1From James Madison to Alexander James Dallas (Abstract), 29 May 1805 (Madison Papers)
29 May 1805, Department of State . “I had the honor to lay your communication of the 13th. inst: [not found] before the President, who thinks it expedient that you take the proper steps to have the decision in the case of the Mercator brought before the Supreme Court of the U:States, in order that the proper decision may have the highest judicial sanction.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL ,...
2From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 13 March 1815 (Madison Papers)
In pursuance of the authority vested in me by Law, I do hereby request and authorise you, during the absence of the Secy of War, to perform the Duties of that office. RC (owned by Alexander D. Wainwright, Princeton, N.J., 1957). In a clerk’s hand, signed and dated by JM . JM nominated William Harris Crawford as secretary of war on 2 Mar. 1815, and the Senate confirmed the appointment the...
3From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 14 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
I recd. by the Mail of this morning your two letters of the 11th. & 12th. instant, with the several papers to which they refer. That of the 9th. came to hand yesterday. The construction of the 5 Sect: of the Act fixing the Mil: Establishment is not without difficulty. Do not the terms & interpretation of former Acts of Congs. determine the question whether “men” means privates &c. only, or...
4From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 16 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
I receive by the Mail of this morning your two letters of the 13 & 14. The letter for Genl. Jackson, cannot be improved, and I lose no time in returning it. The cases recommended by Gen. Scott for brevets, are strong ones, and I suppose cannot well be rejected. I am aware with you however that these honorary commissions, already so much multiplied, are in danger of losing their value. If you...
5From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 18 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two letters of the 15 & 16. inst: I approve the transfers you propose, in the army appropriations, and will give the formal sanction to them, as soon as I receive the usual document for signature. I approve also the course you have in view for winding up the affairs of the Army, and am glad to find that you will be able so far to overcome the pecuniary difficulties. I have...
6From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 19 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have at length run thro’ the trial of Gen: Wilkinson, and send it to you, with an approbation of the sentence of the Court. I send also the trial of Capt: Hanson with a decision conformable to the sentence & recommendation of the Court in his case. Affe. respects RC ( CSmH ). Docketed by Dallas. For Maj. Gen. James Wilkinson’s 1815 court-martial, see Henry Dearborn to JM , 26 Jan. 1815 ,...
7From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 20 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of . I wish that the arrival of Brown, may have been followed by a compromise satisfactory to Ripley. If it should not, the case of the latter becomes unpleasant in several respects. Can a Court of Enquiry be refused if he insists on it? I am led to believe that if disappointed altogether, he will think himself bound to lay his case before the public. It must be...
8From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 23 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 20th. and return the correspondence with Genl: Ripley. I hope it will be followed by all the advantages which it promises. I rcd. yesterday from Mr. Graham a blank brevet Commission for him. It was suggested that a reference might be inserted to the Resolution of Congs. Unless some valuable purpose wd. be attained by it, it may be best to decline a precedent which...
9From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 25 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
The Mail due yesterday having failed I did not receive till this morning your communications dated on the 2 2d. inst. As it appears that no legal consideration is opposed to the appt. of Bissel & Smith to Regts. their just claims to that arrangement can not be doubted. The brevets to them may be issued when you chuse. It has been mentioned that Smith wd. gladly accept the Creek agency, which...
10From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 28 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
I am just favored with yours of the 25th. The paper inclosed in it is returned without delay. It is well adapted to its delicate object. I have merely noted for your consideration, a change of expression in page 3. “the enjoyment of undisturbed rights &a;” not being secured , like the renown of the Army; and another in page 4th. in order to guard agst. the criticisms of those who may not have...
11From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 29 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter, tho’ anonymous, makes statements & references, in a manner which is embarrassing at the present moment. Should the posture of the military arrangements, admit nothing farther, the location of the officer thus criminated, ought at least to be influenced by the representations, unless these be invalidated in some mode or other, before the final allotments be made to military...
12From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 4 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
The Waggons with Mr. Jefferson’s Library are on their way to Washington, and will expect to be paid on their arrival. Not having the law on the subject of that purchase, I know not whether it includes an appropriation for the expence of transportation, or leaves this to be paid out of any other & what fund. I must ask you to decide this point, & have the Waggoners paid without delay. They are...
