1From James Madison to John Armstrong, 2 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
The Officers of the French Government in St Domingo having made that Government a debtor to Mr Tucker of Massachusetts by a restraint which left him no alternative, Mr Pichon undertook to liquidate the compensation due, for which he delivered Mr Tucker a draft on Paris. On the presentation of this draft payment has been refused on account of an alledged defect of authority in Mr Pichon. It has...
2From James Madison to John Armstrong, 14 March 1806 (Madison Papers)
The rein given by Great Britain thro’ the arbitrary decisions of her Admiralty Courts to the Cruizers against our commerce, has produced already heavy losses to our merchants, and a very general indignation throughout the nation. You will have observed the notice taken of the British conduct in the Message of the President to Congress at the opening of the Session. I now transmit a copy of a...
3From James Madison to John Armstrong, 14 March 1809 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 14 March 1809. Offered for sale in Charles Hamilton Catalogue No. 80 (5 Sept. 1974), item 275, which describes the one-page letter as a request that Armstrong obtain French permission to import merino sheep, noting that the letter reads in part: “The value of this breed to our Country is now generally understood, and acquisitions of specimens are acceptable services to the...
4From James Madison to John Armstrong, 6 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
On reviewing the letters from you not yet acknowledged I find them under the following dates, viz 12th Novr. 24. 25. & 30th Decr 14th Feby and 18th March last. I have the pleasure to observe to you that the President entirely approves the just and dignified answer given to the venal suggestions emanating from the French functionaries as explained in your letter of the 24th of December. The...
5From James Madison to John Armstrong, 11 October 1813 (Madison Papers)
The communications which you will recee: from & thro the War Office present the state of things produced on our Southern Frontier by the Creek War: & by the start it has had of the movements for meeting it. It is of so much importance that it should recee. a decisive blow, before the success of the Creeks shall have operated on the other Tribes & on the views of the English & Spaniards, as...
6From James Madison to John Armstrong, [3 June 1814] (Madison Papers)
J. Madison requests a consultation with the Heads of Department on Tuesday next at Eleven OClock. June 3. 1814. The object is to decide on the plan of campaign which our means, miltary & naval, render most eligible. In the mean time the Secretary of War will cause to be made out & send over, RC ( PHi : Daniel Parker Papers); draft ( DLC ); Tr ( DLC , series 3). RC cover bears Armstrong’s note:...
7From James Madison to John Armstrong, 26 October 1806 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of June 2. last to the Secretary of State was recd. during my late recess in Virginia, where it could not be conveniently answered; and since my return, I have till now been prevented by indisposition from giving it the proper attention. From a search into the correspondence of the Commissioners of which you wish a copy, I find that no part of it can have relation to the period of...
8From James Madison to John Armstrong, 30 October 1813 (Madison Papers)
Before my return hither I recd. yours of the 8th. inst: and have since recd. those of the 11th. 13. 17. & 20: The order relating to a discharge of Militia from Norfolk referred to in the first was not inclosed in it, and has not come otherwise to hand. There can be no question, under existing circumstances, but as to the degree in which the force at that place, may be prudently reduced. The...
9From James Madison to John Armstrong, [29 December] 1813 (Madison Papers)
Besides the answer to Genl. McClure, it may be proper to instruct Genl. Wilkinson to say frankly to Prevost that the burning of Newark was the effect of misapprehension in the officer, not an order from the Govt. This may be done in terms neither authorizing an inference that the measure exceeds a just retaliation, nor precluding a reflection on the facility with which a perseverance of the...
10From James Madison to John Armstrong, 13 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
On viewing the course which the proceedings of the War-Department have not unfrequently taken, I find that I owe it to my own responsibility as well as to other considerations, to make some remarks on the relations in which the Head of the Department stands to the President, and to lay down some rules for conducting the business of the Department, which are dictated by the nature of those...
11From James Madison to John Armstrong, 15 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
A Commission by which the President appoints you Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to the French Republic is herewith inclosed, with a letter of credence to the First Consul. The delivery of these will be an occasion of which you will avail yourself to assure the French Government of the continuance of those friendly dispositions which the United States have hitherto expressed, and...
12From James Madison to John Armstrong, 27 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
The Enemy having evacuated the City of Washington & no obstacle remaining to a re-union of the members of the Executive there, J. Madison requests that this may take place with as little delay as may be. RC ( DNA : RG 107, LRRS , P-80:8). In JM ’s hand. Docketed as received in the War Department in August 1814.
13From James Madison to John Armstrong, 4 May 1814 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. your letter of the 1st. inst: suggesting a recall of the vessels allotted for L. Huron &c. with a view to another destination of them. The force which can be assembled at the East end of L. Erie, by the 10th. of June is greater than I had relied on; and if employed towards Burlington heights & York, can not fail to have a salutary effect in different directions. Whether it...
14To James Madison from John Armstrong, 7 June 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 June 1813, War Department. “I have the honor respectfully to propose for your approbation the following appointments in the Army of the United States.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 107, LSP ). 2 pp. The appended list of nineteen appointments to the infantry and general staff of the U.S. Army included those of David R. Williams as Brigadier General and James Tilton as Physician and Surgeon...
15From James Madison to John Armstrong, 30 July 1814 (Madison Papers)
It ought certainly to be at the discretion of Izard to accommodate his movements to those of the Enemy, and to his information from the other Commanders. The question as to Col: Drayton appears to be precluded, by the list of original vacancies which includes none of his former rank. Tr ( DLC , series 3). Headed: “Note To the Secretary of War on Izard’s letter of July 19.—asking if he ought...
