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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO JAMES MONROE - Thomas Jefferson, The Works, vol. 12 (Correspondence and Papers 1816-1826) [1905]

Edition used:

The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Federal Edition (New York and London, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904-5). Vol. 12.

Part of: The Works of Thomas Jefferson, 12 vols.

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Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


TO JAMES MONROE

j. mss.

Monto. Feb. 20. 24

Dear Sir,

—The multiplied sollicitns to interest myself with you for applicants for office have been uniformly refused by me. In a few cases only where facts have been within my knolege, I have not been able to refuse stating them as a witness, which I have made it a point to do so drily as that you might understand that I took no particular interest in the case. In a conversn with you however at the Oakhill some two or three years ago, I mentioned to you that there would be one single case, and but one in the whole world into which I should go with my whole heart and soul, and ask as if it were for myself. It was that whenever the Post office or Collector’s office at Richmd. either of them should become vacant, you would name Colo. B. Peyton to it, and preferably to the P. O. if both were to be vacant. The incumbents have for years been thought ready for their exit, and Foushee stated to be now at death’s door, yet I would not ask this were there a man in the world more capable, more diligent or more honest than Peyton, one of higher worth or more general favor or to whom I would give it myself in preference to him. He is all this, and I will be responsible that his nomination will not only be a general gratificn, but I believe a more general one than any other not only to the vicinage but to the legislature & to the state for he is very generally known having been a captain in the late war and since that a Commn merch. of uncommon esteem. To me it will be a supreme gratifn for I look on him with almost the eyes of a father. I know you will be most strongly sollicited for others, and those too of unexceptional merit and great interest. I will say boldly however for no one who will execute the office more faithfully & diligently or with more comity than Peyton.1 Grant me this, and as I never have, so I never will again put your friendship to the trial as for myself. I inform Peyton that I have written to you, and desire him at the moment of the occurrence to address a letter to yourself directly that no time may be lost by it’s passing thro’ me, for not a moment will be lost by others, and the earlier the notice to you, the sooner you may be able to preclude other importunities. I salute you with constant affection & respect.

[1 ]As regards this appointment, Jefferson wrote Richard Rush:

Among the duties of your present station you will find the most painful to be that of appmt to office. To 20 applicns 19. negatives must be given, and what word in our language is so difficult to be pronounced as no? On retiremt from office myself, knowing how much I should be harrassed to sollicit for others, I came to a determination to say no at once, and to all. I could not indeed refuse to say when required what I knew of an applicant, but made it a point to accompany that with no request or sollicitn from myself. I departed from my rule in one case only. I asked but did not obtain. It was for Colo. B. Peyton of Richmond for whom I entertained a very sincere frdshp. He was a meritorious officer in our late war, honest, capable, active and attentive to business, kind to all, and beloved by all, with a family fast growing on his hands and nothing to provide for them but his own industry. His line was that of commns business which he still follows. Particular circumstances had interested me highly in his favor. There were two offices in Richmd either of which would have put him at ease. The one was that of P. M. the incumbent of which had recently died, and I asked it for him with the same earnestness as if for myself and on the ground of my having never before asked anything from the govmt personally. It was given to another. The other office is that of the collector of the port of Richmd. now held by Majr. Gibson, as worthy a man as could hold it, and one whom no one would ever wish to see withdrawn. But he is now advanced in years and in a very low state of health. He is at present gone to the springs to recruit if possible and I wish he may, but it is not expected. Should anything happen to him it would be a 2d chance given me of getting something done for my friend Peyton. This is within your deptmt, and to you therefore I address my request to think of him on that event, and if no moral considn gives a higher claim to any other, give it to him, if only for my sake. Notwithstdg Gibson’s ill health however my own and my age gives me no right to expect to be the survivor of the two. In that case I bequeath my friend as a legacy to you. And I pray you to be assured of my best affection & respect. He seems to have felt this refusal keenly, for he had previously written to Leiper:

Monto [Oct. 27, 24]

e attmt.

See also the letter to Monroe of July 18, 1824, and to Leiper of Dec. 6, 1824.