To James Madison from Ethan A. Brown, 26 January 1821
From Ethan A. Brown
Columbus, Ohio, January 26th. 1821
To Mr. Madison, long considered the ablest expositor of the principles of the federal Constitution, the accompanying report1 is transmitted, by his obedient Servant
Ethan A. Brown2
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. The enclosed report (not found) was probably a copy of the Report of the Joint Committee of Both Houses of the General Assembly, on the Communication of the Auditor of State, Upon the Subject of the Proceedings of the Bank of the United States, Against the Officers of State, in the United States Circuit Court (Columbus, Ohio, 1820; Shoemaker 2592). For the conflict between the state of Ohio and the Second Bank of the United States, see Edmond Kelly to JM, 26 Sept. 1820, and n. 8.
2. Ethan Allen Brown (1776–1852) was born in Connecticut, read law with Alexander Hamilton in New York City, and moved to to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1804, where he opened a law practice. He served as governor of Ohio, 1818–22, and in the U.S. Senate, 1822–25. President Andrew Jackson appointed Brown chargé d’affaires to Brazil in 1830, a post he held until 1834. Brown also served as commissioner of the General Land Office, 1835–36 (Sobel and Raimo, Biographical Directory of the Governors, 3:1196).