1To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 13 February 1802 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 13 February 1802. Calendared in the lists probably made by Peter Force (DLC, series 7, container 2) as a four-page letter.
2To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 7 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your favor of the 31. ulto. & thank you most sincerely for your attention & liberality to our Seminary. I trust our exertions to revive it will be crowned with success. It is matter of real concern, that those places which have acquired celebrity, on the score of education should unfortunately be under the influence of false principles. Every honest mind must feel afflicted,...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 31 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed to you by Capt. Davis formerly of this port, who commanded lately the ship St. Domingo packet & who was imprisoned by the orders of Genl. Le Clerk. He goes to Washington to lay before Government his case, with a view to prevent any future transactions of the like nature. The character he bears at this place, is respectable, & I have been induced to give him this letter from...
4To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, [4 April] 1809 (Madison Papers)
You will observe by the enclosed letter, that Mr. Dallas wishes to know, what he is to do with the indictment against Bartholemew White, one of Burr’s men. The fact is, that Genl. Wilkinson had left Washington for New-Orleans sometime before I recd. the letter enclosing a commission to take his deposition. I agree pretty much with Mr. Dallas in opinion that White is too small game for us to...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 25 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I regretted that the Secretary of the Treasury was obliged to pass thro’ this place without making any stay, in order to make the arrangement relative to the fixing piers within this state, proposed by Col. Hall, and which you were kind enough to approve of. Doctr. Alexander however, shewed me the other day, a communication from Mr. Gallatin on this subject as it related to New Castle,...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 14 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The political campaign has been opened here. The ensuing election will for a long time at least, decide the fate of this State. If we succeed the malignant dog-star of Federalism & toryism, sets to rise no more. Under this impression Bayard very much to my surprize & against sentiments expressed by letters to me, has again taken the feild . Tho’ I had determined previously to retire, because I...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 1 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed is from a Republican of Sussex County in our State. He has long been a surveyor there, & is very well acquainted with that business. This has called his attention to the subject of the magnet of which he attempts to give a theory, which he requested me to submit to your consideration. He has been much persecuted in our State & tho in very moderate circumstances has been compelled...
8To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 5 December 1811 (Madison Papers)
I do hereby resign the office of Attorney General of the United States. RC ( DNA : RG 59, Resignations and Declinations, filed under “Rodney”); FC ( DeHi : Brown Collection). RC docketed by Monroe. FC includes a postscript in Rodney’s hand: “N. B. On the day this is dated I delivered my resignation into the Presidents own hands.” On the FC the original date of 25 Nov. 1811 has been deleted and...
9To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 18 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
This will be delivered to you by Mr John Crow who is an applicant for the office of Marshall which it is expected, I understand, will become vacant before long, by the resignation of Paul Lewis. Mr Crow has been personally known to me a considerable time. In political Sentiment he has been uniform, and has been active on the Republican Side. He has been repeatedly Supported as the candidate...
10To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 20 January 1802 (Madison Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 15th. inst: this evening by the mail. Permit me to observe that it was unsealed , but a friend of mine was in the office when it arrived. I mention this as I suppose from the many important concerns to which your attention is drawn it happened to escape your observation. The Mirror is the paper we wish the laws to be printed in. In my last I gave...
11To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 24 August 1811 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed letter is from Mr. Kintzing of Philada. of the house of Pratt & Kintzing. With Mr. Hogan I am personally unacquainted, but I rely with much confidence on the character given him by Mr. Kintzing whom I have long known. In my professional line I have in one case, where Mr. Hogan was a witness, observed with pleasure his integrity & his candor. Mr. Kintzing is well disposed towards...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 14 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return yesterday from the Court at Dover, I had the pleasure of recieving your agreeable & acceptable favor of the 28th. ultimo. The intelligence which it contains on the flattering state of our finances must give satisfaction to every honest man, & is to me a subject of sincere joy. The idle tale of your anxiety for my election originated here after Senator White’s return from Congress...
