Exceptional full hand-addressed and signed free frank as president, measuring 9.75 x 8 unfolded with a central panel of 5 x 3.5, addressed in Jefferson's hand to "Caesar Rodney esquire, Wilmington," and franked in the upper left, "free, Th: Jefferson, Pr. U.S." Postmarked "Free" at Washington City on June 24, [1802]. Annotated along the border in another hand with the year and subject: "McL." In very good to fine condition, with some old mounting remnants to the lower panel, and seal-related paper loss, not affecting the franking panel itself. Accompanied by an engraved portrait featuring Jefferson's facsimile signature.
The recipient, Caesar Augustus Rodney (1772–1824), a nephew of Caesar Rodney, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was a leader of the Jeffersonian Democratic-Republican Party in Delaware, where he was serving as a state representative. Rodney and Jefferson exchanged letters often between 1800 and 1823. Most of their correspondence was about political candidates, appointments, events, happenings, policies, and strategies at the state and federal levels. The Democratic Republicans began to dominate the opposing Federalist Party after President John Adams left office in 1801.
This 1802 free franked cover carried a letter about the unsuccessful efforts of Delaware Democratic Republicans to have Federalist Allen McLane (1746-1829) removed from office as Customs Collector at the Port of Wilmington. McLane, a Continental Army officer and spy during the Revolutionary War, was appointed by President George Washington in 1797, and he served in the lucrative position until his death. McLane had previously served under Rodney’s uncle and namesake, Caesar Rodney, in the war.
Delaware Democratic Republicans, including Governor David Hall, forced a grand jury inquiry into possible misconduct in office by McLane, but he was acquitted. Jefferson’s June 24, 1802 letter to Rodney read, in part: 'Some considerations occur at once, that a trial and acquittal, where both parties are fully heard, should be deemed conclusive; that on any subsequent complaint it cannot be regular to look to anything farther back than the trial; that to do this would expose us to a charge of inconsistency which would do great injury to the (Democratic) Republican cause.'
Later in 1802 President Jefferson encouraged and supported Rodney, an attorney by trade, as a candidate on the Democratic Republican ticket against Federalist James A. Bayard for Delaware’s at-large seat in the US House of Representatives. Rodney won a close battle, only to be defeated by Bayard two years later in another hotly contested match between the two longtime friends.
Rodney (1772-1824) was appointed as US Attorney General by Presidents Jefferson and Madison, serving almost five years. Later he again won the at-large seat from Delaware in the US House, and he was elected as a US Senator from Delaware, serving in each seat for about a year. He served in the newly established position of US Minister to Argentina under President Monroe for about five months.
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