1To James Madison from John Armstrong, 18 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
, 2:636), stating that he had again raised these questions with the French, had been rebuffed, and had dropped the issue lest it lead to estrangement between the United States and France, and because he did not wish to give Joseph Bonaparte, a supporter of the United States, a reason to withdraw that support. He said he appended a letter showing Joseph’s view of the matter and he rejected...