1To John Adams from Matthew Lyon, 4 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
Four years ago this day you became President of the United States, and I a Representative of the People in Congress; this day has brought us once more on a level, the acquaintance we have had together entitles me to the Liberty I take, when you are about to depart for Quincey, (by and with the concent and advice of the good people of the United States) to bid you a hearty farewell; this...
2To James Madison from Matthew Lyon, 21 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
21 January 1804, Washington. “The inclosed is a letter from Mr Dinmore which I intended to have laid before you in the conversation yesterday on the subject to which it referrs.” Presumes JM will pardon his “Officiousness in reviveing that subject by sending the letter for your Consideration.” RC and enclosure ( DLC ). RC 1 p. For enclosure, see n. 1. The enclosure is Richard Dinmore to Lyon,...
3To James Madison from Matthew Lyon, 26 January 1810 (Madison Papers)
Had not Mr Brent came in & interupted our Conversation I should have mentioned some applications to me from Kentucky to Solicit the Appointment of Governor of Louisiana Territory Particularly one from John Rowan Esqr in behalf of Joseph H Davies Esqr. Mr Rowan calls Mr Davies an honest federalist, & presumes that you will have no Objection to Call forth tallents such as Mr Davies Possesses in...
20 February 1811, Washington. Encloses a resolution of the General Assembly of Kentucky “respecting the extinguishment of the Indian claim to the Territory lying South of River Tennessee, & within the limits of the Southern boundary of Kentucky.” Expresses confidence that the executive will make “reasonable exertions” to extinguish the claim. RC and enclosure ( DNA : RG 107, LRRS , L-147:5)....
5To James Madison from Matthew Lyon, 28 November 1811 (Madison Papers)
By this time you must be convinced of the folly of Treating the Savages as the lords of the Soil & purchaseing of any set of them what they offer for sale at the price they are put up to ask for it by some Villanous white man or men amoung them. The late battle near the Wabash in which so many of our fellow citizens have lost their lives, has for its foundation claims of Indians to lands which...
6To James Madison from Matthew Lyon, 14 February 1813 (Madison Papers)
I do not write with a view to vex or perplex you. A Constitutional majority of my Country has (against my will) confided to you the political concerns of the Nation for four years more. I pray to God that the follies, the weakness, the disasters & disgraces that have belittled the Nation the last four years will not be repeated or continued. I write to give advice notwithstanding all that I...
7To James Madison from Matthew Lyon, 22 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have long had a desire to make a Visit to England where my only surviveing sister lives. Altho I must confess the expence of the Voyage has been an objection with me Yet the principal reason why I have not Indulged this desire has been a necessary attention to my public duties & private Concerns. These obstacles are now removed. I am to be here on the 22d. of May and cannot therefore expect...
8To James Madison from Matthew Lyon, 24 January 1809 (Madison Papers)
After writing my note to you of the 22d. I requested my friends Pope & Holland to wait on you to explain my views, with an intention that they should be able to inform me if there were any Reasons appertaining to State policy against my going to England at this time. They haveing led me to consider there is none and informed me that there was a part of The Ship that was not taken up for the...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 1 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Being sensible that Jabez Fitch Marshal of Vermont has no title to the good opinion of any honest man I cannot suppose he will be sufferd to remain one day in office to disgrace the Administration of the Man he has so often Cursed and defamed— Three Candidates have applied to me to be recomended to that appointment either of whom are Qualified to perform the duties of the Office, I think it...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 3 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Both the last times I had the pleasure of speaking with you on the Subject of appointments in Vermont it sliped my mind to Mention the US Attorney in that District, the present Attorney is Charles Marsh a Violent Federalist. I have no particular cause of complaint against him, but several friends have wrote me wishing him to be displaced. we have but two Respectable Republican Lawyers in the...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 4 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
You’ll doubtless be surprised to see a letter from me dated at this place and at this time. An unforeseen accidental bussness led me to Philadelphia and another peice of bussness brought me this far out of my road from there to N Geneva— The purport of this is to request that Our Minister at the Court of London be directed to pay the necessary attention to the case of General Ira Allen and his...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 12 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
In this remote Situation I can have but a very imperfect view of the affairs of the great part of the United States, yet I read enough to give me infinite pleasure to see your popularity increases even beyond my very sanguine expectations. In this Country you have always stood without a Rival; those that I have seen on my way from the Seat of Goverment to this place who formerly adheared to Mr...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 26 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
A Circumstance has just come to my knowledge which reminds me of my annual tribute of a letter to the President, It is the Death of Judge Clark of the Indiana Territory —Perhaps you may recolect the third person I recomended as Marshal of the District of Vermont in April 1801, his name is James Witherill he is now of the Legislative Council of Vermont and one of the Judges of the County Court...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 17 December 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Some weeks since I took the liberty of mentioning to you the Situation of the Alexandria Expositor and the low & discourageing state of the means of its support, since that time the hope of Aid from the government has kept the paper from fainting & drooping under the Terrors & effects of poverty—Since I have been here I have I believe done every thing in my power to encourage Mr Dinmore to...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 26 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
It is some time since I took the liberty of mentioning the name of John Emmerson Esqr of Green County, Kentucky as a suitable person for a Judge in one of the Territories of the US, and that I had been solicited by many of his neighbors & acquaintance to recomend him as such to the notice of the cheif Majistrate of the Union— Amoung the many recomendations of Mr Emmerson I have received I must...
