11To James Madison from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 10 June 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have read & considered the case stated in your letter of the 28th: April on the subject of a Patent issued under a mistake, in consequence of a Virginia military land warrant, "located on lands, which had been previously & regularly located by others". The patent thus issued can be of no effect. It is I conceive null & void. The identical land, by the Same metes & bounds, having been...
12To James Madison from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 22 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have examined the enclosed papers. As the parties have conflicting claims, & are equally confident on both sides, I would give them a fair opportunity of obtaining a judicial decision of the question. To accomplish this object, I would advise, with their consent, that a bill of interpleader be filed, on the equity side of the Circuit Court of Columbia District, for the County of Alexandria....
13From James Madison to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 2 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
Having communicated the inclosed letter from Judge Davis to the President, he suggests that it be transmitted to you, who will best judge, if the case be meddled with at all, how to prevent a conflict of jurisdictions. I have recd. no communications whatever from London Paris or Madrid, since we parted at Washington. It would seem from sundry scraps put together that something has been doing...
14To James Madison from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 18 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 2d. inst. enclosing a letter from judge Davis of the 29th. of july last I have just received. It appears from the judge’s letter, that on the 18th. of August the Court was to meet again, so that the trial of Floyd must have probably taken place before this time. Any interference therefore would be of no avail. But I see no solid objection against permitting them, to try Floyd...
15To James Madison from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 24 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have attentively considered the enclosed statement & opinion of Mr. Derbigny relative to the batture in front of the suburb St. Mary at the city of New-Orleans, & concur with him in sentiment, if the case be correctly stated. This I am bound to presume as it has been officially communicated to you by Governor Claiborne whose letter I have sent to the President. Yours Very Respecy. & Sincey....
16From James Madison to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 31 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to submit for your consideration and opinion the following question arising out of an award of the Board of Commissioners appointed under the 7th. Article of the late British Treaty. The Brig Ceres, Hall, Master, belonging equally to William Prestman, William Calhoun, and Ebenezer Thayer of Charleston (S. C.) was laden at that port in the year 1794, the principal Cargo by the...
17To James Madison from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 7 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have examined with great care and attention the papers you submitted to my consideration, concerning the claim of the Representative of the late Caron de Beaumarchais. The subject is in every view important. Though I commenced the investigation with prepossessions unfavorable to the claim; from the first perusal of the documents, the inclination of my mind, was against the respectable...
18To James Madison from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 18 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
I had prepared to leave home on thursday last, but the snow storm that continued all that day prevented & rendered the travelling in my carriage too bad until the road was broken. On terday I should have set off as the weather was fine & the way well beaten, but Mrs. Rodney was much indisposed. I find however by the last Intelligencer that the Envoy has arrived & I leave home this morning in...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 18 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of the heads of departments and Atty Genl to meet to-day at 12. oclock on a consultation. Catalog--Paul C. Richards Autographs.
20From James Madison to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 20 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Clark presses me very hard for an answer to his memorial. I hope you will have found leisure to write out an opinion on the case, and that you will be so good as to furnish me with it as an answer. He waits here on no other account. Nothing very material lately from abroad. The proceedings of Congs. reach you thro’ the Newspapers. They expect to end the Session on Monday. I had proposed to...
21To James Madison from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 19 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
I observe by the last papers that the President is requested to lay before Congress the Orders & decrees of the belligerent powers, which have violated our neutral rights. I send you the little information I have been able to collect on the subject, in order to contribute my mite of aid & assistance. Mr. Pickering’s report demands a rigid investigation. It savours strongly of party &...
22To James Madison from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 16 January 1809 (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 preeminent degree, for the public welfare, from the peculiar responsibility...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 19 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of the 8th inst: by the mail on the subject of mr Rope’s new theory of the magnet & shall embrace the earliest opportunity of making the communication to him which you desire. You are well acquainted with the material facts & circumstances relative to the ship Favourite & her cargoe, which was by the weather cast ashore near Lewistown. We have been engaged in the trial of...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 3 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The Circuit Court of the United States for this District sat yesterday at New Castle, or rather ought to have met there, but judge Chase, did not attend, nor was the cause of his non-attendance known. At the term before he did not attend, because he was preparing for his trial. At neither term however was there any business for him to do, notwithstanding all the noise & clamour on the subject...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 15 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot avoid transmitting you the enclosed letter from my father, which was forwarded to me this day from Philada. Tho’ the Government may perhaps have received more correct & detailed information on the subject, especially if the directions given by my father have been complied with. If the Spanish Government are concerned in the business, I suspect, their agency is concealed in the...