13To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 20 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
Notwithstanding the Opposers of the Republican Administration have prevailed on our Chancellor (whose age had rendered him an easy prey) to resign, & by that means have obtained the appointment of his successor who will be our present Atty. Genl. N. Ridgely whose place will also be filled by them they have contrary to my expectation & that of our friends determined I understand to dispute the...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 9 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I received with great pleasure & satisfaction your friendly & affectionate communication enclosing the paper we have so anxiously sought after, as it will effectually seal the lips of slander itself. We have not much news with us or much of local importance. Burr’s pamphlet has been republished here, at the Federal press. What madness or folly prompted to this I am at a loss to conceive. It...
15Caesar A. Rodney to Thomas Jefferson, 4 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter enclosing the additional observations on the subject of the Batture directed to me at this place way was received on my arrival here on the first of february. Since that time I have read them with much pleasure & satisfaction, & highly approve of them. The President M r Gallatin & M
16To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 19 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
You were so good as to subscribe One hundred dollars to the Seminary at this place . I enclose you an advertisement on the subject. Our Feds have not yet agreed on their Senator. Your message is read with great avidity. Our friends are delighted with the good news which it proclaims & our enemies I beleive consider it invulnerable, as they are yet silent as the grave about it. Bayard will not...
17To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 2 January 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 January 1805, Wilmington. “I take the liberty of laying the enclosed in a confidential manner before you, as it relates to an appointment of some importance perhaps to the U. S.” RC and enclosure ( DLC ). RC 1 p. Misdated 2 Jan. 1804 by Rodney; date assigned here by comparison with the enclosure (see n. 1). In the enclosed letter to Rodney from Maxwell Bines, former sheriff of New Castle...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 10 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure of writing to you some time since from Philada. in answer to a letter I had the honor to receive from you whilst on a visit there. Our legislature have adjourned after passing the canal law on such terms I hope, as will secure the execution of the design. It was not done however without a great struggle. We did not appoint any senator in the place of Dr. Latimer & I...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 16 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of introducing to your acquaintance Dr. Joseph McCreery , a young gentleman of very amiable character & manners, who has read or rather studied medicine under Dr. J. Tilton of this place a man proverbial for his rigid honesty & inflexible integrity. Dr. McCreery has lately passed his examination as a physician in the University of Penna. & wishes employment in the hospital...
20To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 7 June 1810 (Madison Papers)
The delicate situation of Mrs. Rodney at the death of her father compelled me to return home & has since detained me. She was however confined the evening before last & has presented me a daughter. In a few days I trust she will be in a situation to leave, and I shall promptly repair to Washington. Private business of considerable consequence, & of a pressing nature in Philadelphia will claim...
21To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 29 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your letter in answer to mine announcing the election of Col: David Hall as Governor of this State. Since that time I have been on the Circuit attending to the duties of my profession, but at the same time to those which demand a due portion of care in relation to society. Our small majority gave birth to a sentiment in some breasts favorable to controverting...
22To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 25 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
The paper enclosed directed to yourself I wrote a few days ago. Since that time I have been waiting, in order if possible further to discover their real intentions & penetrate their designs. Unless we are serious in the business I am persuaded they will persevere to the end. If they do, they effectually destroy all hopes of success on our part at the next election & I fear will blast all our...
23To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 26 September 1810 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed letter, from Captain R. C. Dale was received the day before yesterday. The resignation he speaks of, if I recollect, was put into the hands of some officer of the U. S. army, & when I spoke to the Secretary at war, had not reached the office. His answer was that it should be accepted when received . Mr. Dale has been selected as the Democratic candidate for congress, & with a...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 15 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
My friend Dr. A. Alexander of the town of New Castle will deliver you this letter. He has long & faithfully served us in our State legislature & has never even during the storm veered a single point from the steady cause of Republicanism. He has also been once our candidate for Governor & twice for Representative to congress. You will receive from him satisfactory information of the State of...
25To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 27 September 1810 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed were received by the mail of this day. They contain very ample testimony of Col. Munroe’s principles & qualifications. If the fact stated by Mr. Clay, be correct, of which I have not the least doubt, it would furnish a sufficient excuse for selecting a character from Kentucky. The late Governor Sullivan would have been a suitable person to have succeeded judge Cushing. So is the...