16To Thomas Jefferson from John Fowler and Matthew Lyon, 13 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. John Clay of the City of New Orleans is desirous of being appointed Surveyor and Inspector of that port—we beg leave to state that Mr. Clay is a young Gentleman of respectable connections—was born in Virginia—raised in Kentucky—bread a Merchant—did business as such for several years in Lexington Kentucky—has spent nearly two years in Spain & France—but for the four last years has resided...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 26 February 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The Editor of the enclosed new Work called the Ohio & Missisipi Navigator has requested me to present it to you in his name— As I believe the little work will be useful & that the Western people are beholden to him for his industry I chearfully comply with his request and am very respectfully your very hble Servt DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
18To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 22 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The interest I feel in every thing which concerns your Charracter will I hope serve as an Apology for my presenting to your view a paragraph in the inclosed circular Letter against which I have drew my pen, I hope I shall be pardoned when I say that the Sentiment there expressed is more or less in the mouths of your best friends—I have been a friend to General Wilkinson for near 30 years I...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 22 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
You will pardon the anxiety of A friend who is solicitous not only for your reputation; but for the welfare of his neighbors in Louisiana when he says that if you leave the place of Governor of that Territory unsupplied until the riseing of Congress, your enemies will say that you mean to keep the emoluments of that Office for General Wilkinson and the place open for him to go there to commit...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 26 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
When I had the honour of waiting on you a day or two since on the subject of the Judge to be appointed in the new Western circuit I do not recolect your mentioning the name of Ninian Edwards amoung those you seemed to consider candidates. I feel it my duty to present his name to you that he may stand with the other Candidates for that office— He is a gentleman of a regular law education, he...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 5 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed has just now been put into my hands. one reason, namely, the people of the district haveing no constitutional organ of communikation with the Executive has induced me to lay it before you The writer Mr Summers is an inteligent and sincere republican attached to the Administration. he is a man highly esteemed by your obedient Hble Servt DNA : RG 59—LAR—Letters of Application and...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 30 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have lately seen an account of the Death of Thos T Davis in a newspaper—previous to that Gentlemans appointment to the office of Judge in the Indiana Territory I wrote you from Kentucky recomending Judge Witherill of Vermont for that Office and I understood that recomendation was seconded by the Vermont deligation— General Bradley Judges Smith, Olin, & my self have since taken the liberty to...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 9 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I was about to call on you last tuesday & wished to have done so every day since but could not absent my self from the house on account of the question for removing the Seat of Government. My object in calling was merely to acquaint You that my letters from the Westward express a great anxiety least the Savages be let loose upon the people Unawares & before they are alarmed & prepared. I meant...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 3 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Last Evening I received a letter from the Honble Ninian Edwards Cheif Justice of Kentucky requesting me to use my influence with the President of the US in behalf of Mr Talbot of Frankfort whom he had recomended in a letter to the President for the office of Attorney of the US for the District of Kentucky Mr Talbot I am not personally acquainted with but presume from the Solicitude with which...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 6 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed Petition has been inclosed to me with a letter from gentlemen of Respectability in the Illinois Country pressing me in the most earnest manner to use my influence for the promotion of its object— I consider it my duty to forward it to you without any farther remarks as I can say nothing new on the Subject I am very respectfully your Obedient Servt DNA : RG 59—LAR—Letters of...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 24 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
At a time like the present when the attention of American Patriots is turned toward Manufactures, A time when there appears to be the utmost necessity for every exertion to bring into action all the energies, all the obvious and even all the latent resources of this Nation, when every American wishes to realize to the World that we are an Independant people, I take the liberty of reminding you...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Matthew Lyon, 13 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
When I am about to address you perhaps for the last time as chief Majistrate in favor of a friend, I will not for a moment suffer the Vulgar opinion to prevail with me, that because I have dissented from the Course you have persued with regard to our foreign affairs my wishes will be disregarded respecting the arrangements which are necessarily connected with the management of our internal...