26From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 23 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the inclosed with thanks for the communication. we had before heard of the aggression & that the captors & captured were retaken by our military & the former safely lodged in jail for trial. How deeply to be regretted, my dear Sir, is the bitter schism which has lately split the friends of republicanism into two adverse sections in Pensylvania! it holds up a melancholy prospect to...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 6 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return to this place (where I took refuge from the yellow fever) from attending the Circuit & State Court below I had the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 23d. ulto. It is matter of deep & lasting regret that any division should have taken place in the Republican party, but more especially such an one as paves the way for the triumph of that pernicious system & its adherents which...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 16 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of introducing to your acquaintance William Cooch Esq. a very reputable & influential citizen of New-Castle County in the State of Delaware & for many years a member of the legislature. His political principles are those of a genuine Republican. He is going on business to Virginia & wishes on his way to call & pay his personal respects to you. I am Dear Sir Yours Very...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 19 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The intelligence contained in the enclosed, is at this crisis, so interesting & important, that I transmit it to you by the return of the same mail which brought it on, lest by some accident the official dispatches may not have yet reached you. I will thank you to return it when you have done with it, as part of it, relates to a fine little boy of mine who is afflicted with the most...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 24 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the letter you were so good as to inclose me with thanks for the communication. the real occurrences at Natchitoches & the Sabine had, as usual, swelled greatly on their way to Natches. the 500. horse were really but 20. who retired without opposition on Capt Turner’s requisition. the official reports of Majr. Porter & Capt Turner assure us of these facts. Some unexpected...
31To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 15 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot but express the sincere satisfaction, I feel on the appointment of an old Revolutionary officer, to a post which will render him comfortable. Genl. Shee is entitled to great credit for the purity & uniformity of his principles & conduct. He withstood persecution in the Federal reign of terror in 98’ & resisted temptation in the unfortunate struggle of 1805. in this state. From the...
32To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 3 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose you a Petition in a case in which I must solicit the incursion of your clemency. The act of congress, giving authority to the Secretary of the Treasury in certain cases to mitigate or remit fines & forfeitures does not extend I consider to this case. The act applies I conceive only, where there was no intention to elude the payment of duties, which would not with truth & justice be...
33From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 12 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 3d. is recieved on the subject of a pardon to the Poulsons & Shad. it has been an invariable rule with me never to pardon but on the recommendation of the judges who sat on the trial or of one of them & the Attorney of the district. from this I have never departed in a single instance; and were it to be departed from, it would let loose the power of pardon to be exercised...
34To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 1 September 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your obliging favor of the 12 uto. I duly received, covering the Petition I had enclosed to you. I have taken the earliest opportunity to obtain the signatures of judge Bedford & our District Attorney Mr. Read, who readily signed the recommendation. I now enclose you the Petition in order that a pardon may be obtained. Just as I was leaving New Castle yesterday morning a large French frigate...
35To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 21 September 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned you some time since the papers you sent to me in order to get the recommendation of the District judge & Attorney which I obtained. But I directed my letter to Washington, & I see by the papers that the Secy at War is on a visit to you at Monticello. The rule you have adopted, I think an excellent one in such cases, & as I have been enabled to conform to it, I anticipate your...
36To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 24 September 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I am induced by the present situation of affairs with Spain, to enclose you two letters received by this days mail from my father. I presume, no doubt, you have received official intelligence on the subject to which they relate, but I wish to throw in my mite, at so interesting a period. If they are serious in re-occupying their former positions, it must be connected with some hostile plan of...
37From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 5 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to mr Rodney. he found on his arrival here yesterday his two letters of Sep. 21. & 24. and doubts not mr Rodney has recieved the pardon from the office of State. he returns him the 2. letters of judge Rodney as requested & thanks him for the communication of them. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
38To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 12 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of the 5th inst. enclosing my fathers letters, but have not yet received the pardon from the Sec.T of States office. It will no doubt be transmitted as soon as more pressing business will allow. I have since received another letter from my father dated 9th of Sept. on which day Major King, who had accompanied Govr. Claibourne to Nachitoches, dined with him & gave him the...
39To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 17 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I recd. your favor enclosing Mr. Pleasonton’s note. Mr. Read informed me, when at New Castle, that he had received the pardon. He had also made an arrangement, just before I got to New Castle, for continuing the trials I mentioned in my last, until the next term of the Supreme Court for Sussex County. All the important questions which the subject of those trials involves will be discussed on...
40To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 9 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Judge Chase has affirmed the decree of judge Bedford in the case of the Favourite. This was to be expected, from all the circumstances which had come to my knowledge. Judge Chase considered that no acts of the salvors could forfeit the cargoe & declared his opinion to be that salvaged goods were not subject to duty. In England goods which are strictly speaking, wreck , which in the present...
41To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 21 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed letter from my father comes down as late as the 26th. ulto. Government are perhaps in possession of official information to the same period, or indeed to a later; for I think I have seen in the newspapers a statement that our affairs were for the present amicably adjusted. The letter serves to shew, that the genuine American spirit animates the people of that new country, & must...
42To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 27 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I loose no time in forwarding to you the inclosed, in addition to the one transmitted some days ago. The amount of the Governor of Mexico’s re-inforcement is no doubt magnified very much, for they cannot possibly bring, I should suppose, more than 1500. or 2.000 men into the feild. I am the more anxious to hasten to you the information, as I am just informed, the Federal judge of Kentucky has...
43From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 5 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not sooner been able to acknolege the reciept of your favors of the 21st. & 29th. ult. and to thank you for the communication of the letters they covered, & which are now re-inclosed. the designs of our Cataline are as real as they are romantic. but the parallel he has selected from history for the model of his own course corresponds but by halves. it is true in it’s principal...
