41From James Madison to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 29 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
It is the opinion of the President which I am just authorized to signify to you, that Mr. La Trobe, be immediately be summoned to Richmond as a witness in the trial of Col. Burr. A leter from Mr. Hay to the President expresses much confidence in the sufficiency of the testimony already on the spot. Genl. Wilkinson had not arrived on Monday. What became of the two letters for Dr. Bollmann,...
42From James Madison to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 5 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed documents from Judge Lucas, evince a difference of opinion between him & the acting Governor. Should the construction of the latter be erronious it may be necessary to warn him of it. I therefore request the favor of your sentiments upon the case. I am &c. DNA : RG 59—DL—Domestic Letters.
43From 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...
44To 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...
45To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 31 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The mail of saturday brought me judge Johnson’s apology for his opinion which you were so good as to inclose me. This morning I received your favor of the 28th. inst: containing the letters from Mr. Bibb. The fee charged is much more than we expected. When I was last at Washington we made an estimate of the debts due from the fund so far as we could ascertain them. In this we calculated Mr....
46To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 15 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The importance of the questions submitted to my consideration in your letter of the 26. of August, has induced me to keep them a considerable time under advisement, to revolve the subjects they embrace much in my own mind, to review the opinion I originally entertained, & to recur to the authorities applicable to the case— After a very attentive research into the books & mature deliberation I...
47To James Madison from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 10 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
I received this morning your letters with the papers enclosed for Mr. Jackson. You will see by the inclosed letters to the President my opinion of the depositions & the use I contemplate making of them. The President writes me that he will be at Washington by the 16. Inst. so that my letters must not go on to him, but wait his arrival at the seat of Government. Our friend Mr. Jackson merits...
48To James Madison from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 11 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
On my arrival here, I found that the District Attorney was at Princeton, & I determined if Burr had not left the city to apply immediately for a warrant & arrest him for treason, so as to secure & have him sent on in custody to Richmond for trial, unless some good natured judge released him upon Hab. Corpus. He has been obli ged in order to elude the Sheriff’s officers who ha ve been in for...
49To 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...
50To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 24 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Previous to my receiving your note of the 22d. inst: Mr. Madison had sent me a lenthy statement of facts relative to the batture in front of the suburb St. Mary at New Orleans, or alluvial lands to which you refer. In this statement Messrs. Derbigny & Lisly French lawyers of reputation & Mr. Gurley Attorney General of the New Orleans territory, have, I understand, given decided opinions in...
51To 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...
52To 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...
53To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 6 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Burr is actually in Philada. I have just received a letter from Mr. Dallas of which the following is an extract—“Col. Burr Bollman, &c., are here. I presume a consultation will be held, & that what has been proved or can be proved will decide their future operations.” I flatter myself we shall have ample evidence at the Court to induce a Grand jury who are impartial & intelligent, to find a...
54To 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...
55To 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...
56To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 28 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to introduce to you W . A. Macaulay a physician in the army of the United States. He wishes to exchange this birth for the more active & honorable situation of an officer. He is a native I believe of Virginia, is a young gentleman of amiable character & manners, & of correct republican principles. I have no doubt but that he possesses every qualification of an active & meritorious...
57To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 15 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have read and considered the papers and documents referred to me relative to the case of a mandamus , issued by the circuit court of the United States for the district of South Carolina to compel the collector of the port of Charleston to grant clearances to certain vessels. The first question that naturally presents itself, is, whether the court possessed the power of issuing a mandamus in...
58To 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...
59To 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...
60To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 22 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The embargo appears to be considered by all parties as a wise & salutary measure. With the exception of a little band, there is no division in the country on the subject. to give efficacy to the law requires constant vigilance & exertion on the part of our revenue officers. The happiest consequences I believe will result from its rigid execution, whilst a system of evasion will defeat &...
61To 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...
62To James Madison from Caesar Augustus Rodney, June 1807 (Madison Papers)
Agreeably to your request contained in your favor of the 1st inst. I enclose a draft in favor of Mr. Milliken for $350. I also have forwarded to J. G. Jackson Esq. an order for $. 500. 5/ 100 in consequence of your letter of the 30th. ulto. & another order, to Mr. Brent as agent of Mr. Gra ham for $.380: 25/ 100 agreeably to your directions of the 26. ulto. Judge Toulmin’s packet, I find on...
63To 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...
64To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 10 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I received by the last mail your favor of the 1st inst. returning to me the letters from my father. I now enclose you another from him of a subsequent date, which shews the weakness. folly & wickedness of Burr & his partizans. I feel very confident now that we shall have ample evidence to pronounce intent for Treason agt. Burr & Blennerhasset at the ensuing Court. I think an intelligent &...
