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Subject Area: Economics
Subject Area: Political Theory

GALLATIN TO JEFFERSON. - Albert Gallatin, The Writings of Albert Gallatin, vol. 1 [1879]

Edition used:

The Writings of Albert Gallatin, ed. Henry Adams (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1879). 3 vols.

Part of: The Writings of Albert Gallatin, 3 vols.

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GALLATIN TO JEFFERSON.

New Haven, August 23, 1808.

Dear Sir,—

There is one application which I had referred to you, and to which you have given no answer. It is that of one Coquerel, to go to Isle of France; the vessel’s name is either Calypso or Mentor. He had prepared his vessel under an alleged verbal permission of the collector. Both he and his captain have repeatedly called for an answer.

The War Department, in General Dearborn’s absence, suspends the accounts of some New York militia called on the spur of the occasion to enforce the embargo on Lake Champlain without a previous demand for them by the general government. You afterwards sanctioned the measure, and directed me to testify your approbation to Captain Mayo, who had thus turned out without waiting legal orders. This suspension may discourage the well-affected, and renders it necessary that General Dearborn should give orders on that subject, and on that of subsequent calls of militia by Governor Tompkins, to his principal clerk and to the accountant. I enclose a letter from the collector of Niagara, who still mistakes the law, as the boats could not be seized under any of the embargo laws. A copy of my answer will be sent from my office to you. But it is evident that there has been an habitual disregard of our general laws by the British traders, and that they claim, by virtue of the treaty, which only secures the free navigation of the Lakes, a right to enter all our ports there without reporting or fulfilling any other formality.

If this was admitted, they might smuggle as they please, and break with perfect facility every non-importation law.

With respectful attachment, your obedient servant.

I am here only for one day, and return to-morrow to New York.