The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 5 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 5 (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,--Your favors of January 19th and 20th came to hand in due time, but
it was not in my power to acknowledge their receipt during the session
of Congress. General Gage's paper I have filed with that on Pensacola,
in the War Office, and Mr. Hutchins' map, in the Navy Office, where they
will be useful. I tender you my thanks for this contribution to the public
service. The bed of the Mississippi and the shoals on the coast change
so frequently, as to require frequent renewals of the surveys. Congress
have authorized a new survey of our whole coast, by an act of the last
session. Burr is on his way to Richmond for trial; and if the judges do
not discharge him before it is possible to collect the testimony from
Maine to New Orleans, there can be no doubt where his history will end.
To what degree punishments of his adherents shall be extended, will be
decided when we shall have collected all the evidence, and seen who were
cordially guilty. The federalists appear to make Burr's cause their own,
and to spare no efforts to screen his adherents. Their great mortification
is at the failure of his plans. Had a little success dawned on him, their
openly joining him might have produced some danger. As it is, I believe
the undertaking will not be without some good effects, as a wholesome
lesson to those who have more ardor than principle. I believe there is
reason to expect that Blennerhasset will also be sent by the judges of
Mississippi to Virginia. Yours was the very first intimation I had of this
plot, for which it is but justice to say you have deserved well of your
country. Accept my friendly salutations, and assurances of great esteem
and respect.
TO MR. COXE.
WASHINGTON, March 27, 1807.
SIR,--I received on the 24th of January a communication, which from an
endorsement in your hand, I knew to have come from you. Others had been
received at different periods before, which candor obliges me frankly
to say, had not been answered because some of the earliest of them had
been of a character with which I thought it my duty to be dissatisfied.
Observing, however, that you have continued to turn your attention
assiduously to the public interests, and to communicate to the government
your ideas, which have often been useful, I expunge from my mind the
umbrage which had been taken, and wish it no more to be recollected or
explained on either side.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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