101To James Madison from John Dawson, 4 May 1800 (Madison Papers)
The republic is safe. Our ticket has succeeded in the city of N. York by a majority of about four hundred—Burr is in for Orange—accounts from other parts of that state are equally favourable—we may count on a majority of thirty in their legislature; & there is good ground to believe the N. Jersey will exhibit the same spirit which her neighbour has done, nor do I think that the Senate of this...
102To James Madison from John Dawson, 20 June 1810 (Madison Papers)
It is reported that congress will be convend during the summer. I will thank you for information on this point, thereby to govern my summer movements, as well as upon any other. With much Esteem Your friend RC ( DLC ). Several newspapers printed a report to this effect. The source of the story was given as the N.Y. Evening Post , which made the claim shortly after the frigate John Adams...
103To James Madison from John Dawson, July 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From John Dawson. July 1806. “Mr. R. Hackley has made known to me his wish to receive a consular appointment to some of the French ports—altho a countryman of ours you may be unacquainted with Mr. Hackley; I have long & well known him, & feel a pleasure in recommending him to you as a gentleman who woud, with advantage and credit, fill any such appointment to which the President shall think...
104To James Madison from John Dawson, 25 June 1797 (Madison Papers)
I wrote to you by the last mail, & now enclose a letter entrusted to my care for Mrs. Madison. On saturday we passed a bill, which came from the Senate, for the protection of our commerce, after disrobing it of the clauses, which authorisd the president to purchase nine additional vessels of 20 guns each, & directing that the three frigates shoud not be used as convoys—& that the law shoud be...
105To James Madison from John Dawson, 19 October 1787 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 2d. Int. I received in due time. Before this I presume you have heard that one hundred and five members attended at the state-house on the first day. Whether this is to be attributed to the ten pounds, or to a proper sense of duty I leave with you to determine—perhaps to both. On motion of Colo Mathews, seconded by Mr. B. Harrison, Mr. Prentis was call’d to the chair,...
106To James Madison from John Dawson, 16 November 1809 (Madison Papers)
The unfortunate death of Go: Lewis leaves that office vacant. I have some thoughts of accepting the appointment shoud I be calld to it, altho I shoud wish to see you before it is made. No person knows better than yourself how far I am capable of discharging the duties and what my claims on the public are. With sincere regard Your friend RC ( DNA : RG 59, LAR , 1809–17, filed under “Dawson”)....
107To James Madison from John Dawson, 7 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
I am favourd with your letter of the 31. ulto, for which I thank you. I find that efforts are making in the eastern states and in N. Jersey to form an opposition to the ratification of the convention with France—the ground taken is, that it will be impolitic to give 15 million of dollars, for that which will prove injurious to those states, by withdrawing their inhabitants and thusly giving...
108To James Madison from John Dawson, 2 January 1799 (Madison Papers)
I have recievd your letter, & enclosures by Mr. Jefferson, to all of which I shall pay particular attention. By the public papers you will observe the number of members who have been absent—this circumstance has prevented our attempting any thing of consequence—however many of them have lately come in, & we have reason to expect others in a few days, when we shall make an effort for the repeal...
109To James Madison from John Dawson, 7 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
The last mail brought us no letters from Philadelphia, which is matter of much surprise as the news-papers came, & of much regret as most people are exceedingly anxious to know the determination of congress on the several very important subjects now before them. The January packet which I find has arriv’d, brings the instructions of the B. King to the commanders of armd vessels of the 8th....
110To James Madison from John Dawson, 5 August 1787 (Madison Papers)
Two days before I left Frdksburg I did myself the pleasure of addressing a letter to you, and have not receivd one since my arrival at this place. By directing to the care of Majr. Magill, Winchester, there would be a certainty of my receiving any communications you will honour me with. Yesterday I visited “a flowing spring” abt. thirteen miles from this place, in the state of Pennsylvania and...
111To James Madison from John Dawson, 13 August 1797 (Madison Papers)
By the mail on Thursday I recievd your favour of the Int. On the 12 of the last month we sent a messenger to Tennessee for some persons & papers, & have good reason to conclude that we shall get some material testimony from that quarter. For his return I wait, & shall on it set out for Virginia, if I can escape the fever which is pretty prevalent here, notwithstanding the heavy rains which we...