44To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 4 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
At the present period I feel it a bounden duty to communicate to you, every article of information, in my power. A single spark may throw a glare of light on the dark intrigues & nefarious plots now in operation. I hasten therefore to forward the enclosed, which I have just received from my father. Whatever a firm & sincere friend of the Union, in his situation, can effect in that quarter,...
45To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 9 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I this moment received the enclosed which I hasten to transmit by the return of the mail Yours Most Sincerely DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
46From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 17 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Keep the contents of this letter, if you please, to yourself. I yesterday nominated you to the Senate as Attorney General of the US. whither it will be confirmed will rest with them, & they often subject nominations to great delay. my only object in mentioning it to you is that you may be making all the provisional arrangements necessary for an immediate visit to this place if you should...
47To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 19 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your esteemed favor of the 19th. inst: by the mail of to day. This distinguished mark of your confidence, added to those I had before experienced, excites feelings, which I cannot express, nor shall I ever forget. It is the more grateful, because flowing spontaneously from yourself, unsought & unsolicited. Should the commission succeed your nomination, to the...
48To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 22 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of the 20th. inst: by the mail of this day. I shall leave this on Saturday morning in a carriage hired for the purpose & shall loose no time on my journey. I would have set off tomorrow but it was not in my power to make the necessary arrangements; & I would have taken the stage, but the duties of the office with which you have honored me, require that I should bring a...
49From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 1 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of the Attorney Genl. to attend him tomorrow (Monday) at 11. oclock at a consultation of the heads of departments. DGU .
50From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 5 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The constitution giving to the Supreme court exclusive jurisdn in all cases affecting Ambassadors Etc.— cannot the within mentioned case be removed into that court? when there, a Nolle Prosequi may be entered. for it is indignant that a man remaining here in defiance, and himself entering the field of the newspapers in the most insolent stile, should have the counter-insolencies punished. DeHi .
51From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 27 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Will mr Rodney be so good as to meet the heads of departments here this morning at 11. aclock? Privately owned.
52To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 1 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
It is of importance that every material fact relative, to the late conspiracy against the constitution and laws of the United States should be accurately ascertained. This is essentially necessary for the purposes of public justice. I take the liberty therefore of enclosing you, by the directions of the President, a copy of interrogatories calculated for the examination of those persons within...
53From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 22 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Burr, as a prisoner under a guard of 10. men, passed Coweta 800. miles from here, on the 3d. inst. at 30. miles a day he will be at Cartersville on James river on Thursday the 26th. there is not therefore one moment to be lost in deciding and acting on these questions. 1. must he not be ordered from Cartersville down to Richmond for trial? 2. should not an express go off instantly to meet him...
54To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 26 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I found the roads so extremely bad that I had determined to take the stage from this place, but on enquiry I was informed, that the stage is three days going from this to Richmond. I then determined to hire an additional pair of horses which would have enabled me to proceed in two day to Richmond. Whilst I was wating to accomplish this object & to see Mr Henderson of the Marine to give me...
55To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 27 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you from Dumfries last evening & as soon after, as I could get horses & a guide who knew the road, on my journey for Fredericksburg. I did not arrive there until about day, this morning, the roads were so intolerably bad. On my arrival, I found the information I had received to be pretty correct. Burr came there on Wednesday evening under a Mr. Perkins & six men. Just as they rode...
56To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 30 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Hay this morning applied to C. justice Marshall for a warrant agt. Burr for treason which was granted. This circumstance, combined with Mr. Hay’s strong opinion that the C. justice would certainly commit Burr for treason gave me considerable expectations, that our wishes would be realized. At 12. O.Clock Burr was brought before him. We exhibited the depositions taken agt. Swartout &...
57To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 31 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your note enclosing one of Capt. Truxtun’s. We this day argued the case of Burr before Marshall C.J. who will give an opinion tomorrow. Burr spoke a few minutes after his Counsel had done, & in my humble opinion much to his disadvantage. My impression is, that he will be held to bail for treason, from what fell from the C. justice, immediately after I had closed the argument. I may...
58To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 10 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
We have dispatched the Dep: Marshall of Virginia to Wood County, who will summon all the witnesses at & near Blennerhasset’s island. Mr. Madison & myself have both written to Mr. Jackson. I hope in less than three weeks to have depositions sent on from that quarter to Mr. Hay which will enable him to commit Burr for treason. From arrangements made upon consultation with the heads of...
59From James Madison to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 17 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter was sent to me on the supposition that some step might be necessary to be taken here you being at the time in Philada. The writers of the letter however have proceeded on a mistake as to the allowance to Witnesses. The Act of Feb. 7. 1799. makes it 5 Cents per mile equal at this season to near two dollars a day, and 1 ¼ dols. during attendance on the Court. The Marshall...
60To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 21 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed were forwarded to me by Dr. Tucker from Washington, & found me at this place, which I leave this morning for Philada. They are the only letters I have received from my father since that of the 26th. of Jany last. It appears that Genl. Eaton’s deposition did not reach Washington (Miss. Tery) the medium of the news papers until about the 4th. of march. My father is mistaken on the...