To James Madison from J. A. P. Poutingon, 1 June 1813
From J. A. P. Poutingon
Washington City June 1. 1813.
Excelency
James Madison, Esqr. President. is, that very same, virtuous and friend to Justice James Madison Esqr. Member of Congress.
Respectfully I request your Excelency, for three minutes to grant me the honour of an audience. It is respecting my two discoveries; I have offered, the first to the Government and the Second. to your Excelency. I have not required so, or so, no. I have left to the generosity of your Excelency to reward me.1
I am a despaired man, I cannot live any longer, with so many vexations and injustices. A period must be put to every thing. And more I am unfortunate, more it is difficult for me, to retire myself of my too odious a situation. I request Justice for the last time.
Be your Excelency generous enough to give me an audience of three minutes. Then I shall Know what do. If the executive must pay me.
or Congress.
or Any one else.
or in a word to Know how to do.
It will be the last time I shall importune your Excelency of whom I remain. Yet his very respectful and All devoted very humbl. Servant. The too Sacrificed
J.A.P. Poutingon
Your Excelency has directed me to the Secretary of war—The Secretary of war to Congress.
and Congress to the Secretary of war.
Your Excelency is the Chief and I request Justice.
RC and enclosure (DLC). The enclosure is a petition to Congress dated “June 1813” (3 pp.), seeking $200,000 for Poutingon’s “Discovery or Service,” which consisted of the assertion that the United States could extract concessions from the British at St. Petersburg by arguing that although the Constitution prohibited U.S. militia from going “over the lines,” it did not forbid such forces to cross “what was called the lines.” Poutingon claimed to have submitted this information in writing to JM, James Monroe, and Henry Clay on 2 Jan. 1813.
1. For Poutingon’s ideas and his request for compensation, see his letters to JM of 30 Jan. 1811 and 2 Jan. 1813 (, 3:142 and nn. 3–5, 5:548 and n. 2).