James Madison Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Campbell, Arthur"
sorted by: editorial placement
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/02-02-02-0604

To James Madison from Arthur Campbell, 25 January 1802

From Arthur Campbell

Washington County Jany. 25. 180⟨2⟩

Dear sir

I take the liberty to introduce to your notice, a Mr. Hargrove of the City of Baltimore, lately known as the Editor of a publication entitled the Temple of Truth.1 He is lately from misfortunes, become rathe⟨r⟩ straitned in his circumstances, and woul⟨d⟩ now be glad of accepting some public employment in the City he lives, that may be in the gift of the President or the heads of some of the Departments. I might mention to you one circumstance that would excuse this application in his behalf; He was a zealous labourer in 1800 to bring about the presen⟨t⟩ pleasing order of things, as some of the Baltimore printers can evince. But what will go farther he is an honest Man, of strict integrety. He may be something eccentric in his religious tenets, but his notions on that subject will be a security for his honesty. For my own part, I value original geniuses, that dare to think, and speak, different from the multitude, if they believe truth to be on their side. Thus our worthy President, dared to be something else, than a servile imitator of European customs, and thus he elevates the character of his Countrymen.

To be plain, I wish to see Mr. Hargrove holpen, in order to be useful in life, and I wish it to come from the President more than from any one else, for a weighty reason, that he may be known to countenance a Man, who professes to be a Champion for True Christianity. I believe an humble place would be accepted, in either the Post-Office Department, or that of the Revenue, that would bring in about one thousand Dollars annually. I write these lines without his knowlege and if the boon reaches him before the last of March, it will give great joy, to a small helpless family, and I think a very worthy Man.2 I am Sir, with Respect your most obedient servt.

Arthur Campbell

Index Entries