112To James Madison from John Dawson, 17 December 1789 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty of forwarding to you two resolutions which have pass’d both houses, on the subject of the permanent seat of the General Goverment. To the first of these there was considerable opposition from the South side of James river, under an apprehension that it woud not be advantageous to that part of the State; and from some of the Antis who considerd it as a favour to Congress—they...
113To James Madison from John Dawson, [ca. 10 November] 1787 (Madison Papers)
Accept my thanks, my dear Sir, for your two favours of the 21st. and 28th. of the last month, which, with the enclosures, came to hand in due time. On the receipt of a letter from you, some time since, I calld the attention of the Legislature to the Act of the last session, which is the subject of Mr. Vanburkels complaint. That it is a violation , tho not an intended one, appears to be the...
114To James Madison from John Dawson, 12 December 1799 (Madison Papers)
I am favourd with your letter of the 4th. for which I thank you. On yesterday we finishd the business of ceremony with the president & appear at a loss what to take up next —the Senate in their answer take no notice of the mission to France, altho it was modifid according to their wishes, & I am assurd that thirty odd eastern members in our house woud have voted for expunging the clause which...
115To James Madison from John Dawson, 10 December 1797 (Madison Papers)
Since my return to this place I have delayd to write to you from a hope that I shoud have it in my power to communicate something new or interesting. In congress we move on very harmoniously & do very little. The report of the committee on Blounts affair producd some long faces, & shewd that it was not a French plot with Mr. Jefferson at the bottom, as has been industriously circulated in the...
116To James Madison from John Dawson, 15 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
I am honourd with your letter of the 1 Int. and must request you to receive this, not as a piece of cold formality, nor simply as a return for yours but as a testimony of a much dearer principle; a principle of honest friendship—our acquaintance I esteem too high ever to forget it—I wish it continued. I wish it cultivated. I flatter myself the desire may be mutual and with pleasure did I...
117To James Madison from John Dawson, [13 September] 1789 (Madison Papers)
You’ll be pleased to accept my thanks for your two letters with the inclosures, which I receivd on thursday & saturday. By the papers I discover that the bill for fixing the Seat of Goverment &c was not reported on Friday morning, and I have been assurd by a Gentleman in this place , that the committee appointd woud not bring it in untill they had collected, and sworn in all their forces. The...
118To James Madison from John Dawson, 25 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
Before this you are fix’d at the seat of goverment and I hope in a manner agreeable to yourself and to Mrs. Madison, to whom I pray you to present me with much esteem. I have just seald a letter directed to the Secretary of state. This is intended for yourself, and our friend Mr Jefferson. A strange and mysterious delay has taken place relative to the ratification to the causes of which I am...
119To James Madison from John Dawson, 13 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
Accept my thanks for your letter of the 20th. uto. which I have recievd. By the death of our very worthy friend Colo Grayson it became the duty of the Executive to appoint some person to fill the vacancy in the Senate. Application was made to Mr. Henry and on his refusal to serve Colo Mason was unanimously appointed—he also declind and then Mr. John Walker was chosen—who I presume will be in...
120To James Madison from John Dawson, [ca. 6 January] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Since I wrote you nothing worthy your attention has presented itself; We have now six states on the floor viz Massachusetts-bay, New York, New Jersey Pennylvania S. Carolina and Virginia; and a member from Rhode Island, North Carolina & Georgia—another member from Rhode Island is on his way and one from N. C. in Pennylvania. Connecticut, you know can come in at any time; we therefore expect in...
121To James Madison from John Dawson, [12 June] 1787 (Madison Papers)
After an absence of near three weeks I have just return’d to this place and am favourd with your letter of the 27 of May. The prospect of a general convention of the States appears to me very faint, and I wish to be informd, whether the states assembled, or those that probably will meet, will proceed to any business. I apprehend that nothing decisive can be done, without the concurrence of the...
122Circular Letter from John Dawson, 20 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
After fourteen days delay, on yesterday the President sent to us the inclosed important, intemperate, and unconstitutional Message, which is referred to a Committee of the whole on the State of the Union. Circumstances prove clearly to my mind, that the fixed policy of our Administration will involve us in the war on the part of Great-Britain—an event which I very much dread, but which I fear...
123Circular Letter from John Dawson, 19 July 1798 (Madison Papers)
After a session of somewhat more than eight months, congress adjourned on Monday last, to meet on the first Monday in December. The senate was detained on Executive business; and have adjourned to day. Many laws have been past, a list of which I enclose to you, and send a copy of those which are printed to your court for the use of the county—Some of these are highly important, and claim your...