Thomas Jefferson to David Campbell, March 27, 1792
Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State in the administration of George Washington.
David Campbell as Judge of the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio.
(David Campbell had been Chief Judge for the State of Franklin.)
Philadelphia, Mar. 27. 1792.
Sir,
Your favor of Feb. 25 by Mr. Allison has been duly received. Having been now 17 years out of the practice of the law, and my mind too constantly occupied in a different line to permit my keeping up my law reading; those subjects are now too little familiar to me to venture a law opinion on the question discussed in the charge you were so kind as to send me. I am much pleased with the mention therein made that the people are happy under the general government. That it is calculated to produce general happiness, when administered in it’s true republican spirit, I am thoroughly persuaded. I hope too that your admonitions against encroachments on the Indian lands will have a beneficial effect. The U. S. find an Indian war too serious a thing to risk incurring one merely to gratify a few intruders with settlements which are to cost the other inhabitants of the U. S. a thousand times their value in taxes for carrying on the war they produce. I am satisfied it will ever be preferred to send an armed force and make war against the intruders as being more just & less expensive. A new post extended to the south western territory will I hope soon open a more regular communication with that country. Your most obedient
& most humble sert
Th: Jefferson
David Campbell
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Source : Library of Congress, American Memory, The Thomas Jefferson Papers.
