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JEFFERSON, Thomas. Letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") as President, a circular letter addressed to an unidentified governor (possibly Robert Bowie of Maryland), Washington City, February 1803. 2 pages, 4to, integral blank, lightly age-toned, recipient's docket "The President...requesting a return of the militia."
JEFFERSON SOUNDS THE ALARM AT THE CLOSING OF THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS: "LET US...BE READY TO DO WITH PROMPTITUDE AND EFFECT WHATEVER A REGARD TO JUSTICE AND OUR FUTURE SECURITY MAY REQUIRE"
A circular letter with historic implications. The planned retrocession of New Orleans and Louisiana from Spain to France had caused Jefferson great consternation, for he saw that if powerful Napoleonic France were to control the new nation's western border, it might permanently bar American expansion westward and threaten the burgeoning Mississippi trade. As if to confirm these vulnerabilities, in October 1802, the Spanish intendant at New Orleans--apparently acting independently--arbitrarily closed the right of deposit guaranteed to American vessels by the Pinckney Treaty of 1795. U.S. mercantile trade on the Mississippi came to a standstill. In light of these ominous developments on the frontier, Jefferson here formally asks the states to report the strength of their militia--since the nation had no standing army--and assures them that diplomatic efforts will continue in spite of this mobilization of the nation's defense.
"In compliance with a request of the House of Representatives...as well as with a sense of what is necessary, I take the liberty of urging on you the importance and indispensable necessity of vigorous exertions, on the part of the State governments, to carry into effect the militia system adopted by the national legislature, agreeably to the powers reserved to the states respectively, by the Constitution of the United States, and in a manner the best calculated to ensure such a degree of military discipline, and knowledge of tactics, as will, under the auspices of a benign providence, render the militia a sure and permanent bulwark of national defense."
"None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army. To keep ours armed and disciplined, is therefore at all times important, but especially so at a moment when rights the most essential to our welfare have been violated, and an infraction of treaty committed without colour or pretext. And although we are willing to believe that this has been the act of a subordinate agent only [the New Orleans intendant], yet it is wise to prepare for the possibility that it may have been the leading measure of a system. While therefore, we are endeavoring and with a considerable degree of confidence, to obtain by friendly negotiation a peaceable redress of the injury, and effectual provision against its repetition, let us array the strength of the nation, and be ready to do with promptitude and effect whatever a regard to justice and our future security may require...." He goes on to request detailed returns of militia and munitions "that I may have a full and correct view of the resources of our country in all its different parts...."
After strenuous diplomacy, Spain restored the cherished right of deposit. But the incident proved a powerful incentive to Jefferson and to Congress, which in January 1803 readily appropriated 2 million dollars to pursue negotiations with Spain and France. That April, two American negotiators, James Monroe and Robert Livingston, would renew discussions with the French government. These led, a short time later, to the U.S. purchase not just of the port of New Orleans, but the entire vast territory of Louisiana as well, regarded today as the foremost achievement of Jefferson's presidency.
Jefferson's fair copy original is in the Jefferson Papers; editors of the Papers have records of six recipient's copies: those to Virginia, Georgia, New York [a typescript], Vermont and two to unidentified recipients.
JEFFERSON SOUNDS THE ALARM AT THE CLOSING OF THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS: "LET US...BE READY TO DO WITH PROMPTITUDE AND EFFECT WHATEVER A REGARD TO JUSTICE AND OUR FUTURE SECURITY MAY REQUIRE"
A circular letter with historic implications. The planned retrocession of New Orleans and Louisiana from Spain to France had caused Jefferson great consternation, for he saw that if powerful Napoleonic France were to control the new nation's western border, it might permanently bar American expansion westward and threaten the burgeoning Mississippi trade. As if to confirm these vulnerabilities, in October 1802, the Spanish intendant at New Orleans--apparently acting independently--arbitrarily closed the right of deposit guaranteed to American vessels by the Pinckney Treaty of 1795. U.S. mercantile trade on the Mississippi came to a standstill. In light of these ominous developments on the frontier, Jefferson here formally asks the states to report the strength of their militia--since the nation had no standing army--and assures them that diplomatic efforts will continue in spite of this mobilization of the nation's defense.
"In compliance with a request of the House of Representatives...as well as with a sense of what is necessary, I take the liberty of urging on you the importance and indispensable necessity of vigorous exertions, on the part of the State governments, to carry into effect the militia system adopted by the national legislature, agreeably to the powers reserved to the states respectively, by the Constitution of the United States, and in a manner the best calculated to ensure such a degree of military discipline, and knowledge of tactics, as will, under the auspices of a benign providence, render the militia a sure and permanent bulwark of national defense."
"None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army. To keep ours armed and disciplined, is therefore at all times important, but especially so at a moment when rights the most essential to our welfare have been violated, and an infraction of treaty committed without colour or pretext. And although we are willing to believe that this has been the act of a subordinate agent only [the New Orleans intendant], yet it is wise to prepare for the possibility that it may have been the leading measure of a system. While therefore, we are endeavoring and with a considerable degree of confidence, to obtain by friendly negotiation a peaceable redress of the injury, and effectual provision against its repetition, let us array the strength of the nation, and be ready to do with promptitude and effect whatever a regard to justice and our future security may require...." He goes on to request detailed returns of militia and munitions "that I may have a full and correct view of the resources of our country in all its different parts...."
After strenuous diplomacy, Spain restored the cherished right of deposit. But the incident proved a powerful incentive to Jefferson and to Congress, which in January 1803 readily appropriated 2 million dollars to pursue negotiations with Spain and France. That April, two American negotiators, James Monroe and Robert Livingston, would renew discussions with the French government. These led, a short time later, to the U.S. purchase not just of the port of New Orleans, but the entire vast territory of Louisiana as well, regarded today as the foremost achievement of Jefferson's presidency.
Jefferson's fair copy original is in the Jefferson Papers; editors of the Papers have records of six recipient's copies: those to Virginia, Georgia, New York [a typescript], Vermont and two to unidentified recipients.