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Domestic News
April 23, 1803
The Recorder
Richmond, Virginia
What is this article about?
President Jefferson's February 1803 letter to New York Governor Clinton urges vigorous state efforts to implement the federal militia system amid treaty violations and rights infringements, possibly related to Louisiana cession. Newspaper remarks criticize the letter's inconsistencies and Jefferson's handling of foreign affairs.
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PRESIDENT JEFFERSON
TO GOVERNOR CLINTON.
Washington City, Feb. 1803.
SIR,
In compliance with a request of the house of representatives of the United States, 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 power reserved to the states respectively, by the constitution of the United States, and in a manner the best calculated to insure such a degree of military discipline and knowledge of tactics, as will, under the auspices of benign providence, render the militia a sure and permanent bulwark of national defence. 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 color or pretext: and although we are willing to believe that this has been the act of a subordinate agent only, yet as it is wise to prepare for the possibility, that it may have been the leading measure of a system; while, therefore, we are endeavouring, and with a considerable degree of confidence to obtain by friendly negotiation, a peaceful 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.
Accept assurances of my high consideration and respect.
(Signed)
T. JEFFERSON.
To his Excellency the Governor of the state of New-York.
REMARKS.
We have copied the above from the Aurora. It was lately communicated by the governor to the legislature of New-York. The reader will perceive that one part of this presidential letter is arrant nonsense. The sentence beginning, "And although we are willing to believe" &c. is incomplete. Whether the fault lie with the writer or the printer we know not.
One or two of the sentiments expressed in this letter deserve to be noticed. It is expressly admitted, that "rights the most essential to our welfare have been violated, and an infraction of treaty committed without color or pretext."
If the president had added, that two millions of dollars have been secretly appropriated and sent to France, and between two and three thousand more to New-Orleans, for the purpose of getting the broken treaty mended, and those violated rights restored, we humbly conceive that the picture here drawn would have been more complete.
We know not exactly what are Mr. Jefferson's notions of the laws of nations. We should suppose from the expression here used, that he "is willing to believe," that a private individual of a nation is capable of infringing a public treaty; for if the infraction came from an authorized and accredited officer of the Spanish or French government, it is the act of the government.
It is a little extraordinary that language of this kind should, at this period be found in an official communication from the president. When Mr. Griswold proposed in Congress a resolution to call upon the president for such documents, as he might think proper to communicate relative to the cession of Louisiana to France, the democrats with one voice cried out, that Spain would be offended, because the adoption of the resolution would indicate a suspicion that there had been something unfair on her part. Now the president officially declares, in so many words, that there has been a violation of our rights, and an infraction of treaty without color or pretext. How is such inconsistency to be accounted for? Must we be forced into conviction, that though we have ministers resident at the courts of Spain and France, the president has been so shamefully negligent of his duty as to suffer more than 15 months. to elapse, after the cession of those provinces was publicly known, without ascertaining in what manner the transfer is to affect our rights and interests? Was it to prevent an exposure of this negligence that the resolution was negatived?
(Gaz. C. S.)
TO GOVERNOR CLINTON.
Washington City, Feb. 1803.
SIR,
In compliance with a request of the house of representatives of the United States, 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 power reserved to the states respectively, by the constitution of the United States, and in a manner the best calculated to insure such a degree of military discipline and knowledge of tactics, as will, under the auspices of benign providence, render the militia a sure and permanent bulwark of national defence. 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 color or pretext: and although we are willing to believe that this has been the act of a subordinate agent only, yet as it is wise to prepare for the possibility, that it may have been the leading measure of a system; while, therefore, we are endeavouring, and with a considerable degree of confidence to obtain by friendly negotiation, a peaceful 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.
Accept assurances of my high consideration and respect.
(Signed)
T. JEFFERSON.
To his Excellency the Governor of the state of New-York.
REMARKS.
We have copied the above from the Aurora. It was lately communicated by the governor to the legislature of New-York. The reader will perceive that one part of this presidential letter is arrant nonsense. The sentence beginning, "And although we are willing to believe" &c. is incomplete. Whether the fault lie with the writer or the printer we know not.
One or two of the sentiments expressed in this letter deserve to be noticed. It is expressly admitted, that "rights the most essential to our welfare have been violated, and an infraction of treaty committed without color or pretext."
If the president had added, that two millions of dollars have been secretly appropriated and sent to France, and between two and three thousand more to New-Orleans, for the purpose of getting the broken treaty mended, and those violated rights restored, we humbly conceive that the picture here drawn would have been more complete.
We know not exactly what are Mr. Jefferson's notions of the laws of nations. We should suppose from the expression here used, that he "is willing to believe," that a private individual of a nation is capable of infringing a public treaty; for if the infraction came from an authorized and accredited officer of the Spanish or French government, it is the act of the government.
It is a little extraordinary that language of this kind should, at this period be found in an official communication from the president. When Mr. Griswold proposed in Congress a resolution to call upon the president for such documents, as he might think proper to communicate relative to the cession of Louisiana to France, the democrats with one voice cried out, that Spain would be offended, because the adoption of the resolution would indicate a suspicion that there had been something unfair on her part. Now the president officially declares, in so many words, that there has been a violation of our rights, and an infraction of treaty without color or pretext. How is such inconsistency to be accounted for? Must we be forced into conviction, that though we have ministers resident at the courts of Spain and France, the president has been so shamefully negligent of his duty as to suffer more than 15 months. to elapse, after the cession of those provinces was publicly known, without ascertaining in what manner the transfer is to affect our rights and interests? Was it to prevent an exposure of this negligence that the resolution was negatived?
(Gaz. C. S.)
What sub-type of article is it?
Politics
Military
What keywords are associated?
Jefferson Letter
Militia System
Treaty Violation
Louisiana Cession
National Defense
What entities or persons were involved?
T. Jefferson
Governor Clinton
Mr. Griswold
Where did it happen?
Washington City
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Washington City
Event Date
Feb. 1803
Key Persons
T. Jefferson
Governor Clinton
Mr. Griswold
Event Details
President Jefferson writes to New York Governor Clinton urging state implementation of the federal militia system for national defense, citing recent violations of essential rights and treaty infractions possibly by a subordinate agent related to Spain or France, likely the Louisiana cession. The letter was communicated to the New York legislature. Newspaper remarks note an incomplete sentence, criticize Jefferson's sentiments on treaty violations, secret appropriations to France and New Orleans, notions of international law, and inconsistencies in congressional handling of Louisiana cession resolutions.