13From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 4 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. your several letters of and of May 2. The views you have taken of the late intelligence from France will justly claim all our attention. Should war ensue between G. B. & F. our great objects will be to save our peace & our rights from the effect of it; and whether war ensue or not, to take advantage of the crisis, to adjust our interests with both. It is particularly...
14From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 7 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have this morning recd. yours of the 5 inst: those of the 3 & 4. having previously come to hand. They are accompanied by the Reports of the Board of Officers, on the organization of the Army—on the plan for establishing a N. & S. division Military Depts. &c. &c—and respecting Hospital Surgeons, Judge Advocates & Chaplains. It were to be wished that the act relating to the Peace Establishment...
15From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 10 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I now return the General Report of the Military Board on the organization of the Army. I have not found among the officers retained some whose merits I had supposed, would have placed them on the list of selections; but I have great confidence in the intelligence & dispositions of the Board, & am ready to presume that those preferred have titles to distinction better known to them, than to me;...
16From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 11 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
In the haste of my last letter to you, I omitted to notice the wish of Genl. Scott, for permission to visit Europe, without a discontinuance of official emoluments. He is certainly entitled to every admissible indulgence, and in this case, the public interests might be promoted, by the military instruction he might acquire on that theatre. His departure will of course be under the controul,...
17From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 14 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 12th. is duly recd. The result of the consultation on the discharge of the Army, and the expedition agst. Algiers is entirely satisfactory. That relating to the question of diplomatic measures required by the crisis is so also. My own idea was rather to ripen the subject for decision, than to act on it before the intelligence daily expected from Europe, and particularly from our...
18From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 15 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 13th. is recd. and I return the outline of what you propose with the approbation desired, which may be acted on, or reconsidered, in any of its parts, as you judge best. This discretion is suggested by a question whether, the orders relating to the military Depts. and to the distribution of the Corps, ought to be combined with that relating to the reduction and organization of the...
19From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 16 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two letters both of the 14th. I know of no objection to your proposed additions to or changes in the list of retained officers, unless it may be in the erasure of B. Peyton. If he be the young gentleman who has been employed at or in the neighbourhood of Charlottesville (Va). I have heard him spoken of as […] ⟨m⟩erit, & much esteemed by some whose esteem would be an […]⟨t⟩. I...
20From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 17 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
The arrangement proposed in yours of the 14th. just recd. with respect to Majrs. Butler & Hayne, appear to be eligible, tho’ the latter may not find it convenient, being, I understand, an inhabitant of S.C., to be allotted to the N. Division of the Army. It is desirable to gratify Gen. Jackson, and it is fortunate that in this case it can be done, with an accom[m]odation at the same time to...
21From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 19 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 16. is recd. The Army report was returned some time ago. There have of late been delays between this & Fredg. owing to inattention at the P.O. there, which may account for your not having recd. the reports. There must have been a miscarriage altogether of the Document transferring appropriations. I now return a Duplicate sent me from the War Department. I am apprehensive that some...
22From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 21 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours without date, inclosing the letters from Mr. Hall & Mr. Forsythe which are now returned. A letter was lately sent to the Secy. of State from Govr. Early, recommending a successor to Mr. Harris, as District Attorney for Georgia. I forget whether it was the same gentleman as is the subject of the letters from Messr. H. & F. If it was, the appt of Mr. Davis may take place;...
23From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 24 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 20 & 21. to which the arrival of the mail enables me to add, that of the 22d. I return the letter from Genl. Jackson inclosed in the first, and the letters from Forsyth, Russel Govr. Holmes, and Jessup inclosed in the 2d. The last is a very interesting document, and shews the writer to be a man of excellent sense, as well as a shining warrior. The aspect of things in...
24From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 27 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
It is represented to me, from a very respectable source in Kentucky, that Messrs. Ward & Taylor, (army Contractors) are men of real patriotism & integrity, that their services have been particularly critical & meritorious, and that they are threatened with absolute ruin, in consequence of their pecuniary exertions, unless they can be immediately aided by anticipations of what will be due to...
25From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 30 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
Since my last I have recd. the inclosed from the two W. Contractors. I have determined to set out for Washington on the 1st. of June, and shall probably have the pleasure of being with you, on Monday next, if not sooner. It may be expected that by that time the multiplying arrivals from Europe, will put us in possession of the state of things there, which ought to influence measures here....
