1From James Madison to James Monroe, 5 March 1817 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ your personal and official acquaintance with Mr. J Graham, be well known to me, I can not, on the occasion of my final departure fr⟨om⟩ the public service, satisfy myself, without expressing my sense of his great merit. Mr. Graham, recommended by my knowlege of his public Agency abroad, and of his private virtues, was invited into the Department of State, as the Chief under the Head of...
2From James Madison to James Monroe, 22 August 1817 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of July 27. from Plattsburg was duly received, and I am very glad to learn from it, that the fatiguing scenes through which you have passed, had not prevented some improvement in your health. The sequel of your journey will have been still more friendly to it, as affording a larger proportion of the salutary part of your exercise. I hope you will find an ample reward for all the...
3From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 October 1817 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 18th. was handed to me by your servant, at a moment & place which did not permit me to acknowlege it by him. We regretted very much the circumstances which deprived us of the expected pleasure of seeing you all on your way to Washington. I inclose the copy of your letter to Gen: Jackson. Your reasonings on the singular step taken by him can scarcely fail to convince him of...
4From James Madison to James Monroe, 29 November 1817 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 24th has just been recd. I am fully aware of the load of business on your hands, preparatory to the meeting of Congress. The course you mean to take in relation to roads & Canals, appears to be best adapted to the posture in which you find the case. A reluctance has generally been felt, to include amendments to the Constitution among Executive recommendations to Congress, but...
5From James Madison to James Monroe, 9 December 1817 (Madison Papers)
The mail of saturday brought me the Copy of your message. It is a fine landscape of our situation, and can not fail to give pleasure at home, and command respect abroad. The recommendation of the repeal of taxes is happily shaped; so also the introduction of the subject of amending the Constitution. The only questions which occur, relate to the proposed suppression of the establishment at...
6From James Madison to James Monroe, 27 December 1817 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 22d. has been duly recd. I am so much aware that you have not a moment to spare from your public duties, that I insist on your never answering my letters out of mere civility. This rule I hope will be applied to the present as well as future letters. My quere as to the expedition agst. Amelia Island turned solely on the applicability of the Executive Power to such a case....
7From James Madison to James Monroe, 18 February 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 13th. I beg that you will not think of the pecuniary subject till it be in every respect, perfectly convenient to you. The real sense of the nation with regard to the Revolutionary struggle in S. America can not, I should suppose, be mistaken. Good wishes for its success, and every lawful manifestation of them, will be approved by all, whatever may be the...
8From James Madison to James Monroe, 8 March 1818 (Madison Papers)
I find that Mr. H. Carroll, son of Charles Carroll, who brought over the Treaty of Ghent, is very desirous, as is his father, that he should be appointed to a land office on the Missouri. You are so well acquainted with the worth of the latter both as a man and a patriot, and probably also with the character of the son, that I ought perhaps on that account alone to forbear saying a word on the...
9From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 May 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have just been favored with yours of the 18th. inclosing the Moscow document. I had previously recd. that written on your setting out for Loudon. The Russian paper accounts for the confident tone of Spain towards the U. S.; and throws light on the equivocal conduct of G. B. in relation to Spanish America. It corroborates, at the same time the circumspect policy observed by the Govt. of the...
10From James Madison to James Monroe, [5 August] 1818 (Madison Papers)
On my arrival here last evening I learnt that you had reachd home the day before yesterday. I am sorry I could not have the pleasure of seeing you at Montpellier on your way, And the regret is increased by the circumstances which prevent me from making the detour necessary to call on you. I left my mother much indisposed, and my sister Rose who was on a visit to her critically ill; and having...
11From James Madison to James Monroe, 2 October 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. yours of the 27th. Ulto. I am very sorry that I shall not be able to have the pleasure of joining you at the Meeting of the Visitors. We must await therefore that of seeing you & Mrs. M. on your way to Washington; and hope you will set out in time to spare us some days. The communications from Mr. Rush are very interesting. G. B. seems so anxious to secure the general trade...
12From James Madison to James Monroe, 23 November 1818 (Madison Papers)
I thank you for the “Message” put under cover to me. The topics which it embraces are well presented to public attention. None of the Documents have reached us. Those relating to S. America, are I find objects of much curiosity. The inference you draw from them, leaves no doubt however as to their general complexion. I can not learn the precise state of Mr. Jefferson’s convalescence. I fear it...
13From James Madison to James Monroe, 28 November 1818 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 23d. having passed on to Milton whence it came back to Orange Court House I did not receive it till yesterday. I am glad to find that our proportion of Shipping in the direct trade with G. B. is encreasing. It must continue to do so under an established reciprocity—with regard to the trade of the B. Colonies, whether that be founded on the admission or exclusion of the Ships...
14From James Madison to James Monroe, 11 December 1818 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed is of little consequence, but you will see that it ought to have been addressed to you. Dr. Eustis & his lady having given us a call, it was agreed that he & myself shd. make a short visit to Mr. Jefferson of whose state of health, I had never been able to get any precise information. We found him substantially restored from his indisposition, with good appetite, and in the daily...
15From James Madison to James Monroe, 13 February 1819 (Madison Papers)
I recd. by the last mail your favor of the 7th. The death of Genl. Mason with the manner of it is an event truly lamentable. The only alleviation it admits is in the hope that its admonitions will not be fruitless. The Newspapers from Washington not having come to hand regularly of late, and other matters having engaged my attention, I am but partially acquainted with what has passed in...
