1Roberts to James Madison, 1 September 1822, with Postscript to Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson Papers)
[ Ed. Note : “ Roberts ,” who wrote under an apparent pseudonym and claimed to be a Revolutionary War veteran, composed a letter to former president James Madison dated Pennsylvania , 1 Sept. 1822. Although Madison ’s copy has not been found, a transcription of it was later sent to TJ. In a five-page document received at Monticello in the summer of 1824, the author blamed Madison for both the...
2To James Madison from Anonymous, 5 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
filed with February 7, 1808 Ihave the pleasure to inform you that Dewitt Clinton has failed in obtaining a nomination of the old man at Albany. He had convened a caucus of the members of the legislature apointed a Chairman & Secy. But no sooner than they exposed the object of the meeting, than the members stole out of the room leaving the Chairman, Secy, & two or three behind to nominate if...
3To James Madison from Anonymous, 5 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment seen a letter from a Clintonian in Albany to one in this City, which States that De Witt Clinton, Judge Taylor, Obediah Gorman, a Mr. Gebhard & Old Compstock all members of the Senate had put down their feet in favour of Clinton the moment they met at Albany, that the republican party were about equally divided, and the federalists less than one third. De Witt intended on...
4To James Madison from Anonymous, 12 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
I some time since informed you of the projected intrigues of De Witt Clinton, & that I had too high an opinion of the discernment of the present vice president, to suppose him capable of countenancing his ambitious nephew, at the loss of his own republican character. DeWitt endeavoured to prevail on the legislature of this state to nominate Clinton and Monroe. Being foiled, he returns to this...
5To James Madison from Anonymous, 14 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Thomas Gamble of this place, at present a Merchant at St. Thomas, has acquainted me that, the Office of Consul for the United States at St. Thomas being vacant, he intended to apply for being appointed there; and as Mr. Gamble brought me a letter from a very respectable friend at said Island, stating that the community entertained universal regard for him, and he also communicated me a...
6To James Madison from Anonymous, 7 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
Being a friend of the administration, and of the nomination of the representatives of the people, and impressed with the belief that you are not fully informed of the real character and designs of DeWitt Clinton, causes these lines. A few evenings after the Embargo Act reached New-York, Messrs. DeWitt Clinton, James Fairley, James Arden, James Cheetham, Wm. L. Rose &c &c &c met at the House of...
7To James Madison from Anonymous, 10 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
The person who drafted the original of the within, which is gone on to St. Augustine, thought it might not be amiss to apprize you of the step which he has taken for the public good. His name is unimportant. DLC : Papers of James Madison.
8To James Madison from Anonymous, 20 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
I informed you on the 18th. Inst. that James Townsend denounced G. L. Mumford in the nominating Committee of 70, & that we succeeded in nominating Peter Tolman of Rockland County & Wm. Denning of this City to fill the places of Mumford and Clinton. De Witt Clinton arriving the next day from Albany had the Address to get Tolman to decline & Mumford nominated by the Committee. De Witt is still...
9To James Madison from Anonymous, 6 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
A letter of the 6th Feb. 1806 dated at N. Orleans with the post mark of the to a person in the middle states proves that the writer at N. Orleans k new that Burr was then watched by Yrujo, and as long before December, Nov ember or October 1805. The letter exists this day, for it has been seen? Yrujo’s prior thereto charge Burr with some design against Spain’s This because he knew it or because...
10To James Madison from Anonymous, 23 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
I observe by the Washington Monitor, that the Clinton character is perfectly understood at the seat of Government. I hope & flatter myself; ere long, it will be throughout the United States. The late pamphlet of our friend Kittiltas has had some effect in this State & Vermont. Indeed it could not fail to have a good effect where the political character of Mr. Kittiltas is known. He is an...
11To James Madison from Anonymous, 16 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
Agreeable to legal invitation the republican citizens met last evening to the amount of about 3,000 (in the House, Yard & Street) by the enclosed you will anticipate that the Clinton faction brought up all their force. They first endeavoured to surprise the meeting into the nomination of their Chairman, in this they failed, they however prevented us from doing business for about half an hour....
12To James Madison from Anonymous, 14 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
From the best information that I can collect, I am of opinion that Spencer & several of the Clinton party obtained the appointment of Electors, by professing themselves friends of the Washington Nomination, and that they will vote for it, unless they are convinsed that there are mal contents enough to unite with the federalists &c &c to carry the old Man. We consider the Clinton family opposed...
