LS as president signed “Th: Jefferson,” one page both sides, 7.25 x 9.5, September 6, 1808. Response to a petition by the inhabitants of North Yarmouth, Massachusetts, to end the Embargo Act. In full: “Your representation and request were received on the 5th. inst. and have been considered with the attention due to every expression of the sentiments and feelings of so respectable a body of my fellow citizens. No person has seen, with more concern than my self, the inconveniences brought on our country in general, by the circumstances of the times in which we happen to live; times to which the history of nations presents no parallel. For years we have been looking as spectators on our brethren of Europe, afflicted by all those evils which necessarily follow an abandonment of the moral rules which bind men and nations together. Connected with them in friendship and commerce we have happily so far kept aloof from their calamitous conflicts, by a steady observance of justice towards all, by much forbearance, and multiplied sacrifices. At length however, all regard to the rights of others having been thrown aside, the belligerent Powers have beset the highway of commercial intercourse with edicts which, taken together, expose our commerce and mariners, under almost every destination, a prey to their fleets and Armies. Each party indeed would admit our commerce with themselves, with the view of associating us in their war against the other. But we have wished war with neither. Under these circumstances were passed the laws of which you complain, by those delegated to exercise the powers of Legislation for you, with every sympathy of a common interest in exercising them faithfully. In reviewing these measures therefore we should advert to the difficulties out of which a choice was of necessity to be made. To have submitted our rightful commerce to prohibitions and tributary exactions from others, would have been to surrender our independence. To resist them by arms was war, without consulting the state of things or the choice of the Nation. The alternative preferred by the Legislature of Suspending a commerce placed under such unexampled difficulties, besides saving to our citizens their property; and our mariners to their country, has the peculiar advantage of giving time to the belligerent Nations to revise a conduct as contrary to their interests as it is to our rights.
'In the event of such peace, or suspension of hostilities between the belligerent powers of Europe, or of such change in their measures affecting neutral commerce as may render that of the U. S. sufficiently safe in the judgment of the President’ he is authorised to suspend the embargo. But no peace or suspension of hostilities, no change of measures affecting neutral commerce is known to have taken place. The Orders of England, and the Decrees of France & Spain, existing at the date of these laws, are still unrepealed, as far as we know. In Spain indeed a contest for the government appears to have arisen, but of it’s course or prospects we have no information on which prudence would undertake a hasty change in our policy, even were the authority of the Executive competent to such a dicision.
You desire that, in this defect of power, Congress may be specially convened. It is unnecessary to examine the evidence or the character of the facts which are supposed to dictate such a call: because you will be sensible, on an attention to dates, that the legal period of their meeting is as early as, in this extensive Country, they could be fully convined, by a special call.
I should, with great willingness have executed the wishes of the Inhabitants of North Yarmouth—had peace, or a repeal of the obnoxious edicts, or other changes, produced the case in which alone the laws have given me that Authority. And so many motives of justice and interest lead to such changes, that we ought continually to expect them. But while these edicts remain, the Legislature alone can prescribe the course to be pursued.” Cloth-matted and framed with a print of the reverse of the letter (with a window in the backing for viewing), the original petition submitted to him, and a small portrait to an overall size of 27 x 31. Professional repairs to partial separations at mailing folds and a tear to the upper portion, otherwise fine condition.
This lengthy letter is a response to the growing opposition in New England to the Embargo Act of 1807, which imposed strict restrictions on American trade with Great Britain and France as a response to violations of American sovereignty and neutrality on the high seas—as Great Britain and France were engaged in the Napoleonic Wars, they rationalized the plunder of US shipping as incidental to war and necessary for their survival. The British also resorted to the practice of impressment, forcing American seamen to serve aboard their warships. President Jefferson's saw this type of economic warfare as an alternative to armed conflict, and he wanted to keep the United States out of true warfare for as long as possible. This backfired, however, and only served to damage American trade—Massachusetts was especially affected by these measures, as most of the United States' commercial shipping was located there. As a result, the economy as a whole began suffering and the shipping business was entirely devastated. The embargo undermined national unity and faith in the still-new government's ability to create and enforce laws in the best interest of its people. The criticism and economic chaos it triggered throughout the country forced Jefferson to sign the repeal of the embargo just before leaving office, but throughout the rest of his life Jefferson maintained that if the embargo had been observed it would have avoided war in 1812. This is an extraordinarily historic letter that concerns the difficulties and disputes within the fledgling Republican government on an issue that tested the bounds of Jefferson's commitment to limited government, one of the principle tenets for which he advocated. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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