26From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 1 June 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 29th. Ult. I return approved your proposition for the sale in the Ordinance Dept; also your recommendation for provisionally retaining Mr Linnard. I am under the impression that Mr Monroe wrote to Govr. Cass, on the subject of the Indians on that frontier, and took the steps necessary for having the peace notified to them. Be that as it may it is proper that...
27From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 11 July 1815 (Madison Papers)
As the writer of the inclosed letter may possibly call on you, I have thought it proper that you shd. be previously acquainted with its singular contents. Mr. Graham mistook my intentions, in touching the subject of communications between you & myself. He will in order to put an end to the business, inform Majr. O.C. definitively, that the vacancy in the Artillery which he seeks will not be...
28From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 13 July 1815 (Madison Papers)
That no erronious [ sic ] impression might be left on Majr. O.C. by the conversation of Capt: Graham, the latter has taken occasion to let him understand, that the contents of his letter to you had been mentioned to me, and that the letter itself had been deposited in the War Office. It is truly vexatious, to have a moment thrown away on such incidents. This importunate suitor for office;...
29From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 19 July 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd your two favors of the 15. & 16. That inclosing the letter from the Collector of Barnstable had been previously recd. Mr. Monroe has presented this enormity to the attention of Mr. Baker, and will of course make it the subject of proper remarks & instructions to Mr. Adams. He has done & will do the same, in relation to the Indians. Your suggestion in favor of a Proclamation on...
30From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 24 July 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. from Mr. Monroe your letter to him with the inclosed from Govr. Nicholas to you, and an intimation of his own wish that the object of the latter may if practicable be complied with. I recd. yesterday a letter from Mr. Jefferson which has a very material bearing on the subject. I inclose it for your perusal, after which be so good as to return it. It wd. afford me much pleasure to...
31From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 31 July 1815 (Madison Papers)
It is very desirable to promote the wishes of Governor Tompkins, and the interest of the State of New York; but there are national views of the subject which must be combined with them. All transactions with the Indians relative to their lands are more or less delicate; a removal of them from one region to another is particularly so as relates to the effect on the Indians themselves and on the...
32From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 10 August 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your several favors of the 29. & 31. July & of the 1st. 3d. & 6th. instant. I have delayed acknowledging them, in the daily expectation of receiving something from London which would supply the defect of information at Philada. relative to our affairs & functionaries there. A letter from Mr. Crawford recd. this morning, contains the agreeable information that he will become a...
33From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 13 August 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 7th. inst: on the subject of the Seamen returning in distress. It is incumbent on the Executive to do every thing within its province for their relief. Your answer to the Mayor of N.Y. was entirely proper. He may be assured of the favorable dispositions of the Executive, and that a reimbursement of the advances of the Corporation will be recommended to Congress. The...
34From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 2 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
I recd. this morning yours of the 29. Aug. covering a copy of the circular complying with Mr. Daschkoff’s request, which is pre[c]isely what it ought to be; and a newspaper containing the late news from Europe. The political annihilation at least of Napoleon, will give play to many springs in the Allied powers which a fear of him had kept in an inert state; and very important scenes are...
35From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 8 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
The commercial Convention with G.B. has just reached me. It abolishes the discriminating and countervailing duties, and establishes the rule of the most favored nation, between the U.S. & the B. Dominions in Europe. The equality of the vessels of the two Countries extends to the cases of bounties & drawbacks, as well as of duties, with a reservation to the parties of a right, to regulate &...
36From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 15 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 11th. has just come to hand. I return the papers from the Comr. of the Gen: L. office, with an acquiescence in the survey ordered in Missouri. I think the condition attached to it the least that will suffice to justify the measure. I have recd. a letter from Mr. Gallatin, from which as well as from his reserve to you, I infer that he has not made up his mind on his appt. to...
37From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 22 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 18th. has just reached me, enclosing two letters from Mr. Adams which are returned. Our engagements in Europe must be fulfilled both with a view to justice and to the public credit. In doing this there are so many reasons for preferring the purchase of bills to the sale of Stock abroad, where there is an approach to equality of loss, that I concur in your opinion in favor of the...
