To James Madison from Charles Pinckney, 18 March 1812
From Charles Pinckney
March 18: 1812 In Charleston
Dear Sir
Colonel Lehré1 a gentleman of this place & one of the Representatives for our City in the Legislature informs me he has some idea of going to the northward & has requested a line of introduction to you which I give to him with great pleasure as he is a decided Republican & friend to your administration & no man can give a better or more correct view of the state of parties or politics in this state that [sic] he can as he has been long in the legislature & public service.
We are all here in great astonishment at the developement of Henrys agency with the British to plunge a poisoned dagger into the Vitals of our happy Union & are waiting to see what prompt effects it may have on our public councils. That it may have the happiest & the most honourable to your administration is the sincere prayer of dear sir with the highest respect & Esteem & with the most affectionate regard dear sir Yours Truly
Charles Pinckney
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM. Sent as enclosure in Thomas Lehré to JM, 30 Mar. 1812.
1. Thomas Lehré (or Lehre) had served as a quartermaster during the Revolution and then represented the parishes of St. Philip and St. Michael in the South Carolina House of Representatives at different periods between 1794 and 1813 (Edgar et al., Biographical Directory of the South Carolina House of Representatives, 4:348–49). Lehré continued to correspond with JM occasionally until 1834.