1To James Madison from “Cyrus” [Jonathan Dayton], [29 May] 1809 (Madison Papers)
For the President, in the most perfect confidence. Never were any men more completely confounded, than were a certain description of politicians, to whom I have heretofore alluded, upon the appearance of the Proclamation, for restoring the intercourse between the U. States & Territories of Britain. The commerce, the honor, & the prosperity of their country were with them, at best, but...
2To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, 21 March 1812 (Madison Papers)
I received yesterday by mail, a letter without signature, which, from it’s general & particular character, it’s tenour, & it’s allusions, must be presumed to have come from the President of the United States. The letters therein alluded to, & stated to have been addressed to the Secretary of State, & to the President successively in 1808 & 1809 were never sent by me. It would seem however,...
3To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, [ca. 17 September] 1812 (Madison Papers)
Your political enemies are taking every possible advantage of our unaccountable disasters at Detroit, to render your Presidency unpopular, & your cabinet Council odious & contemptible. This is not doing by Federalists alone, but with equal zeal, tho’ greater caution by “the Democratic Republicans .” The great object of the former is to remove the Chief magistracy, not from you only, but from...
4To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, 23 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
The writer of this did not intend to follow up the late communication with any other, until he learned thro’ the channell he had pointed out, whether they were acceptable, but considerations, not only personal to yourself, but important to the welfare of our country have impelled him so far to change his intention. The Assembly of the Notables (as they are ludicrously called) convened lately...
5To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, [ca. 28 December] 1812 (Madison Papers)
Letters of congratulation are not the object of the writer, altho’ no one more sincerely rejoices at the defeat of your enemies. No one more deeply laments that the military arrangements, movements & disasters of the late summer campaigns, improperly imputed to the Head of the Governmt. had, for a moment shaken the confidence, or alienated the affections of some portions of the community. The...
6To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, [ca. 14 January 1813] (Madison Papers)
I took the liberty of writing to you lately on the subject of our affairs, & will now trouble you once more, for my anxiety is extreme. The contemplated plan of raising 20,000 men for one year is a most erroneous one. By the time they are made good soldiers they must be disbanded—another army enlisted—your troops would always be raw—the expenses enormous—the delays incalculable. Besides the...
7To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, [16 January] 1813 (Madison Papers)
I took the liberty of writing to you lately on the subject of our affairs, & will now trouble you once more, for my anxiety is extreme. The contemplated plan of raising 20,000 men for one year is a most erroneous one. By the time they are made good soldiers they must be disbanded, another army enlisted. Your troops would always be raw, the expenses enormous—the delays incalculable. Besides the...
8To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, 29 March 1813 (Madison Papers)
When I retired from public life in the year 1806, after five & twenty years service in the Armies & Councils of my country, I had taken a resolution never again to accept an employment or office of any kind which should draw me from my domestic retirement. It was not indeed then foreseen, that the integrity of our happy Union would be so soon threatened & jeopardized, the prosperity & harmony...
9To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, 9 April 1813 (Madison Papers)
Considerations of duty, of respect & attachment impel me to address you upon a subject, highly interesting to the whole American people, and certainly not less so, to yourself. There is reason to apprehend, that, without some sufficient precautionary measures on your part, a bold attempt may possibly be made to seize your person & papers, & convey you to the fleet below. This apprehension...
10To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, 19 April 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have been honoured with the receipt of your esteemed favour of the 5th. Inst. Entertaining no anxious desire of abandoning my domestic ease, & entering again upon the fatigues, risks & privations ever attendant upon military service, I feel neither dissatisfaction nor dissappointment, that the proffer made by me, tho’ favorably received, & flatteringly acknowledged, could not consistently be...