38From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 23 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 19th. enclosing a letter from Mr. Baring. As the choice between the two modes of providing for our pecuniary wants in Europe, depends essentially on a comparison of the rate of exchange here, & the price of Stock abroad, it must be determined by the information possessed as to the State & prospects of each. My letter of yesterday made a reserve accordingly for...
39From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 3 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
In pursuance of the authority vested in the President of the United States by the Act of Congress, passed the 3d: day of March 1809, entitled “An Act further to amend the several acts for the establishment and regulation of the Treasury, War, and Navy Departments,” I do hereby direct, that out of the balance of the appropriation for “building floating batteries” there be applied the sum of...
40From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 8 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. & thank you for the letters for Hamburg & Bremen, which will be transmitted from the Dept. of State. We ended our journey last evening. With the exception of a short pelting shower on the day we set out, the weather & the roads were peculiarly favorable. I found the prospects of the farmers generally far better than I had expected; The Wheat fields much better, untill I reached my...
41From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 16 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
I return your communications of the 12th. inst. with my approbation of what you propose in relation to the Cumberland Road. Perplexing as this business is, it will become more so I fear, if Mr. Shriver should withdraw from it. He has, notwithstanding the impatience of some, more of the public confidence than will probably be enjoyed by a successor. And if a distrust of the Agent be added to...
42From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 30 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
I return the papers inclosed in yours of the 27th. Concurring in the opinion of the Comptroller founded on his statement of the Case of the Schooner Mary, Stiles, I do not think a pardon proper. I am not sure that it would be correct to decide the question of a remission under the Act of Congs. which I believe submits it exclusively to the Treasury Dept. The case may therefore lie over for...
43From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 4 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have received yours of the 29th of June, with the several papers sent with it. Under the difficult circumstances of the currency, and the obligation to attempt a remedy or at least an alleviation of them, the place you have in view is entitled to a fair experiment. You do right however in reserving a discretion to judge of the sufficientcy of accessions by the State Banks. Should there be a...
44From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 15 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your several letters of the 5. 7. 8. & 11th. Your Statement in the case of Mr. Hassler, was sanctioned & sent to the Treasy; as was the proposed purchase of a Custom-House at Boston. Be so good as to have issued a Commission for Mr. Plumer, as Loan Officer for N.H. The recommendations of Mr. Wentworth are very weighty; but being local, justify the preference of Mr. P. who is...
45From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 18 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the inclosing Mr. Hasslers letter on the subject of the Observatory. I had previously recd. one from Col: Lane, informing me of the selection made by Mr. H. for its site. Altho’ I had no doubt of the fitness of any spot preferred by Mr. H. taken in the abstract, it occurred that as the whole square would be required, the expence to the public might be very...
46From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 21 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 16th. inclosing the propositions of Mr. Hassler, the Report of the Collector of Philada. and the letter from Mr Irving. The importance of the object, and the peculiar fitness of Mr. Hassler for it, prescribe an acquiescence in his terms. Will it not be better to throw his paper into the form of instructions and explanations accompanying his appointment, than to let it...
47From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 26 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the and return the N. York Memorial inclosed in it. Interpositions for relief in such cases are of a delicate nature when proceeding from the Legislative the most competent authority. When claimed from the Executive, they are peculiarly delicate. The only ground on which the latter can proceed, seems to be that of increasing the security of the revenue, by suspending a...
48From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 27 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 23d. inclosing a letter from Mr. Baker, with the draft of an answer; and a letter from Wm. Js. Sears of Bermuda. The subject of Mr. Bakers letter, regularly belongs to the Dept. of State: But whether addressed to the Treasury Dept: or to that, ought to have proceeded from the Minister, & not from the Consul otherwise than thro’ the Minister. From courtesy, which as...
49From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 7 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
Col: McCobb has just handed me yours of the 3d. inst. The recommendations of him for the vacant office he seeks, appear to be decisive. I have referred him however to you for a communication of the result. That there may be no unncessary [ sic ] delay, I write by the present oppy. to the Dept. of State, to forward to you immediately a blank commission to you, if there be one on hand already...
50From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 10 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 6th. inst: I have approved the contemplated purchase of a Custom House in N.Y. as I do your proposed instructions to the Bank Commissioners, on the subject of preparatory arrangements. It is to be hoped that Judge Hall will have taken the course you allude to. Should he have failed even to ascertain the offers to subscribe within the prescribed period, the delay may...