Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 to William Short
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03639 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 November 1791 Pagination: 7 p. : docket ; 23.1 x 18.7 cm Order a Copy
Secretary of State Jefferson writes to Short, charge d'affaires to France. Short was in Europe negotiating a commercial treaty with France and handling details of a Dutch loan. Jefferson attempts to answer Short's request for information to quell rumors in France that America and Spain are on the brink of war. Recommends an essay on population by James Madison in the National Gazette be translated and published in France. Spends most of the letter on the slave uprising of Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo representatives went to America to request supplies to continue their revolt, but Jefferson gave them the runaround. Tells Short that the United States supports a continued French presence there. He is against independence for the colony. Ends letter on quick note of peace initiatives with indigenous people, the census, and the ratio of population in the representation of Congress.
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