Sir,—I received some days ago your letter of December 15th, covering a copy of the resolutions of the French inhabitants of Vincennes of September 18th, in answer to the address of Governor Harrison, who had, in the month of October, forwarded me a copy of the same. In his letter enclosing it he assured me that his address to them on the subject of our differences with England was merely monitory, putting them on their guard against insinuations from any agents of that country, who might find their way among them, and containing no expression, which if truly explained to them, should have conveyed the least doubt of his confidence in their fidelity to the United States. I had hoped therefore that the uneasiness expressed in their resolutions had been done away by subsequent explanations, as I have no reason to believe any such distrust existed in the Governor's mind. I can assure them that he never expressed such a sentiment in any of his communications to me, but that whenever he has had occasion to speak of them, it has been in terms of entire approbation and attachment. In my own mind certainly no doubts of their fidelity have ever been excited or existed. Having been the Governor of Virginia when Vincennes and the other French settlements of that quarter surrendered to the arms of that State, twenty-eight years ago, I have had a particular knowledge of their character as long perhaps as any person in the United States, and in the various relations in which I have been placed with them by the several offices I have since held, that knowledge has been kept up. And to their great honor I can say that I have ever considered them as sober, honest, and orderly citizens, submissive to the laws, and faithful to the nation of which they are a part. And should occasion arise of proving their fidelity in the cause of their country, I count on their aid with as perfect assurance as on that of any other part of the United States. In return for this confidence, and as an additional proof on their part that it is not misplaced, I ask of them a return to a perfect good understanding with their Governor, and to that respect for those in authority over them, which has hitherto so honorably marked their character. As to myself they may be assured that my confidence in them is undiminished, and that nothing will be wanting on the part of the general government to secure them in the full participation of all the rights civil and religious which are enjoyed by their fellow citizens in the Union at large.
I beg leave through you to salute them, as well as yourself, with affection and respect.
TO GOVERNOR HARRISON.
Washington, January 31, 1808.
Dear Sir,—I duly received your letter of October 10th, covering the resolutions of the French inhabitants of Vincennes, and had hoped that their uneasiness under your supposed want of confidence in them had subsided. But a letter lately received from their chairman, covering another copy of the same resolutions, induces me to answer them, in order to quiet all further uneasiness. I enclose you my answer, open for your perusal, and will thank you to seal and deliver it. I have expressed to them the opinion I have long entertained of the ancient Canadian French, on a long course of information, and as it is favorable to them, I trust it will be soothing, and restore those good dispositions which will ease the execution of your duties, and tend to produce that union which the present crisis calls for.
Russia and Portugal have cut off all intercourse with England; their ambassadors re-called, and war follows of course. Our difficulties with her are great, nor can it yet be seen how they will terminate.
Accept my salutations, and assurances of great respect and esteem.
TO MR. GALLATIN.
February 8, 1808.
In questions like the present, important neither in principle nor amount, I think the collectors should decide for themselves, and especially as they, and they only, are the legally competent judges; for I believe the law makes them the judges of the security. If the indulgence proposed be within the intentions of the law, they can grant it; if it be not, we cannot. But it is the practice in all cases for the officer who is charged with the taking security, to be indulgent in a hard case, as where the person is a stranger, could he not take hypothecations of their vessels? although the law may not specially authorize this, yet the collector can take it as counter security for himself, and he can assign it to the government. Affectionate salutations.