1To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 5 February 1817 (Madison Papers)
The Secy of the Treasury presents his respects to the President & informs that no effort will be made to prevent the injustice to the State of Georgia unless it is brought before Congress by executive message—the inclosed Statement of the case is believed to be Sufficcient to shew the injustice of the act in question. It is supposed that a message would not be so full in stating the case....
2To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, [3 February 1817] (Madison Papers)
The enclosed papers are Submitted to the Consideration of the President. If the recommendation of the board of delegates Should be accepted, the difficulties of the treasury and of the Collection of the revenue are at an end. RC ( DLC ). Undated; date supplied from JM ’s docket “Feby. 3. 1817.” On the cover JM wrote: “arrangements for resuming specie payments” and “To be put with Mr. Crawfords...
3To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, [ca. 11 January 1817] (Madison Papers)
The former decision on this case is enclosed. The practice of the department forbids the idea of rev[i]ewing the decisions of a predecessor in office; but in this case the decision must be considered that of the President, who can alone review his decisions. It may be proper to state that the Collector opposes the remission. The other officers interested are friendly to the application. The...
4To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 5 December 1816 (Madison Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President & will thank him to delay his nomination to the Senate for the present if there is no impropriety in this course. RC ( DLC ). Docketed by JM . At a later date JM added an asterisk here, and at the foot of the letter wrote: “Mr. Crawford’s, he was acting under a recess appt of the Executive.” Crawford’s nomination to the...
5William H. Crawford to Thomas Jefferson, 28 October 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter recommending M r Armistead for an appointment in the war department has been duly Rec d by the mail. Several vacancies exist in the Accountants office, but owing to the unfortunate death of Col o Lear will Not be filled until that office is filled. M r Armistead
6To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 28 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed papers recd. from Genl Jackson are transmitted, tho’ they contain nothing more than what I had anticipated. A private letter from Mr Irvine to the Secretary of State States facts calculated to remove the impression which Colo. Jessup’s communication has produced of an invasion of New Orleans by a Spanish force. He believes the exertions now making to raise an army in Spain is to...
7To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 27 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed letters to Mr. Crowninshield, and General Jackson, explains the views of the members of the Cabinet now in this City, upon the extraordinary information communicated in your letter of the 23d instant. The communication to the Executives of the States of Georgia, Kentuckey, Tennessee and Louisianna and of the Mississippi and Missouri Territories, seems to me to be proper. It is not...
8To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 26 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
The Corps of Engineers, as I had foreseen, have been excessively mortified, at the delay which has taken place in commencing the fortifications recommended by the commander of that corps, & for which appropriations were made during the last session. The inclosed papers, are intended to shew that there is no reason to expect that our northern boundary will be enlarged by the Commissioners under...
9To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 24 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
The law of the last session for the relief of the intruders upon the public land, embraced the whole of the United States. All persons settled upon the public lands on the 1st day of Feby. 1816, were protected in their intrusion, provided they entered their claims by the first day of this month, with the register of the land office, or such other person as should be charged with that duty by...
10To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 20 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
An account has been presented for payment at this department, which involves a principle, which so far as I have been informed, has not been distinctly decided. It appears that one Whitmore Knaggs, acted in the Year 1812 at Detroit in the double Capacity of Deputy Indian agent, & Indian interpreter before the Capture of that place. He was carried into Captivity by the enemy, & detained for a...
11To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 20 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter to Richard Bland Lee Esquire explains the Nature of the additional regulations which appear to me to be necessary for the government of his conduct in the discharge of the duties Required by the act under which he has been appointed. I am apprehensive that the manner in which he is proceeding will give great dissatisfaction to the two houses of Congress at their next...
12To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 20 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
The Secretary of War has the honor to report to the President of the United States, That the appropriation for the Quarter Master’s Department of the Army of the United States, for the year 1816, is inadequate to the accomplishment of its object; and that it has become necessary for the public service, that a portion of the monies appropriated for other branches of expenditure in the...
13To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 19 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed letter from Mr Hall, will explain the nature of the favor which he seeks in behalf of some of his neighbors. From my Knowledge of his Character, I have no difficulty in becoming responsible for the correctness of his intentions in making the request. The laws forbid intrusion upon the public lands; it may therefore be questionable whether the Executive can under any circumstances...
14To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 14 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed letter from Colo. McKee the Choctaw Agent, is respectfully submitted to your consideration. The request that a gin may be erected, & that a supply of Cotton cards may be given to that nation, appears worthy of attention. The request manifests a disposition to rely upon the cultivation of the earth, & upon domestic manufactures, for supplying their wants, in preference to the...
15To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 9 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
I yesterday recd. a letter from Gnrl Samuel Smith of Baltimore, to which is added a postcript in the following words; viz. “The equipment of vessels to cruize against the Spanish trade is to be regretted. Is there no way to prevent it? Will it not interfere with our chance of purchasing East Florida?[”] The letter itself contains nothing upon this subject. I was informed by Mr Beasley that a...