13To James Madison from Anonymous, 2 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
The result of the election in this City is a proud one for the administration of the general government. With the exception of G. S. Mumford we are of opinion, that Gentlemen elected are generally in favour of the unity of the party & the Washington nomination. Our friends thought it most politic to unite in the support of Mumford & some few others who’s opinions in regard to De Witt Clinton’s...
14To James Madison from Anonymous, 22 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
Among the Documents accompanying the President’s Message, of the 22d of March, is a Letter, of the date of the 5th of the same month, addressed to the Envoy Extraordinary of His Britannic Majesty, and subscribed with your name. It is to a reconsideration, of the very important contents, of that letter, that I respectfully call your attention. Mr. Rose had informed you, by letter of the 26th of...
15To James Madison from Anonymous, 18 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
Ihave the pleasure to inform you that our Committee of 70 appointed to nominate proper characters to represent this City in the assembly and Congress, have rejected G. L. Mumford and George Clinton Junr. The Clinton party warmly supported Mumford. Peter Townsend one of our warm friends openly denounced him. We carried by a hansome vote. The Committee is ours. Of course the Assembly Ticket will...
16To James Madison from Anonymous, 26 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
In No. 1 I informed you that the republican party in this City & State were ready to denounce De Witt Clinton if they discovered any further dereliction of principal, & that they would have coupled him with Cheetham if they had not thought it policy to seperate them for the moment. Cheetham is confined to the limits & in all probability will be for a long time to come. De Witt is obliged to...
17To James Madison from Anonymous, 7 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
The ambition & intrigues of De Witt Clinton have outstriped prediction. Indeed he has outdone himself with the federalists. His directions of Cheethams press in the abuse of the administration & the embargo measure, his attempts to get the old man nominated at Albany, his tyrany in directing the Council of Appointment to acts of violence & oppression, has so far divided the republican party,...
18To James Madison from Anonymous, 9 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
filed with February 7, 1808 Agreeable to public notice we meet last evening in our respective Wards to appoint our Committees of nomination. Great exertions were made by the Clintonians to place their friends on the committees. I am of opinion that we have got the majority in favour of the Administration of the General Government, the Clintonians voting for many of our friends supposing them...
19To James Madison from Anonymous, 25 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
A meeting of the republicans of the second ward will take place tomorrow evening to express their opinion of Cheetham in relation to his Attack on our able & worthy friend James Townsend. Mr. Townsend stands high in the republican ranks He is justly estimated for his disinterested patriotism. There is no period in ten Years that the party would not have sent him to the State Legislature or to...
20To James Madison from Anonymous, 17 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
the vessel of the state is now between three Dreadful shoals. 1o. the corruption from the Gold of England 2o. the Traitors, instruments of the English Ambition and avarice 3o. the Carryers, instruments of Both, Britain and traitors. in Extraordinary Cases ordinary Means are not sufficient. you are certainly sensible of the intrigues of your Ennemies, in Disorganizing, as much as they can your...
21To James Madison from Anonymous, 8 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
The result of the election, in three of the counties which have felt the tyranny of De Witts council of appointment, & the Apostacy of Masters Marston , led all parties to calculate on the triumph of federalism in this State. Subsequent information from the western District leaves no doubt on my mind of a very small majority for the Republican party in the Assembly. The Senate are sound. I am...
22To James Madison from Anonymous, 29 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed pamphlet is sent you by a Federalist, who sincerely desires your election to the Chief Magistracy. He has no views to office, for there is none which he would accept. He has nothing to ask for his friends. They, with but few exceptions, differ from him in his choice. His motives in writing to you are purely disinterested, unless indeed his interest in the prosperity of his...
23To James Madison from Anonymous, 17 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that a caucus was held in this City on the 13th. Inst. composed of a part of our representation from this County in the State Legislature & several of the old & most respectable of the republican party. Colo. Rutgers Attended & to my surprise advocated the Washington nomination, he stated that altho’ strongly attached to George Clinton & feeling mortified at...
24To James Madison from Anonymous, 5 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
Ought a man who has violated the embargo law to have a commission under the government i am sure you will say no. Then before you give iohn barney (who I am told is applying for a captaincy in the n avy) one inquire who owned the schooner Sloath capt. Macey which vessel loaded with flour for Orleans befor the supplement to the embargo and went in to the havanna with one of the owners on board...
25To James Madison from Anonymous, 11 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
filed with February 7, 1808 A grand federal caucus was held at the House of Richard Harisons last evening, composed of Rufus King, Hufman, Pendleton, Riggs, Wolcott, Rey &c&c. Four of the Gentlemen left this for Albany this morning in a Coach & four for the purpoes of forming a coalition with Dewitt Clinton in support of old George for President. The enclosed production I believe to be their...