1From James Madison to Nathan Sanford, 21 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
The Charge des Affaires of France having made the circumstances, detailed in the enclosed extract, the subject of an official complaint; considering them in the light of an infraction of the rights of France, I have the honor to transmit the extract to you, and to request that you make enquiry into the truth and particular nature of the facts therein stated, and if in your opinion they...
2From James Madison to Nathan Sanford, 19 September 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
19 September 1804, Department of State. “I have the honor to enclose an extract from a communication lately received from the British Minister, alluding to an irregularity alledged to have been committed by the French Frigates now in the harbour of New York. I therefore request you with the assistance of the Collector of the Customs to make a scrupulous enquiry into the truth of the allegation...
3From James Madison to Nathan Sanford, 7 February 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to enclose an extract of a letter I have received from a gentleman of respectability at Philadelphia, and by the express direction of the President, I request you to enquire diligently into the facts alledged and any others which may be made known to you, relative to the fitting out and sailing of the Leander, and to report to me, as soon as possible, whether any persons now...
4From James Madison to Nathan Sanford, 13 February 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Nathan Sanford. 13 February 1806, Department of State. “Since my letter respecting the expedition of Genl. Miranda from the port of New York in the armed Ship Leander, it has been thought proper, in consequence of suggestions which have indicated a Mr. Ogden, as the owner of that Vessel, and that some officers holding foreign commissions have embarked in her, to point your attention...
5From James Madison to Nathan Sanford, 17 February 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Nathan Sanford. 17 February 1806, Department of State. “I have received your letter of the 13th. instant [not found] respecting the expedition of Leander. Should you in the further pursuit of the facts, ascertain reasonable evidence to convict any of the parties concerned of a violation of the laws, I request you to enter prosecutions, without waiting for further directions.” Letterbook...
6From James Madison to Nathan Sanford, 21 March 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Nathan Sanford. 21 March 1806, Department of State. “The examinations of the parties concerned in fitting out the Leander having been laid before the Attorney General, I enclose a copy of a letter containing his observations upon the case, which may prove of use in the sequel of the prosecution. Considering the serious nature of the offence and the standing in society of some of the...
7From James Madison to Nathan Sanford, 29 April 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Nathan Sanford. 29 April 1806, Department of State. “Mr. Daniel Clark, at whose instance the suit was brought against Penfield in the District Court of New York upon the official bond given by Josiah Blakely, late Consul at St. Jago, has applied to Congress to indemnify him on account of the failure of his suit. In the opinion of the Attorney General, however, the variance between the Act...
8From James Madison to Nathan Sanford, 1 August 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Nathan Sanford. 1 August 1806, Department of State. “I have received your favor of the 28th. ult, and shall thank you to name the sum, which would be thought a reasonable compensation to the Counsel you associated with you, in the prosecutions against Messrs. Smith & Ogden. If the grounds of the verdicts are sufficiently understood to admit of a statement, or if any incidents attended the...
9From James Madison to Nathan Sanford, 31 August 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Nathan Sanford. 31 Aug. 1806, Department of State. “Your letter of the 21st. inst. has been duly recd. The President thinks it proper that Thomas Lewis, stated to have been indicted in April for his Agency in preparing the expeditions of the Ship Leander, and to have returned to New York, should be brought to trial. You will be pleased therefore to take the steps requisite for that...
10From James Madison to Nathan Sanford, 23 October 1806 (Madison Papers)
The Envoy of Great Britain has represented that John Thomas a British subject is under prosecution at New York for a murder charged upon under circumstances, which the Envoy supposes, exclude it from the cognizance of the United States. I therefore request you to be pleased to inform me, whether it clearly appears that the act was committed on the high seas, on board a British Vessel, and...
11From James Madison to Nathan Sanford, 30 October 1806 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Merry having represented that the trial of Capt. Thomas for murder is near at hand, I request you will pospone [ sic ] it until you receive further directions in consequence of the statement of facts I have a few days ago asked the favor of you to make. I am &c. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 15). See JM to Sanford, 23 Oct. 1806 .
12From James Madison to Nathan Sanford, 1 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
The President directs that you enter a nolle prosequi on the indictment found in the Circuit Court for the District of New York, against John Thomas for the murder of John Gern, on board the British Brig Fox, on the high Seas, and that you cause him to be liberated. Should he be willing, on your suggestion, to leave the United States immediately for any of the British dominions, it will be...
13From James Madison to Nathan Sanford, 14 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
Having requested Mr. Clinton the Mayor of New York to collect a body of evidence against Capt. Whitby, whose trial is fixed for the 1st. of March next before a Court Martial in England, I must beg the favor of you to cooperate with Mr. Clinton in such manner as to diminish as far as possible the burthen imposed upon him. As I have written upon the subject fully to Mr. Clinton, I must refer you...
14From James Madison to Nathan Sanford, 28 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 7th. was duly recd.. I can give no better direction, with respect to the sum received in the suit against Daniel Penfield, than that it be paid to the person shewing himself to be legally entitled to it; who this is, is not known to the Department, by other circumstances than such as are in your possession. If there be any doubt as to Daniel Clark, who claims it, I submit to...