Burlington, N. Jersey
March 28, 1861
March 28, 1861
Sir,
In despair of immediate action in Maryland, my native state, and in Virginia, the birthplace of my wife (she was Miss Custis) I am solicitous to enter the civil service of the Confederate States. And in this behalf I beg to enclose herewith a note from the Hon. A. Dudley Mann, who has some knowledge of my labors and sacrifices in the great cause, of which you are now, and I hope may long continue to be, the worthy and honored Chief.
I did not suppose, even before the reception of Mr. Mann’s letter, that the Provisional salaries could be otherwise than low; nevertheless I should be very happy to labor in a cause in which the sympathies of my heart have so long been centred, without other compensation than merely the means of support, until the Govt. is placed upon a permanent footing. After that event, my family – all enthusiastic advocates of Southern Independence – would join me.
Having for more than twenty years studied the merits of the matters in controversy between the sections – and partly under the personal instructions of Calhoun2, Upshur3 (etc.?) — I would be much rejoiced to be assigned a position, however humble it might be, which would admit of my being, occasionally, a contributor to the press.
May I ask the favor of a reply at your Excellency’s earliest convenience?
In despair of immediate action in Maryland, my native state, and in Virginia, the birthplace of my wife (she was Miss Custis) I am solicitous to enter the civil service of the Confederate States. And in this behalf I beg to enclose herewith a note from the Hon. A. Dudley Mann, who has some knowledge of my labors and sacrifices in the great cause, of which you are now, and I hope may long continue to be, the worthy and honored Chief.
I did not suppose, even before the reception of Mr. Mann’s letter, that the Provisional salaries could be otherwise than low; nevertheless I should be very happy to labor in a cause in which the sympathies of my heart have so long been centred, without other compensation than merely the means of support, until the Govt. is placed upon a permanent footing. After that event, my family – all enthusiastic advocates of Southern Independence – would join me. Having for more than twenty years studied the merits of the matters in controversy between the sections – and partly under the personal instructions of Calhoun2, Upshur3 (etc.?) — I would be much rejoiced to be assigned a position, however humble it might be, which would admit of my being, occasionally, a contributor to the press.May I ask the favor of a reply at your Excellency’s earliest convenience?
Very respectfully,
Your obt. Svt.
J.B. Jones
Your obt. Svt.
J.B. Jones
His Excellency
Jefferson Davis
Provisional President
Confederate States of America
Jefferson Davis
Provisional President
Confederate States of America
1. Source: Samuel W. Richey Collection of the Southern Confederacy, Correspondence from John Beauchamp Jones to Jefferson Davis, dated March 28, 1861, Miami University Libraries digital collections, Oxford, Ohio
2. John C. Calhoun, Secretary of State in the later part of John Tyler Administration
3. Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of State in the John Tyler Administration