James Madison Papers
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To James Madison from James Taylor, 8 February 1812

From James Taylor

Frankfort Ky Feby 8th. 1812

Dear sir

I have taken the liberty of troubleing you very frequenly lately on the subject of my freinds, I must now say a word or two as to my self.

You Know that I have for many years done the duty of U:States agent in this State, and I trust I have discharged the trust with punctuality and fidelity.

I suppose from the present appearances of our Affairs that there will be some purchases to be made in this State of Horses &c particularly if we march toward Cannady.

I should have deemed this application almost needless, as I do suppose it might be considered almost belonging to my department, but I find there are several applications for places which if given, to act in this state, would Certainly interfere with mine.

I have droped the Secretary of War1 a line & shall drop a line to my freinds Clay & Johnson.2

It has been thought by some Moss3 would apply & might get the appointment. He has had & still has more of the lucrative offices from the Genl Goverment than any man in the state. He is still Navy agent & procures the supplies for the Indian dept. & he was supervisor &c. The Acctt & Paymaster will testify as to my punctuality as to my Accts & I think I have given perfect satisfaction to both of the Noble Secretares of War.

There is not an Individual in the state whose acquaintance in it is more general than mine of course I could procure supplies as easy. I hope my good sir you will pardon the liberty I have taken and am Dr. sir with the greatest respect & esteem your Obedt. Sert.

James Taylor

RC (DNA: RG 107, LRRS, T-71:6). Docketed as received in the War Department on 22 Feb. 1812.

1. Filed with Taylor’s letter to JM is his letter of the same date to Secretary of War Eustis expressing his hope that he would “not be forgotten in the distribution of the few offices” in the Quartermaster’s Department (ibid.). JM did nominate his kinsman Taylor for the position of deputy commissary of purchases on 1 Apr. 1812, but the Senate rejected the nomination two days later (Senate Exec. Proceedings description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America (3 vols.; Washington, 1828). description ends , 2:242–43).

2. Taylor referred to Kentucky representatives Henry Clay and Richard M. Johnson.

3. James W. Moss was Taylor’s brother-in-law (see PJM-PS description begins Robert A. Rutland et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Presidential Series (4 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1984–). description ends , 1:25 n. 1).

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    Madison Papers
    Title
    To James Madison from James Taylor, 8 February 1812
    Author
    Taylor, James
    Recipient
    Madison, James
    Date
    8 February 1812

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To James Madison from James Taylor, 8 February 1812,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-04-02-0186. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, Presidential Series, vol. 4, 5 November 1811–9 July 1812 and Supplement 5 March 1809 – 19 October 1811, ed. J. C. A. Stagg, Jeanne Kerr Cross, Jewel L. Spangler, Ellen J. Barber, Martha J. King, Anne Mandeville Colony, and Susan Holbrook Perdue. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1999, pp. 175–176.]

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