THOMAS JEFFERSON

THOMAS JEFFERSON

(1743 - 1826) Third President of the United States, author and signer of the Declaration of Independence, ceased the importation of slaves to America. Fine content T.L.S. "Th: Jefferson" at the head of the text, 1p. 4to., Monticello, Aug. 1, 1817. In full: "Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to the members of the '76 Association at Charleston, as well as to their Standing Committee, for the communication of the eloquent oration of Mr. Elliott, which he has read with great pleasure. He assures them of his sensibility on this mark of their kind attention, and salutes them with the tender of his high consideration and respect." Folds and a tiny marginal tear far from text, else fine. The '76 Association was a society formed by elite Charlestonians in 1810 to pay homage to the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Elliott delivered his address in St. Philip's Church, Charleston on July 4, 1817. He praised the Founding Fathers, urged that we follow their example, praised victories in the War of 1812, and described how European countries had begun to emulate the United States, with the French in particular realizing: "...republicanism was adorned with science, patriotism, and genius..."