65To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 28 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have read and considered the inclosed papers. The subject they furnish is interesting to the cause of humanity. The questions presented are new and important. The American Government must feel an anxious solicitude, for the complete success of those laws, which have been wisely enacted, to abolish that deplorable species of commerce, the slave trade, and to preserve the liberties of a...
66To 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....
67To 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...
68To James Madison from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 1 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
By this day’s mail I send you Lofts’ Reports which contain Somerset’s case. I found on my way home that the merchants were eluding the embargo, by surrendering up their registers & taking out licenses for coasting. This Mr. Gallatin had an amendment drawn up to prevent. It should pass as soon as possible in the shape of a supplement to the original act. It is a pity the resolution as proposed...
69To 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...
70To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 22 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of the 21st. inst: by the mail of this morning & shall obey your friendly call with great cheerfulness. I shall leave home tomorrow in my own carriage & bring Mrs. Rodney with me, for whom I have been waiting for several days. With great esteem & respect Yours Very Sincerely & Affecy. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
71To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 22 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the papers relative to Philip M. Topham. I am decidedly of opinion that the discharge under the insolvent laws of New York would not release him from the penalty recovered by the United States. However as he is now out of prison, the idea you suggested of permitting him to go at large, meets my approbation. after a verdict & judgment for a penalty it becomes a debt, in law, due...
72To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 16 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreeably to the direction contained in your last favor I wrote to the district attorney of Maryland and transmitted him a copy of M. Mouesay’s petition. I understand from John Warner a merchant of this place, who was personally acquainted with him in the West Indies, that he bore a bad character there. Be this as it may, he is certainly entitled to justice, from our Courts. I fear the suits...
73To 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...
74To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 23 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Page 1. Line 2. After “fellow citizens” add, “entirely unexpected & much to be deprecated, threatening a serious change in the enviable state of our country, imposed the duty of convening you, at an earlier period, than the day assigned by the constitution.” in lieu of the residue of the first sentence. —— 6. After “not” insert, “with all our sincere efforts to preserve tranquility.” —— 7....
75To 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...
76From Caesar Augustus Rodney to James Madison, 11 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
On my arrival here, I found that the District Attorney was at Princeton, & I determined, if Burr had not left the city to apply immediately for a warrant against him for treason, so as to secure & have him put on in custody to Richmond for trial, unless some good natured judge released him upon Hab. Corpus. He has been obliged in order to elude the Sheriff’s officers who had, I am informed...
77To 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...
78To 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...
79To 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...
80To 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...
81To 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...
82To 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...
83To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 22 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I find by the papers you have arrived safe, & I hope in good health, at Washington, on the day you expected. When I was in Philada. I was informed that Magdalena the Spanish Secretary of Legation had been re-instated in his office & the Ministers reprimanded for his conduct towards him. I trust it is correct, & that Dr Yrujo will ultimately be disgraced. The insolent note of the Captain of the...
84To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 16 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment received your favor of the 12th. inst: & hasten to transmit you by the mail of this day Genl. Wilkinsons letter of the 21st. of October last recd. by you Novr. 25th. agreeably to your desire. Mr. Hay was only left in possession of such papers as were material, for the part of the prosecution. I was yesterday gratified with the receipt of a letter from Genl. Wilkinson of the...
85To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 10 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I received under cover from you, the letter of Robt. Johnson of New York, in which he suggests that a certain Oliver Fields may be a material witness, as to the assemblage on Blennerhassets island. This is an important, but at the same time a delicate point for the production of evidence, unless we know precisely that the witness will swear, & also are confident that Burr & his associates...
86To 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...
87To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 12 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 18th inst: was received on saturday. I will take care that Bayley is arrested & brought to punishment. For this purpose I will call on Mr. Stephen in Baltimore, deliver him the indictment, & request his attention to the business. The subject of the Batture I shall take immediately into consideration. When I last wrote, my determination was to have left this on friday & to...
88To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 31 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return this evening from New Castle I received your favor of the 26th. inst I remember perfectly, when the subject of an attachment was spoken of, I was of opinion, that however parties, who were able to pay for them, might purchase any number of subpenas, & summon with their own process, whom they pleased; the Court would not enforce an obedience by attachment, which is the process of...
89To 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...
90To Thomas Jefferson from Caesar Augustus Rodney, 13 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Genl. Allen is desirous of having a copy of the opinion I have, after mature consideration, formed in his favor. With your approbation, it shall be delivered. I entertained for a long time serious doubts on the subject in consequence of the loss being sustained by the failure of his own bail, but taking all the circumstances of the case into consideration I think he has suffered such plain &...