Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) [Order to Militia officers to enforce the Embargo Act]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03643 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph document signed Date: 22 January 1809 Pagination: 1 p. ; 24.7 x 19.9 cm. Order a Copy
Indicates that a ship near Maryland and Virginia intends to violate the Embargo Act and orders it seized. The order was issued at the instigation of Charles Simms, a collector of customs in Virginia.
Notes: Bergh 12: 239-40. This order was issued at the instigation of Charles Simms, a United States collector of customs in Virginia. Jefferson enclosed it with his letter to Simms of January 22, 1809 (Bergh 12: 239). The order was issued in accordance with the provisions of a new act to enforce the embargo which had taken effect January 9, 1809. Malone, Jefferson the President: Second Term, pp. 636-40 and 650-51.
United States of America to wit
Information being received that a sloop, said to be of one of the Eastern states, of about 1500. barrels burthen, is taking in flour in the bay of Occoquan in Virginia, with intention to violate the several embargo laws, and the urgency of the case not admiting the delay of the ordinary course of proceeding through the orders of the Governors of the states, I have therefore thought proper to issue these my special orders to the militia officers of the counties of Fairfax, Prince William, or of any other county of Virginia or of Maryland adjacent to the river Potomak or any of it's waters wherein the sd vessel may be found, and to such particular officer especially to whom these my orders shall be presented by any collector of the customs for any district on the said river or it's waters, or by any person acting under their authority, forthwith, on recieving notice, to call out such portion of the militia under his or their command as shall be sufficient, & to proceed with the same, in aid of the said Collector, to take possession of, the said sloop and her cargo wheresoever found in the said waters [strikeout] and to detain the same until she shall be liberated according to law, for which this shall be his & their warrant.
Given under my hand at Washington this 22d day of January 1809.
Th: Jefferson
Presidt. of the US. of America.
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