26To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 6 September 1809 (Madison Papers)
If you recollect, when at Washington we spoke of publishing the pamphlet of Theirry, & the late elaborate answer of Moreau Lisly, which was translated by Mr. Baker. You will perceive by the enclosed, that, as I then stated, the Delegate from the Orleans Territory, is willing to defray the expence. But on reflection I feel some delicacy on this subject. As Mr. Livingston is constantly loading...
27To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 18 January 1802 (Madison Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your letter of the 1st inst: on the 5th. of this month. I waited at Wilmington for its’ arrival, considering it essential that I should hear from Government before my departure for this place, in order that arrangements might be made corr⟨es⟩pondent with the advice received. Permit me to express my sincere thanks for the confidence you have reposed in us who act...
28To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 5 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
I returned late last evening from a political tour of about two weeks in the lower counties of this State. I travelled with the acts of congress the annual reports of the Secretary of the Treasury & other documents in my hands to meet the Federalists on their strongest grounds. We have followed the example of the worthy Duvall & the other Republicans of Maryland in addressing the people on the...
29Caesar A. Rodney to Thomas Jefferson, 6 October 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
A few days since your acceptable favor of the 25 th ult o was received, and the day before yesterday your exposition of the case of the Batture came to hand. I have since attentively perused it, and it has afforded me equal pleasure & instruction. It is true, it does not possess the strict method required in a legal argument, but the full & satisfactory explanation which it contains of the...
30Caesar A. Rodney to Thomas Jefferson, 8 June 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 30 th ult o found me at this place where I have been detained by the situation of M rs Rodney who lost her father a few weeks ago, & who has just been confined with her tenth child. All my papers on the subject of the Batture are at Washington . In the course of eight or ten days I shall be there, & will send you the paper you mention, or any others you may desire. I should...
31To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 11 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Some time after my return home I wrote a letter to Mr. Madison on the subject of the late appointment in this State, in which I gave a pretty full account of what had occurred relative thereto. I shall not trouble you therefore on that head. I will only observe that every day furnishes us with new proofs of the propriety of the opinions contained therein for I really do scarcely know of a...
32To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 20 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
attachment which I feel your administration, & for state the reasons which have me absolutely to decline being [for] the seat I now hold, at the ensu[ing] When [I agre]ed to stand a poll for Rep: to Cong. it consequence of very pressing solicitations & from a beleif, which the opinions of others had impressed on my mind, that I might possibly turn out Mr. Bayard, who had been so extremely...
33To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 19 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return last evening from Philadelphia whither I had been for a few days I had the pleasure of receiving your confidential letter of the 14th inst.:— On the subject of the memorials transmitted to you relative to our collector, I will candidly give you all the explanation in my power. The delicacy of my situation in this business absolutely requires that you should preserve it within your...
34To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 16 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
It is of considerable importance to the cause of Republicanism, that we should be in the possession of the journals of Congress since Mr. Bayards first entrance into the house of Representatives . They will furnish a faithful record of his political transactions & exhibit a true picture of his public conduct. As the election approaches his acts will be blazoned forth in this State, with all...
35Caesar A. Rodney to Thomas Jefferson, 18 October 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Immediately on my arrival here, I forwarded to you by the mail the original paper of M r Lislet on the subject of the Batture . Before I left home I drew up some rough notes on the case, which a pressure of business has prevented me from digesting. Indeed after all that has been said & written on this subject it is impossible to throw a single an additional ray of light on it. You have...
36To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 28 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Your esteemed favor of the 21. inst: was transmitted from Wilmington this morning to me at this place, where I generally spend Christmas week ever since my marriage with the daughter of Capt: John Hunn of this City. I most sincerely regret the situation in which an equality of votes for the Republican candidates is likely to place us, but in case of such an event I should calculate with great...
37To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 17 July 1801 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ as I stated in conversation before I left Washington, I was convinced the public mind here would be excited, by the extraordinary manner in which the appointment of Marshall was obtained, as well as by the appointment of the person himself, yet I did not suppose the impression would have been So deep and so general. It has turned out on enquiry as I apprehended when I saw you, that not...
38To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 17 October 1809 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Poydras declined the printing of Mr. Lisley’s able & argumentative work, which had been translated at the Secretary of States office, & which only required to be corrected previously to publication. The enclosed pamphlet was transmitted to me, by Mr. Poydras (& which I had not seen before) as the work he desired to have correctly translated & printed. Not being conversant with the French...
