1To James Madison from Alexander White, 1 March 1794 (Madison Papers)
I am favd. with yours of 17th Ulo. with the enclosures. I have never seen a fair discussion in support of your resolutions—only desultory observations of several Members. Smith’s Speach has arrived I have had a cursory reading of it only. I am not sufficiently informed to give a decided opinion with respect to equipping a Fleet to check the Algerines. I am rather inclined in favor of it—but my...
2To James Madison from Alexander White, 26 September 1796 (Madison Papers)
I should not have disturbed your repose with anything of a private nature, nor indeed with the affairs of this City, which has more than ever been the object of our joint labours, had I not been assured that you have the inclination, and believed that you have the power further to promote its interest, and with it the interest and honour of the U. States. The establishment of a National...
3To James Madison from Alexander White, 19 May 1794 (Madison Papers)
I am favd with yours of 12th. instant—since which a Gentleman has arrived from Philadelphia who left it on Wednesday, and says the Embargo is not to be continued. I should myself prefer a direct tax to an extension of the Excise, or to the introduction of any new indirect tax which has yet occurred to my mind. Whether a tax on Carriages (except as an article of manufacture in the hands of the...
4To James Madison from Alexander White, 17 August 1789 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you a Line from Philadelphia mentioning such Facts as had come to my knowledge respecting the sentiments of the People on Public Affairs. My Journey was fatiguing, the weather being excessive hot, and the Stages over-burdened with Passengers and Baggage. I reached Baltimore on Tuesday afternoon—and took breakfast before I sat out on Wednesday morning. Several Gentlemen waited on me who...
5To James Madison from Alexander White, 26 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
Your favr. of 21st instant is come to hand. Your kind attention amidst the multiplicity of business has my most grateful acknowledgements. I am really sorry the appointment of Mr Jay is disapproved of. From what I have observed and heard of his character I confess I was pleased with it. The constitutionality never occurred to me, and I do not recollect any clause in the Constitution, which...
6To James Madison from Alexander White, 25 August 1789 (Madison Papers)
Yours of Monday Morning (Yesterday Se’night I presume) came to hand in course of Post. I find by the Papers that the Committee has reported the 12th. of Septemr as the proper time for Congress to adjourn—tho’ I do not believe they can adjourn at so early a day, or that they can or indeed ought to discuss all the business mentioned by the Committee, particularly the Act for punishing of Crimes....
7To James Madison from Alexander White, 5 May 1794 (Madison Papers)
I have to thank you for your favr of 21st. Ulo. I deem it peculiarly unfortunate that any appointment by the President should at this time be considered as exceptionable. With regard to Mr Jay I confess I cannot discover any constitutional ground of objection. Whatever impropriety there may be in his holding two offices at the same time and receiving compensations for each, the constitution...
8To James Madison from Alexander White, 2 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
The proposed measures for the establishment of a National University which I took the liberty of mentioning as you passed through this City, and which had been the subject of a letter while you were in Virginia, have assumed a form differrent from what they bore at either of those periods. A Copy of that letter is therefore unnecessary. The Commissioners have forwarded to the President a...
9To James Madison from Alexander White, 30 March 1794 (Madison Papers)
Your favors of 2d. & 17th. instant came to hand together on the 22d. the mail carrying the former not having reached Alexandria when the Winchester Post in course left it. I have had little time to consider the questions you propose, but will hazard an opinion. The laying Embargos is connected with War as well as with commerce, and indeed is more frequently an instrument of the former than the...
10To James Madison from Alexander White, [ca. 12 May] 1794 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure to contradict the report from Kentucky mentioned in my last of General Clarkes having fallen down the Ohio with 600 Men, I have seen the young man alluded to, and others who came with him. A report prevailed that a Mr Montgomery who has a Colonels commission under Clarke had taken Post at the mouth of the Ohio, and stopped all boats going down the river, but of this there...