16From James Madison to John Armstrong, [ca. 4 February 1814] (Madison Papers)
J. M wishes a conversation on this proposal of Genl. M. & on the recent one of General Taylor, when it will be most convenient for the Secretary of War, to call for the purpose. RC ( PHi : Daniel Parker Papers). Undated; conjectural date assigned based on evidence in n. 1. On 24 Jan. 1814 John Mason returned to Armstrong letters from Virginia militia Brig. Gen. Robert B. Taylor regarding the...
17From James Madison to John Armstrong, 29 October 1810 (Madison Papers)
Your two favors of the 6th. & 25 of May were both recd. tho’ at a late day. Of the latter a duplicate has also come to hand. The Consular Register of Paris, has, I find been transmitted to the Dept. of State instead of remaining in the Office there. It has been examined with a view to that part of your letter which supposed it to contain a Deposition meant to implicate your name in a certain...
18Madison’s Draft of Robert Smith to John Armstrong, 5 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
I avail myself of the oppy. by Mr. to forward copies of my several letters lately written to you; & to add the present. The arrival of the J. Adams brought your letters of the following dates . From that of the 16th. April, it appears that the seizures of Amn. property lately made, had been followed up by its actual sale, & that the proceeds had been deposited in the Emperors Caisse prive. You...
19From James Madison to John Armstrong, 5 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
With the exception of several letters on special subjects, my last was dated on the 24th of November; since which I have received from Mr Livingston his letters of Septr. 14 & 21st & October 10 & 23d, and yours of the 20th of October 1804. Congress did not adjourn till the night of the 3d instant. The greater part of their Acts were passed in a late stage of the session, and a number of them...
20From James Madison to John Armstrong, 6 September 1804 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 6 September 1804, Department of State. Offered for sale by B. Altman & Co. (advertisement, Wall Street Journal , 15 July 1973), where it is represented as a one-page letter stating that U.S. claims regarding debts contracted by the French in Saint-Domingue have not been met nor has Livingston reported on the matter. JM asks to be informed about the probability and time of...
21From James Madison to John Armstrong, 15 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
Note to Secy of War on a letter of Jennings Dy: Coy. of purchases, and an endorsemt. by the Secy. of War: & on a letter &c. from Genl. Cushing relating to attack on Stonington. As a little time will probably decide as to the force allotted by the Enemy to the Chesapeake, it may be as well not to reject the addl. 500. called out by Govr. Barbour for the security of Richd. & that Quarter. The...
22From James Madison to John Armstrong, 2 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
From the period when the misunderstandings between France and the United States encouraged the Agents and cruizers of the former in the year 1797 to fall upon the trade of the United States, till the capture of Curaçoá, this Island served as a station for Commissioning and fitting out privateers, for holding judicial proceedings over prizes, for selling them, and in short could scarcely be...
23From James Madison to John Armstrong, 19 June 1814 (Madison Papers)
The apparent objections to the proposed establishment of a post, so distant, are very strong. Much weight however is due to the concurring opinions of Govr. Clarke and General Howard; both men of Judgment and possessed of many advantages for a correct exercise of it in such a case. RC ( PHi : Daniel Parker Papers); draft ( DLC ); Tr ( DLC , series 3). Draft includes JM ’s heading: “Note on a...
24From James Madison to John Armstrong, 18 July 1814 (Madison Papers)
Wanted copies of the instructions to General Brown, for carrying into effect the plan of operations, agreed on in the Cabinet on the 7th. of June. Copies of the instructions to General Winder on his taking command of his Military district, and since. The Secretary will let me see the requisitions of Militia to be placed between this place and Baltimore before they go forward. Tr ( DLC , series...
25From James Madison to John Armstrong, 2 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
Note on Genl. Lewis letter to Secy. W. July 28. 1814. asking whether he is to Judge of the menace of invasion requiring calls for Militia. Genl. Lewis, as other Commanders of Districts, shd. be authorized to call for militia according to the danger threatened. Where the cases are not too urgent they ought to be reported for previous sanction here: When the urgency will not permit this delay,...
26From James Madison to John Armstrong, 10 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my last of June 29th to Mr Livingston I have received his several communications under the dates of the 25 & 26th of July 8th. 28 & 29th of August & 4th of September. The course which the proceedings under the Convention for indemnifying our Citizens, has taken, seems to require no particular addition to the remarks and instructions already in your hands, until the result of them shall...
27From James Madison to John Armstrong, 8 September 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours from Albany of the 28th. ult. So much depends on the ultimate character of the present campaign, that whilst I hav⟨e⟩ the fullest confidence that the best exertions will be made, I cannot suppress my anxieties; and the less so, as one of the elements on which we are to act is of so inconstant a nature. The loss of our command of Lake Champlain, at so critical a moment, is...
28From James Madison to John Armstrong, 17 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
Note to Secy. of War on Cushing’s letter & enclosures of Aug. 12. 1814. Cushing seems to view the extraordinary threat of Hardy in its proper light. It was determined before the Secy. of State left the City, that Mrs. Stewart on whom the misbehaviour of her husband ought not to be visited, might be removed to him, whenever Gen Cushing thought no injury could result from intelligence she might...
29From James Madison to John Armstrong, 25 August 1805 (Madison Papers)
It is represented by the parties interested in the ship New Jersey and cargo, for which indemnity is claimed under the late Convention with France, that a disallowance of the claim is likely to proceed from an idea that Insurers do not in such cases take the place of the Insured. As the Convention has provided for its own exposition and execution, it has been thought best that these should be...
30From James Madison to John Armstrong, 26 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
Your account dated 25th December last, which has not been examined at the Treasury for want of the vouchers, containing a charge for Office furniture, it is necessary to apprize you that such an allowance has never been made and cannot therefore at the Treasury, be admitted. The Commissioners under the Louisiana Convention have deposited with Mr Skipwith the papers, furniture and utensils of...