39To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 6 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I last wrote to you I have been on the verge of the grave. I was taken ill at Dover on my way to Sussex, early in September (a most unfortunate period) & was confined ten days to my bed. Since I came home, I have had the enclosed pamphlet published which is I understand producing good effects. Our election took place yesterday throughout the state. In this County there were more votes...
40To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 27 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Whilst I most sincerely congratulate you on the happy prospects, which the wisdom & virtue of your administration have placed before us, & which I flatter myself will be realized in the fullest extent, there is at present a local subject, as it relates to this State of the first importance. In its consequences it may however affect the Union generally & therfore it may have been incorrect to...
41To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 13 October 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with much regret I inform you of the unfavourable result of the election in our State. Mr. Bayard is reelected by a majority of 300. votes. The Federal ticket having succeeded by about 90 votes in Kent County, the Governor is about convening the legislature, who will choose the Electors of a President & V. President. From what I have understood in conversation from some of our leading...
42To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 21 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The ardent wishes of the friends of the revolution have been realized in the exaltation of yourself who laid the corner stone & who has ever been a firm & uniform supporter of its principles to the Presidential chair. The universal joy diffused over the whole face of the Country on this happy event is better felt than described. I believe among all who rejoiced none experienced more heartfelt...
43Caesar A. Rodney to Thomas Jefferson, 31 January 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Notwithstanding you have, with the purest motives, voluntarily retired, from a situation at once the most arduous, & the most exalted, in the gift of a free people, to the tranquil scenes of private life, you must feel even in retirement, at this eventful period, every anxious solicitude for the welfare of your beloved country, to whose service you have devoted many perilous & toilsome years....
44Caesar A. Rodney to Thomas Jefferson, 30 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
If you recollect just before you retired from office, I ventured to give you an opinion, on a case stated by M r Wilberforce , in direct opposition to those he had obtained in England . It was natural that I should distrust my own judgment, when put in competition with that of able & eminent civilians perfectly conversant with the laws & practice of courts of admiralty. But the slave trade...
45To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 15 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Enclosed is the pamphlet which ought to have accompanied my last. I should like to have an opportunity of giving you a history of the electioneering business. It would take a quire of paper to do it, & I must defer it, until I have the pleasure of seeing you. Tho’ our majority be small, I trust it is an important victory which the Opposition will sensibly feel. By the Polls it appears that the...
46To James Madison from Caesar A. Rodney, 16 January 1810 (Madison Papers)
The critical situation of our country necessarily engages the attention of every thinking man in the community. It must more particularly occupy the minds of those to whom the nation has confided any share in the direction & management of its political concerns. The Chief-magistrate of the Union, must feel in a pre-eminent degree, for the public welfare, from the peculiar responsibility...
47To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 7 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving the letter inclosed to Mr. Bringhurst , in which was contained one addressed to my father. To our confidential friends I have communicated the ground on which our Collector stands. The public sentiment is so fixed on this subject that it is difficult to reconcile our leading active politicians. You may rely on it in this State it is not the interested few but...
48To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, [before 4 November 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
I returned to this place (where I have taken shelter from the prevailing fever , & which I am about improving) from Dover, on yesterday. Whilst in Kent I had the pleasure of seeing old Mr. Killen who is much pleased with the letter you were kind eneough to send him. I congratulate you most sincerely on the bright prospects in Penna. & altho’ New-jersey may throw a shade over them in some...
49To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 28 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure duly to receve your letter of the 24. inst:—In my last I gave you the information I possessed on the subject required. From an observation in your letter you may have misunderstood a part of mine. Indeed I write such a scrawl that it is scarcly legible. You observe, that “you presume Col. M’Clane has been passive in electioneering.” In my letter I stated that his conduct...
50To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar A. Rodney, 30 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The Court in Sussex County adjourning much earlier than usual, furnished me with an opportunity of returning home, previous to the sittings in Kent County; or I should not have had the pleasure of receiving your affectionate & flattering letter of the 24. inst:, for these two weeks to come, which would have been to me matter of serious regret. On my arrival last night I found it on my table &...