To James Madison from Henry Dearborn, 21 March 1812
From Henry Dearborn
March 21t. 1812.
Sir,
Will not the late discovery of Treasonable intentions, render it expedient to be more cautious, in appointing Federal characters (especially in the Northern States) to the higher grades in the Army.1 A conciderable portion of Field officers are Federal, and if a still greater proportion of the Genl. officers should be of that description, would not the active supporters of the Government, and the republicans generally, feel very unpleasantly, and be less active in the necessary preperations for war.
H. D
RC (DLC). Addressee not indicated.
1. Writing at this time to her sister, Dolley Madison reported that the Federalists were “affront⟨ed to a?⟩ man—not one (I mean of the 2 houses of ⟨Cong⟩ress) will enter Ms door since the communication of (Henry) to Congress—except Le Roy Livingston who considers himself attatched by his Appt. of Colo. to the Gov.” In the same letter Dolley Madison also mentioned that “Genl. Dearborn has had a fall which, tho not serious confines him ⟨t⟩o his house,” and that “all is bustle here—Electioneering yet—De Wit. &. &. & The Smiths & I know not who all, intend to break us down” (Dolley Madison to Anna Payne Cutts, 20 Mar. 1812 [ViU]).