Extract from William Plumer to Jeremiah Smith, 9 Dec. 1802 [Quote]
he is easy of access, & conversed with great ease & freedom.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours, 18 Jan. 1802 [Quote]
what is practicable must often controul what is pure theory; and the habits of the governed determine in a great degree what is practicable.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 19 Mar. 1802 [Quote]
This is merely to...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Volney, 20 Apr. 1802 [Quote]
Nero wished all the necks of Rome united in one, that he might sever them at a blow. so our ex-federalists, wishing to have a single representative of all the objects of their hatred, honour me with that post, and exhibit against me such atrocities as no nation has ever before heard or endured. I...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 3 June 1802 [Quote]
I observe that the resolution of the legislature of Virginia, of Jan. 23. in desiring us to look out for some proper place to which insurgent negroes may be sent, expresses a preference of the continent of Africa, or some of the Spanish or Portuguese settlements in S. America: in which preference...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Rufus King, 13 July 1802 [Quote]
The course of things in the neighboring islands of the West Indies appears to have given a considerable impulse to the minds of the slaves in different parts of the US. a great disposition to insurgency has manifested itself among them, which, in one instance, in the state of Virginia broke out...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 29 Nov. 1802 [Quote]
if we can but prevent the government from wasting the labours of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s Annual Message to the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, 15 Dec. 1802 [Quote]
to keep in all things...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, [13 Jan. 1803] [Quote]
there is no constitutional difficulty as to the acquisition of territory: and whether, when acquired, it may be taken into the union by the const. as it now stands, will become a question of expediency.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 13 Jan. 1803 [Quote]
some men are born for the public. nature by fitting them for the service of the human race on a broad scale, has stamped them with the evidences of her destination & their duty
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 13 Jan. 1803 [Quote]
mr Madison’s friendship & mine to you being so well known the public will have eagle eyes to watch if we grant you any indulgencies out of the general rule; and on the other hand, the example set in your case will be more cogent on future ones, and produce greater approbation to our conduct....
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours, 1 Feb. 1803 [Quote]
a crisis the most important the US. have ever met since their independance
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Marc Auguste Pictet, 3 Feb. 1803 [Quote]
every son of science feels a strong & disinterested desire of promoting it in every part of the earth
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Anne Cary Randolph (Bankhead), 26 Feb. 1803 [Quote]
tell Ellen, Cornelia & Virginia how d’ ye, give my affectionate esteem to your Papa & to your Mama my constant love. for yourself I deliver numberless kisses to this letter which you are to take from it. I hope in a few days we shall all be happy together at Monticello.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 18 Aug. 1793 [Quote]
My blessings to your little ones, love to you all, and friendly how d-ye’s to my good neighbors.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to William Henry Harrison, 27 Feb. 1803 [Quote]
to promote this disposition to exchange lands which they have to spare & we want, for necessaries, which we have to spare & they want, we shall push our trading houses and be glad to see the good & influential individuals among them run in debt, because we observe that when these...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Edward Dowse, 19 Apr. 1803 [Quote]
Jesus embraced, with charity & philanthropy, our neighbors, our countrymen, & the whole family of mankind.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Edward Dowse, 19 Apr. 1803 [Quote]
I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance
Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s Instructions to Meriwether Lewis, 20 June 1803 [Quote]
The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river, & such principal stream of it, as, by it’s course & communication with the waters of the Pacific ocean, may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent, for the purposes of commerce.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 30 Aug. 1803 [Quote]
disapproving myself of transferring the honors and veneration for the great birthday of our republic, to any individual, or of dividing them with individuals, I have declined letting my own birthday be known, & have engaged my family not to communicate it. this has been the uniform answer to...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s Third Annual Message to Congress, 17 Oct. 1803 [Quote]
whilst the property & sovereignty of the Missisipi and it’s waters secure an independant outlet for the produce of the Western states, & an uncontrouled navigation through their whole course, free from collision with other powers, & the dangers to our peace from that source, the...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Legislature of the State of Tennessee, 24 Dec. 1803 [Quote]
The acquisition of Louisiana … by giving the exclusive navigation of the Missisipi, it avoids the burthens & sufferings of a war, which conflicting interests on that river would inevitably have produced, at no distant period. it opens too a fertile region for the future establishment of their...
Extract from John Adams to William Cunningham, 16 Jan. 1804 [Quote]
I wish him no ill. I envy him not. I shudder at the calamities, which I fear his conduct is preparing for his Country, from a mean thirst for popularity, an inordinate ambition and a want of sincerity.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Congress, 16 Jan. 1804 [Quote]
favorable to the immediate interests of our Western citizens, so auspicious to the peace & security of the nation in general, which adds to our country territories so extensive & fertile, & to our citizens new brethren to partake of the blessings of freedom & self-government
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Priestly, 29 Jan. 1804 [Quote]
I confess I look to this duplication of area for the extending of government so free and economical as ours, as a great achievement to the mass of happiness which is to ensue.