16From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 June 1819 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Ths. Lehré of S. C. is a candidate for the vacant Collectorship of Charleston, and writes that I shd bear some testimony to you in favor of his pretensions. Not having any personal knowlege of him this can relate only to his political sentiments and conduct as they were from time to time communi[ca]ted to me, and to the general standing which I have understood him to possess with his...
17From James Madison to James Monroe, 3 July 1819 (Madison Papers)
The best use I can make of the inclosed letter from Mr. Scott is to give you a perusal of its contents—after which you will be so good as to return it. The letter itself is a proof of his good sense, and literary education; and those inclosed in it are good vouchers for the other features of his character. In addition to other motives for wishing employment, it is very natural for him to be...
18From James Madison to James Monroe, 8 August 1819 (Madison Papers)
The day after you left us I recd. a letter from Mr R. B Lee which I inclose. It contains a fuller view of circumstances which it may not be amiss you should understand, than may be otherwise conveyed. I shall simply state in answer that I believe your personal dispositions will be no bar to whatever may be permitted by considerations of a public nature. Be so good as to return the letter under...
19From James Madison to James Monroe, 6 September 1819 (Madison Papers)
Capt: OBrien having extended a ride into Virga. thus far, has during his stay with me, communicated the State of a Claim he has agst. the U. S., being part of a claim, the other part of which was settled & allowed whilst I was Secretary of State. I understand from him that the vouchers to the settled part had certain references to the part not allowed, and that he afterwards procured...
20From James Madison to James Monroe, [ante–24 November] 1819 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Stone of Fredg. whom you well know informs me that his son in law Chs. H. Smith of Norfolk, is a candidate for the paymastership vacated by the death of Majr. Opie; and he is anxious that I shd drop you on the subject. Notwithstanding my repugnance to do so, which is encreased by the reason I have for believing your knowlege of Mr. Smith to be equal to mine, I can not entirely disregard...
21From James Madison to James Monroe, 11 December 1819 (Madison Papers)
I thank you for the copy of your Message. The moderation it breathes towards Spain will be approved generally at present, & universally hereafter. The time is passed when this policy could be ascribed to any other than its true motive. The present standing of the U.S. will secure to it a just interpretation every where. It is very satisfactory to learn that the greatest powers in Europe are...
22From James Madison to James Monroe, 6 January 1820 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Hackly called on me a few days ago on his way to Washington. I found him very intelligent and of agreable manners. He observed a commendable delicacy in the part of his Conversation, which touched his personal hopes from the Government; but it was not concealed that he aspired to some provision under its patronage. He will doubtless be if he has not already been, more explicit and...
23From James Madison to James Monroe, 10 February 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. your favor of the 5th. followed by a copy of the public documents; for which I give you many thanks. I should like to get a copy of the Journals of the Convention. Are they to be purchased & where? It appears to me, as it does to you, that a coupling of Missouri with Maine, in order to force the entrance of the former thro’ the door voluntarily opened for the latter is, to...
24From James Madison to James Monroe, 23 February 1820 (Madison Papers)
I received yours of the 19th. on Monday. Genl. Brown, who returned from Monticello on that evening, has been since with me, till 10 OClock today. Your letter found me indisposed from exposure to a cold wind without due precaution; and I have continued so. I write now with a fever on me. These circumstances will account for both the delay & the brevity in complying with your request. The pinch...
25From James Madison to James Monroe, March 1820 (Madison Papers)
My nephew R L. Madison has turned his thoughts to the new acquisition expected from Spain on our S. Frontier, and wishes an official situation there which may be convenient for the time and improve his future prospects for a growing family. The reluctance I feel in speaking on all such occasions is heightened on this by the personal relation which may be supposed to bias me. Leaving to other...
26From James Madison to James Monroe, 15 March 1820 (Madison Papers)
Whilst I was in the Government at Washington, Henry Sidney Coxe, a son of Mr. Tench Coxe, was appointed a Midshipman. On the return of peace, ill health, brought on by the severities of the service, and the advice of his father prevailed on him to retire. His father states that his health is now re-established, and that his attachment to the navy having never ceased, it is the wish of both,...
27From James Madison to James Monroe, 29 August 1820 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Governeur gave us to understand that we should have the pleasure of seeing you & Mrs. Monroe about the first or second week in Sepr. Be so good as to drop a line saying as nearly as you can the precise time. Mrs. M. & myself have a little visit to make in the neighbourhood, which can be executed with equal conveniency a little sooner or later, and which we shall hasten or delay, so as to...
28From James Madison to James Monroe, 8 November 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. a letter from Chs. D. Coxe, appealing to my recollection on certain points, and requesting a line from me to yourself. To let you see what has passed, I inclose his letter to me, and a copy of my answer. The former you will be so good as to return. I presume the views of the case to be gathered from authentic sources will readily decide the question of his actual official...
29From James Madison to James Monroe, 19 November 1820 (Madison Papers)
Yesterday’s mail brought me your favor of the 16th. with a Copy of your message: the only one reaching me; no newspaper containing it having come to hand. The view you have taken of our affairs can not but be well received at home, and increase our importance abroad. The State of our finances is the more gratifying as it so far exceeds the public hopes. I infer from the language of your letter...
30From James Madison to James Monroe, 28 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two favors of the 18 & 23 inst. The prospect of a favorable issue to the difficulties with Spain, is very agreeable. I hope the ratification will arrive witht clogs on it; and that the acquisition of Florida may give no new stimulus to the spirit excited by the case of Missouri. I am glad to learn that a termination of this case also is not despaired of. If the new State is...