TO GOVERNOR SULLIVAN.
Washington, October 18, 1807.
Sir,—I have duly received your favor of the 8th inst., covering, at the request of the general court of Massachusetts, a memorial to the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, on behalf of Benjamin Hichborn and others, with a desire that I would communicate and recommend the same to both Houses of Congress. I should avail myself with particular pleasure of every occasion of doing what would be acceptable to the legislative and executive authorities of Massachusetts, and which should be within the limits of my functions. The Executive of the Union is, indeed, by the Constitution, made the channel of communication between foreign powers and the United States. But citizens, whether individually, or in bodies corporate, or associated, have a right to apply directly to any department of their government, whether legislative, executive, or judiciary, the exercise of whose powers they have a right to claim; and neither of these can regularly offer its intervention in a case belonging to the other. The communication and recommendation by me to Congress of the memorial you have been pleased to enclose me, would be an innovation, not authorized by the practice of our government, and therefore the less likely to add to its weight or effect. Thus restrained from serving you in the exact way desired, I have thought I could not better do it than by a prompt return of the papers, that no time might be lost in transmitting them through the accustomary channels of your Senators and Representatives in Congress; and I avail myself of the occasion of assuring you of my very high respect and consideration.