Thomas Jefferson at War with the Barbary Pirates & reduces Americas naval forces in Mediterranean Start Price USD 50,000.00 Current Price USD 50,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, August 22, 2008 End Time Monday, September 01, 2008 Location White Plains, New York See more about 'Thomas Jefferson at War with the Barbary Pirates & ' Description   Jefferson at War with the Barbary Pirates  “The celebrated Mrs. Macauly Graham, & Mr. Graham are here on a Visit . . .”   Summary: During a lull in the Tripolitan War (1801-1805), Thomas Jefferson assures Maryland Congressman Joseph Nicholson that he expects no expansion of hostilities, and is reducing America’s naval force in the Mediterranean. “Certainly neither economy nor prudence permits to keep in actual service all the force which might be necessary in the worst state of things; for then we ought to keep a large standing army...”   Thomas Jefferson. Autograph Letter Signed, as President, to Joseph H. Nicholson. Washington, February 23, 1803. 1 p.      Complete Transcript:   Dear Sir                                              Washington Feb. 23, 1803               It may be stated with truth, I believe, that the Secretary of the Navy has made his estimate on the present state of things  in the Mediterranean, and the possible necessity of keeping that up, by sending a relieving squadron in place of the three frigates which are under orders to return. Tho this could only be necessary in case our warfare there should become much more extensive, yet prudence required him to be prepared for that. But as there is not the smallest ground for believing that any other of the Barbary powers thinks of breaking with us (for as to the demands some of them are making, there is never a moment they are not demanding), the relieving squadron, in place of the three frigates ordered to return, will be the three small vessels which, with the Enterprise, will be employed there, under the protection of the two remaining frigates, and will be a much more effective force than the present one, against the Tripolitans alone…and it may be said that this is plainly to be inferred from the statement of this subject in the message on the opening of Congress. There is will be seen that the vessels in the Mediterranean were reinforced only in a moment when war with other powers was expected, that this apprehension had ceased already at the opening of Congress, and orders were given for the return of a part of the force, & a proposition made to Congress to furnish smaller vessels: it may be said with truth that the Executive has freely explained these ideas to such gentlemen as have made enquiries on the subject, and that it is perfectly understood to be their purpose to keep only 2 frigates & the 4 small vessels in the Mediterranean this summer: That this therefore is the only force which need be absolutely provided for, only giving power to add to it, should the present state of things be changed, contrary to present probabilities. Certainly neither economy nor prudence permits to keep in actual service all the force which might be necessary in the worst state of things; for then we ought to keep a large standing army. You will of course perceive that this letter is not intended to be communicated to anybody, but is confidentially for yourself. Accept my friendly and respectful salutations Th. Jefferson   Historical Background: Congressman Nicholson, a Republican floor leader in the House, had written Jefferson the day before, alerting him to possible problems in passing “the Bill to reduce the Marine Corps” if it seemed that American forces would be stationed off North Africa for extended periods. Jefferson assures him he expects no expansion of hostilities, in spite of the bluster from the Barbary potentates. As Jefferson notes, this letter is in keeping with his message to Congress in which he told them that ships in the Mediterranean would be reinforced "only in a moment when war with other powers was expected.”   Diplomatic efforts with the corsairs of North Africa had commenced in 1795 when the United States signed a treaty with Algiers in order to insure safe passage of U.S. ships through the Mediterranean. Even after the Treaty of Algiers, piracy continued to be a major danger for American ships.  The 1795 treaty provided the Dey of Algiers with a million dollars in ransom for American captives and promised an annual tribute.  Although lessened, piracy was not eradicated.   When Jefferson became president in 1801, the Pasha of Tripoli demanded a new payment of $225,000. Jefferson refused, hoping to inaugurate a new era in Mediterranean diplomacy, but war broke out soon after. For two years, the United States Navy went unchallenged, with eight U.S. ships blockading Barbary ports and executing raids. By February 1803, Jefferson felt able to report to Nicholson that the conflict would be limited. He ordered three frigates homeward.   His optimism was misguided, however. In October, the Barbary Pirates seized the USS Philadelphia and its crew, and planned to use the ship to attack other American vessels. A year later the USS Intrepid was destroyed. In 1805, U.S. Marines executed a daring land raid on the Tripolitan city of Derna, memorialized in the “Marine Hymn.”  The Philadelphia captives were ransomed for $60,000, treaties were signed and broken, and fighting continued intermittently until Commodore Stephen Decatur’s decisive victory in 1815, which finally ended the threat of the Barbary Pirates.   This letter also has great importance because it reveals Jefferson’s fear of another threat. In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson condemned King George’s attempts to “render the military independent of and superior to the civil power.” After defeating John Adams and the Federalists in the electoral “revolution of 1800,” one of Jefferson’s first actions was to dismantle the Provisional Army authorized in 1798 during the war scare with France.    The crux of Jefferson’s argument, expressed here to Nicholson, is that the U.S. government could not afford to maintain “all the force which might be necessary in the worst state of things” in relation to the Barbary States, or to any foreign power. Like many of the revolutionary generation, Jefferson was committed to the positive ideal of the citizen militia turning out temporarily in cases of national emergency. He was, conversely, opposed to the idea of a permanent “standing army.” Jefferson saw standing armies as emblematic of oppressive European governments – they tended to bust budgets, produce a baneful influence in politics, and worse, to deprive citizens of their liberties.   Letters by Jefferson on the Barbary Pirates are extremely rare.   To see more great Revolutionary War letters, or to browse through other Presidental manuscripts, please visit us at http://www.sethkaller.net/catalogs/revolutionary-war and http://www.sethkaller.net/catalogs/presidential. ABOUT THE SELLER For over 20 years, Seth Kaller has been the largest buyer of important and authentic historic documents. More than ten thousand rare manuscripts, documents, maps, and books handled by Kaller are now in museum collections, including working drafts of the United States Constitution that were acquired for the Gilder Lehrman Collection at the New-York Historical Society, and a signed copy of the 13th Amendment that was acquired for the Lincoln Museum of Fort Wayne, Indiana.   Kaller is a member of the Manuscript Society and the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America.  References are available upon request.   For more information about us, see www.sethkaller.net/about/   TERMS This document comes with my absolute guarantee that it is original and authentic.  If this is ever proven not to be authentic, it may be returned for a full refund.   I accept personal checks and money orders.  If paying by personal check, the item will not ship until the check has cleared.  Credit card payments are accepted through paypal.  We are also happy to use www.escrow.com.  All bids are considered purchases and payment must be received within 7 days. Please inquire for international shipping rates.   We are always willing to have 10% of the purchase price paid to a mutually agreeable charity.  Among the organizations we already support: Seeds of Peace, Monticello, Mount Vernon, The Lincoln Museum, The University of Virginia, The National Constitution Center, The New-York Historical Society, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, American Red Cross, American Friends of Magen David Adom, and Armed Forces Relief Trust.  Contact us for details.   Start Your Own Collection As a collector of history, you can enjoy a unique and personal connection with your favorite historic event, figure, or idea. 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