To James Madison from Bernard Smith, 29 November 1804 (Abstract)
§ From Bernard Smith
29 November 1804. “I take the liberty of forwarding to you the enclosed papers, which contain some late writings of mine under the signature of “Franklin,” which with much diffidence I submit to your perusal.1 Permit me on this occasion, it being the first that has occurred since I have been employed in your Department, to return you my grateful acknowledgements for that mark of confidence, and likewise to assure you that the summit of my ambition will ever be to merit your approbation.”
RC (DLC). 1 p.
1. Smith probably enclosed copies of the National Intelligencer of 10 and 15 Oct. 1804, in which essays by “Franklin” appeared. The first essay attacked the Federalists for their methods of campaigning and of governing and recalled that “the patriotic and enlightened Madison” led the fight against full funding of the public debt; the second advocated the funding of canals and turnpikes by the issuance of stock on which the government would pay the interest for the first few years until the projects became profitable.