16To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 7 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed Sketch of instructions have been hastily drawn up this morning, & are forwarded to see if they are in the main conformable to your views. Upon examining the names of applicants for office in the department, I discovered none which were sufficiently Known to me in the States proposed in my communication, to justify their selection. In the meantime a letter from Governor Posey was...
17To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 2 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
The Commissioner appointed under the act authorizing the payment for property lost, captured, or destroyed by the enemy &ca, has suggested a doubt under the 9. section of that act, whether the term Military deposite, embraces the case of occupancy by a military force, so as to entitle the owner to compensation for the destruction of the houses or buildings thus occupied. The occupancy of...
18To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 31 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
Mr Bagot called upon me to day, & Stated that two Soldiers in the American service had waited on him & informed him that they were British Subjects, & requested his interference to obtain their release, with the view of returning home. They admitted that they had deserted the British service & entered the American Army voluntarily. Upon further enquiry I learned that they had both entered our...
19To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 31 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
I understand from Mr. Graham, that the enclosed letter has already been submitted to your consideration. The proposition to cede any part of the lands lying between the settlements on the East and West side of the Indiana Territory, if made by tribes to whom the Country belongs, ought, it appears to me, to be acceded to. The description of the proposed cession is so defective, that it is...
20To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 30 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
On my arrival in this city, on Tuesday last, I found all my children except the eldest, indisposed with the hooping cough, and my third son extremely ill. His fever has abated some, but has not intermitted since Saturday, the day he was seized with it. My attention has been directed almost exclusively to my children since my arrival, so that I have hardly had time to look at the letters which...
21To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 8 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
Altho my views and wishes in relation to the vacancy about to take place in the Cabinet, remain as they were when we last conversed upon the Subject, a desire to enable you to form a cabinet according to your views of general policy imposes upon me the duty of conforming to your wishes in this Case. Should Mr Clay decline the offer, and any other person should be selected, which will not make...
22To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 9 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
Nothing has been heard from Genl Meriwether or Mr Franklin, upon the subject of their appointments to treat with the Chickasaws. Should either of them decline it will be necessary to make another selection immediately. I would respectfully recommend Mr Sharpe to fill the vacancy Should the [ sic ] happen. It seems that he did not receive his appointment to treat with the Indians on the Wabash...
23To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 2 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose the report of lieut. Gadsden, upon the fortifications necessary to be constructed for the defence of Mobile and New-Orleans, which has been approved by general Swift. The maps accompanying Latour’s history of the campaign in Louisiana, will be useful in forming a general opinion upon this report, which appears to be sensible and judicious. The alterations and repair...
24To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 26 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to submit for your consideration, a draft of the instructions prepared to be sent to the Commissioners appointed to treat with the Chickasaw Indians. I have the honor to be, most respectfully, Sir, your Obt. Servant. RC ( DLC ); letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 107, LSP ). RC in a clerk’s hand, signed by Crawford; docketed by JM . The draft has not been found, but for the final...
25To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, [ca. 23 June 1816] (Madison Papers)
The proceedings of the court martial has been transmitted without comment, or recommendation on the part of the court, or of the commanding general. Under these circumstances it is respectfully submitted whether the discipline of the army does not require that the sentence should be confirmed. RC ( DLC ). Undated; date assigned based on evidence in n. 2. Docketed by JM “June 1816.” At this...
26To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 22 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
Upon examining the fifth class of claims described in the regulations prescribed by the commissioner of claims, it will be seen that the whole of them are such as have usually been paid by the Quartermasters of the army. To avoid imposition, and the payment of the same demand twice, it will be necessary to refer every Case comprehended within that class to the additional accountant. For this...
27To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 19 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letters announce the death of Colo. Hawkins. I presume his nephew who has acted as deputy agent for some time will be among the applicants. My relation is a man of the first respectability, and of talents much above mediocrity. I have but little doubt of his election to Congress if his name is held up. I am surprized at his wish to receive this appointment, and shall in giving the...
28To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 18 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
In adopting regulations to prevent the abuses which have been practised in issuing provisions to the Indians, at the military posts esblished [ sic ] upon the frontier, or within territories, I was led to examine the amount of issues to the inhabitants of Detroit, and its vicinity, which commenced upon the recovery of that territory from the enemy in the year 1813. The issues were Continued...
29To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 12 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose the report of the age and qualifications of the cadets who have reported themselves to the Superintendent of the military Academy. From this report it appears that altho many of the Cadets were appointed before they had the age required by law that at this time they are with a single exception qualified in that respect. Under all the circumstances of the Case, it...
30To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, 11 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
At the request of the Chickasaw deputation, I enclose a letter from Genl Jackson to Major George Colbert. They complain strongly of the menacing stile in which it is written. A treaty has been made with the Sacs & Foxes, & other tribes are ⟨on?⟩ their way for the same object. As soon as the treaty is received it shall be transmitted. I have the honor to be your most obt. & very humbe. Servt....