should not have given Congress the trouble of
this application, had we found it easy to call any other to the office,
who was likely to answer our wishes in the exercise of it.
I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the highest respect, your
Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
RICHMOND, March 28, 1781.
SIR,--I forward to your Excellency, under cover with this, copies of
letters received from Major General Greene and Baron Steuben, which
will give you the latest account of the situation of things with us and
in North Carolina.
I observe a late resolve of Congress, for furnishing a number of
arms to the southern States; and I lately wrote you on the subject of
ammunition and cartridge paper. How much of this State, the enemy thus
reinforced, may think proper to possess themselves of, must depend on
their own moderation and caution, till these supplies arrive. We had
hoped to receive by the French squadron under Monsieur Destouches,
eleven hundred stand of arms, which we had at Rhode Island, but were
disappointed. The necessity of hurrying forward the troops intended for
the southern operations, will be doubtless apparent from this letter.
I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, your Excellency's
most obedient and most humble servant.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
RICHMOND, March 31, 1781.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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