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Sale 38
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Lot 339
Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) 3rd President of the United States (1801-09). Partly-printed Letter Signed "Th: Jefferson" as President, 1½pp (front and back of one piece of laid paper watermarked "L MUNN"), n.p., 23 Sept. (18)08. Very good; the letter is archivally backed with japan paper; small areas of paper loss affect a few letters only. The letter is headed, "To the Inhabitants of the Town of [the name of the town, Winchendon, is inscribed in pen] in legal town-meeting assembled,"and is President Jefferson's response to those towns who had expressed concern at the repercussions of the Embargo Act of 1807. The date, "22d inst." that the town's "representation and request" were received is also inscribed in pen.
Jefferson's letter says, in part: "…No person has seen with more concern than myself, the inconveniences brought on our country…by the circumstances of the times in which we happen to live….For years we have been looking as spectators on our brethren of Europe, afflicted by all those evils which necessarily follow an abandonment of the moral rules which bind men and nations together. Connected with them in friendship and commerce, we have happily so far kept aloof from their calamitous conflicts….At length however, all regard to the rights of others having been thrown aside, the belligerent powers have beset the high way of commercial intercourse with edicts which…expose our commerce and mariners…a prey to their fleets and armies. Each party indeed would admit our commerce with themselves, with the view of associating us in their war against the other; but we have wished war with neither…." Jefferson goes on to explain that he cannot lift the embargo except "In the event of such peace or suspension of hostilities between the belligerent powers of Euopre, or of such change in their measures affecting neutral commerce as may render that of the United States sufficiently safe in the judgment of the President…."
The Embargo Act of 1807 prohibited all foreign export of cargo from American ports, specifically to foreign ports, and all foreign vessels from taking cargo from American ports. American ships were able to trade with and profit from both Great Britain and France until 1807. When the British Royal Navy began impressing American seamen to fuel their gargantuan demand for crewmembers, the decision was made to punish Great Britain, while maintaining American neutrality. The Embargo Act was passed December 22, 1807 by a vote of 22-6 in the Senate and 82-44 in the House. The South and the West, which were agriculturally based, were in favor; the Northeast, whose economy was based on manufacture, was against the Act. Unfortunately, the ones to suffer were the Americans who depended on trading with Great Britain. Towns such as Winchendon (Massachusetts), were hard hit; hence, their appeal to the President. The Embargo Act was repealed three days before Jefferson left office, but the Non-Intercourse Act, which replaced it, lifted embargoes on all countries except Great Britain and France; only in 1810 would those onerous embargoes be removed. The problem of impressment remained, however, and would be the major cause of the War of 1812.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000.
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