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autographs 
autographs |
Document 257158 GEORGE WASHINGTON and THOMAS JEFFERSON Promotion of William Lewis from Surveyor to Inspector of the Port of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Partly Printed DS: "G:Washington" as first U.S. President and "By the President/Th:Jefferson" as first Secretary of State, 1p, 15¾x12½. Philadelphia, 1792 March 8. In full: "Know Ye, That reposing special Trust and Confidence in the Integrity, Diligence and Discretion of William Lewis, of Virginia, I have nominated, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, Do appoint him Inspector of the Revenue for the Port of Fredericksburg, and do authorize and empower him to execute and fulfil the Duties of that Office according to Law; and to have and to hold the said Office, with all the Rights and Emoluments thereunto legally appertaining, unto him the said William Lewis, during the Pleasure of the President of the United States for the Time being." Inspectors of the Revenue were part of the complement of the officers of the U.S. Customs Service. The service was comprised of three positions: the Collector of the Port of Entry, the Naval Officer of the Port of Entry and the Surveyors of the Port of Entry. The first group in these positions was nominated directly by President George Washington. Most of these appointments were rewards for service given in the Revolutionary War. On August 3, 1789, President Washington had nominated WILLIAM LEWIS as Surveyor of the Port of Fredericksburg. He was part of the first group. His nomination was approved by the U.S. Senate the following day. In a message to the Senate dated March 6, 1792, President Washington nominated William Lewis and 103 others as Inspectors of Ports in all fourteen states, including Alburg, Vermont, on Lake Champlain near the Canadian border. All, including William Lewis, are listed in his message. From the Executive Journal of the U.S. Senate, Thursday, March 8, 1792: "The Senate proceeded in the further consideration of the message of the President of the United States, of the 6th of March, and the nominations of Inspectors of Survey for the districts and ports therein mentioned, in pursuance of the act for repealing the duties heretofore laid upon distilled spirits, and laying others in their stead. Whereupon, Resolved, That the Senate advise and consent to the appointments, conformably to the nominations contained in the said message. Ordered, That the Secretary lay this resolution before the President of the United States." That same day, after "the advice and consent of the Senate", President Washington and Secretary of State Jefferson signed this appointment. WILLIAM LEWIS served as a Surveyor for Fredericksburg from 1789 to 1792. He was appointed Superintendent of the Lighthouse at Cape Henry but died in Norfolk, Virginia (c. November 1792) on his way from Fredericksburg to assume his new post. Documents signed by two Presidents are extremely desirable; Washington and Jefferson are the most desirable of all presidential pairs. Soiled and stained, but lightly at Washington's signature and all is clean at Jefferson's signature. Expertly repaired on all of verso with conservator's paper that has reattached the folds that had separated. The folds do not touch the signatures. Tears have been reinforced by verso's repair. One vertical tear runs between the "on" in Washington, but all letters intact. The seal is missing, leaving an irregular 3-inch hole touching and removing some printed words. SEE IF DOCUMENT 257158 IS FOR SALE RIGHT NOW!!
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