31To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, 26 May 1813 (Madison Papers)
The military operations pursuing this year, are so similar to those recommended by me last year, (anonymously, it is true, but not concealedly) that I have felt less apprehension than I otherwise should, as to their issue. The project of cutting the snake in two, or of compressing so closely & strictly in the middle, all it’s channells of circulation as to occasion the perishing of the upper...
32To 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...
33To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, 14 July 1813 (Madison Papers)
There are few, very few indeed, to whom the intelligence of your recovery from a late dangerous illness, has afforded a more sincere & heartfelt pleasure, as well from considerations purely personal, as those which regard our beloved country’s welfare and tranquillity. I almost tremble, sir, when I think of the contentions, divisions & disasters, to which your sudden removal at this critical...
34To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, 26 October 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...
35To 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,...
36To 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...
37To 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...
38To 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...
39To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, 25 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 25 May 1802. Acknowledged in Daniel Brent to Dayton, 29 May 1802 (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14). Requests a copy of the acts of the second session of the Seventh Congress and a copy of the agreement between the U.S. and Georgia. Brent replied that “when the printing is compleated which is to form the first part of the 6th. Volume of the laws of the United States, and to comp[r]ise...
40To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, 9 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
The subject on which I addressed you some time ago anonymously, involved in it some personal, as well as political and national considerations, but the course which the elections have taken in several States, especially in your own, will defeat by a silent operation the secret machinations & intrigues alluded to. That event will now indisputably terminate happily. Another project originating...
41To 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...
42To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, 30 April 1813 (Madison Papers)
Anxious that our military operations in the ensuing campaign should be every where successful, I hasten to communicate, in consequence of the permission, so flatteringly given me, a few hints, in relation to those about to be conducted against the two Canadas. If the views of our Government be limited to the acquiring of the command of the two lakes Ontario & Erie, & the reduction of the whole...
43To James Madison from Jonathan Dayton, 4 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
I hope & trust I shall not be regarded as an obtrusive correspondent, having no other motive, as must now be manifest, than the public good. The present position of the British fleet, & the gradual withdrawal of every ship which can be spared from the blockade of N. York & N. London to strengthen their force in the Chesapeak, induce me to believe that they contemplate some important expedition...
44To 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...
45To 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...
46Enclosure: Jonathan Dayton to Theodore Sedgwick, [12 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I cannot forbear my dear friend to congratulate you on your appointment to a seat in the Senate, altho it is impossible for me not to lament your separation from the House of Representatives where you could have been more useful. I know you too well to suppose that you can regard with indifference the preparations which are making for the approaching election of a President. Is not the success...
47Enclosure: Jonathan Dayton to Theodore Sedgwick, [13 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
This will be delivered to you by a young man who was going to transact some business up the North river, & whom, since writing the other letter, I have engaged to call upon you with it, & to bring me your answer. Every moments reflection serves only to impress me more with the importance of our fixing upon some plan of cooperation to defeat the designs of Mr. J——’s friends. If Mr. A. cannot...
48To George Washington from Jonathan Dayton, 1 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform your Excellency that Lieut. MacDonald formerly of the 71st British but last of the King’s Orange Rangers has made his escape from New York by way of Staaten Island to this post. He tells me that the injury which has been done him in point of rank, the ill treatment he has received from his Colonel and his attachment to America & her cause, joined to the consideration...
49To George Washington from Jonathan Dayton, 22 June 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Jonathan Dayton, 22 June 1790. Letter listed in American Clipper, January 1943.
50To George Washington from Jonathan Dayton, 21 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
Mr Skinner, whose immediate departure did not afford me an opportunity of writing upon the subject, has without doubt reported to your Excellency the circumstance of the detention of Mr Lenox Depy Commissary of naval prisoners, his vessel and the hands as prisoners, agreable to your Excellency’s orders communicated by a letter to Colonel Dayton some time since. They will be continued at this...
51To George Washington from Jonathan Dayton, 13 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
Upon the return of Colonel Stewart to Camp, I put into his hands to be delivered to your Excellency the latest English and New York papers which I could collect. I have now the honor of enclosing to your Excellency the hand bill of yesterday relating to the engagement upon the 12th Ultimo, between the French and English fleets, lest report might have given to the story a degree of truth and...
52To George Washington from Jonathan Dayton, 23 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour and happiness of communicating to your Excellency the agreable and important news of the capture of the whole Island of Minorca the 17th of February by our allies and of the treaty offensive and defensive between France and the States of Holland which has been lately concluded. These events we learn from a vessel which has just arrived in a short passage from Lisbon and from...
53To George Washington from Jonathan Dayton, 9 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
Having delivered to the Secretary of the Treasury, pursuant to the 2nd Section of the Act of Congress entitled “An Act authorizing the grant & conveyance of certain lands to John Cleves Symmes & his associates,” military warrants sufficient to pay for One hundred & six thousand eight hundred & fifty seven acres of land, I am prepared, as Agent for, & the associate of, said Symmes to carry into...
54I. To George Washington from Captain Jonathan Dayton, 7 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by Colo: Dayton to inform your excellency that the enemy landed this night at 12 oClock, from the best intelligence four or five thousand men & Twelve field pieces, & it is his conjecture they intend to penetrate into the country. I am your excelly’s most hum. servt ALS , DLC:GW . Jonathan Dayton (d. 1824), son of Col. Elias Dayton, joined his father’s 3d New Jersey Regiment as...
55To George Washington from Jonathan Dayton, 18 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour of writing to your Excellency the 13th and of enclosing the latest English papers for your Excellency’s perusal. I now take advantage of Mr Skinner’s departure for the army to acquaint your Excellency with such circumstances as have come with in my knowledge relating to the enemy, as well as to forward the papers of the 15th & yesterday. A fleet of about forty sail of...
56To George Washington from Jonathan Dayton, 12 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s letter of the 24th to Colonel Dayton as it very nearly affected me by declaring your Excellency’s displeasure and disapprobation of my conduct was communicated to me by him. From the mistaken report which appears to have been made to your Excellency upon this occasion I should be justly censured for a deviation from, and disobedience of, my orders; but, I trust, when every...
57To George Washington from Jonathan Dayton, 21 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have been informed that the bill for funding the Continental debt which has passed the House of Representatives and is at present under consideration & discussion in the Senate, provides for the appointment of a Commissioner in each state to aid in carrying the system into execution. I take the liberty, sir, of addressing you upon the subject, and of offering myself as a candidate for that...