To James Madison from Charles Yancey, 4 August 1823
From Charles Yancey
Richmond 4th August 1823
Dear Sir,
I expect you have seen in print The unfortunate Difference between Messrs. Crawford Editor of the Va. Times & his foreman Ramsay.1 Having written to you in favor of Mr Crawford, I now feel bound to say to you, that every part of his statement Relative to the Contract is truth, & I believe the balance is. A burst of Indignation against Ramsay seems to prevail here. I cannot Recommend him to your Notice, & hope Mr. Crawford May Receive your support. He is a Gentleman of good Talents, & Education & possesses a True sense of honor. He contemplates commencing again shortly. Yours Respectfully
Charles Yancey
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. William Ramsay was editor of the Richmond Daily Mercantile Advertiser in 1822. He seems to have been in partnership with Samuel Crawford in the new newspaper Virginia Times, for their dispute led to a sale offer in August 1823 of “one half or the whole of that newspaper establishment, at a price, as is stated, much below its value.” Crawford attempted to revive the paper in September, but it never resumed publication under his management (“Virginia Newspapers in Public Libraries,” 10 [1902]: 226; Boston Daily Advertiser, 26 Aug. 1823; Richmond Enquirer, 12 Sept. 1823; Charleston City Gazette and Commercial Daily Advertiser, 29 Nov. 1823).