Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from John Dawson, 11 April 1804

From John Dawson

Chester April 11th. 1804

Dear Sir,

Mr. Madison some time ago communicated to you my willingness to act as the Governor of New Orleans, from which appointment it was understood that I was excluded by the constitution.

I have lately learnt, that it is in contemplation to send a person to Naples, to arrange our affairs in that quarter—Shoud this be the case, and the appointment such a one as I ought to accept, I shall have no objection to undertake the mission.

To you and to my country my political character, principles and services are well known—

I shall proceed immediately to New York.

With the highest Esteem Your friend & Sert

J Dawson

RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); endorsed by TJ as received 20 Apr. and “Mission to Naples” and so recorded in SJL with notation “P.O.”

communicated to you: no letter from Madison recommending Dawson has been found or is recorded in SJL. On 7 Aug. and 29 Oct. 1803, Dawson informed Madison of his interest in serving in New Orleans (Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser. description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, J. C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, Chicago and Charlottesville, 1962- , 39 vols.; Sec. of State Ser., 1986- , 11 vols.; Pres. Ser., 1984- , 8 vols.; Ret. Ser., 2009- , 3 vols. description ends , 5:286, 588; Appendix II).

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    Jefferson Papers
    Title
    To Thomas Jefferson from John Dawson, 11 April 1804
    Author
    Dawson, John
    Recipient
    Jefferson, Thomas
    Date
    11 April 1804

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To Thomas Jefferson from John Dawson, 11 April 1804,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-43-02-0185. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 43, 11 March–30 June 1804, ed. James P. McClure. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2017, p. 211.]

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