Draft Fragment

Regarding Promotions and the Election of Thomas Jefferson

Discusses the difficulty of keeping paymasters due to frequent promotion, and steps he has taken to try and remedy the situation. Also discusses the likely election of Thomas Jefferson. He doubts the rumors of vast changes in military operations when Jefferson takes office.

Regarding Promotions and the Election of Thomas Jefferson

1800

10

17

Washington

4 page fragment.
Recipient assignment based on internal evidence.

Caleb Swan

Samuel Dexter

McCall

paymasters

deputies

General James Wilkinson

Thomas Jefferson

navy

army

Cushing

slaves

southern people

Washington

Ohio

Muskerigwa

Sciota

Philadelphia

destination of the officers

select officers

frequent promotion

accounts

election

government

complete change

recruiting service

recruiting

negro insurrections

slave rebellion

well being of the army

human nature

But there is one other matter of yet more serious importance to him, to me, to you and all honest men. I mean the certain change in the administration of our government. Mr. Jefferson's election is counted upon now as a certain event and I believe it will take place, indeed I have been of the opinion for a year past, I am now confirmed in it. When this takes place it is suggested by such men, that a complete change will be made of all the ministry-head of departments, that the navy will be hauled up and the army disbanded, our foreign minister called home, our domestic arrangement of officers generally new modelled...but for my own part I do not foresee so universal a change. The four great departments, must exist, the heads may be superseded. But I do not believe the new governors will refine so deeply a system as to change the interior order of things, which has undoubtedly been founded in nature wisdom, and executed with perhaps as much honesty as as commonly falls to the lot of human nature.

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