The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (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,--We have received with great satisfaction, notification of the
orders of his Catholic Majesty, not to permit that persons, held in
slavery within the United States, introduce themselves as free persons
into the Province of Florida. The known justice of his Majesty and his
Government, was a certain dependence to us, that such would be his
will. The assurances your Excellency has been pleased to give us of
your friendly dispositions, leave us no doubt you will have faithfully
executed a regulation so essential to harmony and good neighborhood. As
a consequence of the same principles of justice and friendship, we trust
that your Excellency will permit, and aid the recovery of persons of the
same description, who have heretofore taken refuge within your Government.
The bearer hereof is authorized to wait on your Excellency to confer on
this subject, and to concur in such arrangements as you shall approve for
the recovery of such fugitives.
I beg you to be assured that no occasion shall be neglected of proving our
dispositions to reciprocate these principles of justice and friendship,
with the subjects of his Catholic Majesty, and that you will be pleased
to accept the homage of those sentiments of respect and esteem, with which
I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient, and most humble servant.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.
Philadelphia, March 12, 1791.
Dear Sir,--The President has thought proper to appoint Colonel David
Humphreys, minister resident for the United States at the court of Lisbon,
with a salary of four thousand five hundred dollars a year, and an outfit
equal to a year's salary. Besides this, by a standing regulation, he will
be allowed his disbursements for gazettes transmitted here, translating
and printing paper, where that shall be necessary, postage, couriers, and
necessary aids to _poor_ American sailors. An opportunity occurring, by a
vessel sailing for Lisbon within a few days, to send him his commission,
I shall be obliged to you to enable me to convey to him at the same time
the means of receiving his outfit in the first instance, and his salary
and disbursements above described, in quarterly payments afterwards.
An act of Congress having authorized the President to take measures for
procuring a recognition of our treaty from the new Emperor of Morocco,
arrangements for that purpose have been decided. The act allows twenty
thousand dollars for this object, but not more than thirteen thousand
dollars will be called for in the first instance, if at all, and these,
or the means of drawing for them, not till six weeks hence. I thought it
proper, however, to apprise you of the call at the earliest day possible,
and while the President is here, and to ask your attention to it. I have
the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect respect and esteem,
dear Sir, your most obedient, and most humble servant.
TO MAJOR L'ENFANT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account