The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 5 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
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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,--In answering your letter of the 9th, which desired a communication
of one to me from General Wilkinson, specified by its date, I informed
you in mine of the 12th that I had delivered it, with all other papers
respecting the charges against Aaron Burr, to the Attorney General,
when he went to Richmond; that I had supposed he had left them in your
possession, but would immediately write to him, if he had not, to forward
that particular letter without delay. I wrote to him accordingly on the
same day, but having no answer, I know not whether he has forwarded the
letter. I stated in the same letter, that I had desired the Secretary at
War to examine his office, in order to comply with your further request,
to furnish copies of the orders which had been given respecting Aaron
Burr and his property; and in a subsequent letter of the same day, I
forwarded to you copies of two letters from the Secretary at War, which
appeared to be within the description expressed in your letter. The
order from the Secretary of the Navy, you said, you were in possession
of. The receipt of these papers had, I presume, so far anticipated, and
others this day forwarded will have substantially fulfilled the object
of a subpœna from the District Court of Richmond, requiring that those
officers and myself should attend the Court in Richmond, with the letter
of General Wilkinson, the answer to that letter, and the orders of the
departments of War and the Navy, therein generally described. No answer
to General Wilkinson's letter, other than a mere acknowledgment of its
receipt, in a letter written for a different purpose, was ever written by
myself or any other. To these communications of papers, I will add, that
if the defendant supposes there are any facts within the knowledge of the
Heads of departments, or of myself, which can be useful for his defence,
from a desire of doing anything our situation will permit in furtherance
of justice, we shall be ready to give him the benefit of it, by way of
deposition, through any persons whom the Court shall authorize to take our
testimony at this place. I know, indeed, that this cannot be done but by
consent of parties; and I therefore authorize you to give consent on the
part of the United States. Mr. Burr's consent will be given of course, if
he supposes the testimony useful.
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