The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 9 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 9 (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
May the 3d. The President some time ago appointed Steele, of Virginia, a
commissioner to the Indians, and recently Secretary of the Mississippi
Territory. Steele was a Counsellor of Virginia, and was voted out by
the Assembly because he turned tory. He then offered for Congress, and
was rejected by the people. Then offered for the Senate of Virginia,
and was rejected. The President has also appointed Joseph Hopkinson
commissioner to make a treaty with the Oneida Indians. He is a youth
of about twenty-two or twenty-three, and has no other claims to such
an appointment than extreme toryism, and the having made a poor song to
the tune of the President's March.
* * * * *
October the 13th, 1798. Littlepage, who has been on one or two missions
from Poland to Spain, said that when Gardoqui returned from America, he
settled with his court an account of secret service money of six hundred
thousand dollars. _Ex-relatione_ Colonel Monroe.
* * * * *
January, 1799. In a conversation between Dr. Ewen and the President, the
former said one of his sons was an aristocrat, the other a democrat. The
President asked if it was not the youngest who was the democrat. "Yes,"
said Ewen. "Well," said the President, "a boy of fifteen who is not a
democrat is good for nothing, and he is no better who is a democrat at
twenty." Ewen told Hurt, and Hurt told me.
* * * * *
January the 14th. Logan tells me that in his conversation with Pickering
on his arrival, the latter abused Gerry very much; said he was a traitor
to his country, and had deserted the post to which he was appointed; that
the French temporized at first with Pinckney, but found him too much
of a man for their purpose. Logan observing, that notwithstanding the
pacific declarations of France, it might still be well to keep up the
military ardor of our citizens, and to have the militia in good order;
"the militia," said Pickering, "the militia never did any good to this
country, except in the single affair of Bunker Hill; that we must have a
standing army of fifty thousand men, which being stationed in different
parts of the continent, might serve as rallying points for the militia,
and so render them of some service." In his conversation with Mr. Adams,
Logan mentioned the willingness of the French to treat with Gerry. "And
do you know why," said Mr. Adams. "Why, sir?" said Logan. "Because,"
said Mr. Adams, "they know him to have been an anti-federalist, against
the constitution."
* * * * *
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