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Documents filtered by: Recipient="Madison, James" AND Period="Madison Presidency"
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29 August 1811, Rota. Reports developments since leaving Cadiz in February 1810 when the French closed the port. Has been refused access to the city, but has been able to communicate with Hackley. Describes the efforts he and his son have made to rescue American property and repatriate seamen when eight vessels were stranded in the Bay of Cadiz in March 1810. Met with little success. His son...
By a letter of 1st April from Mr. Smith Secretary of State I have observed with much regret that your Excellency has not thought proper to aprove the agreement which I made with Mr. Hackley, authorized to do so by Mr. Erving under the Secure Supposition that it woud have merited the approbation of your Excellency, and in favor of the mutual interests of myself & Mr. Hackley; my advantage was...
Resolved unanimously by the board of Aldermen and board of Common Council of the City of Washington in joint meeting met—That the Mayor of the City—Elias B. Caldwell, Daniel Carroll of Dudn. Buller Cocke, Walter Jones Jr. & Thomas Monroe, be a Committee to carry to the President of the U.S. the expression of the Citizens of this City of their unprotected & defenceless state from menaced...
8 February 1810, Philadelphia. Warns JM to expect “ill treatement” after the return of Francis James Jackson to Great Britain. Offers advice on preparations for war. RC ( DNA : RG 107, LRRS , A-22:5). 1 p. Signed “A friend of this country.” Docketed by a War Department clerk as received 12 Feb. 1810.
15 October 1809, Urbana. Demands that JM implement the principles of the report on public credit that he signed with Alexander Hamilton and Oliver Ellsworth on 18 Sept. 1783. RC ( NN ). 3 pp. Unsigned. JM’s correspondent was referring to the “Address to the States by the United States in Congress Assembled” of 26 Apr. 1783 (see PJM William T. Hutchinson et al., eds., The Papers of James...
24 February 1810, Charleston. Criticizes the decision of the Jefferson administration to reduce the naturalization period for foreigners to four years. “Experience teaches us daily, that there is but little confidence to be placed in them.” Argues that foreigners may be “received among us” and permitted to hold land and conduct business, but they should “never … be permited to vote at...
The moment is now approaching which will probably place in your hands the Destinies of millions, a moment important to yourself your country and Posterity: You have arrived at a crisis which requires not only the aid of much human wisdom but of an Almighty hand for the rule of your Government: To you Sir the American Empire is now entrusted To you Sir the American Nation look up for Safety and...
The Sentiments of an individual on the Great subject of national concern may be thought assuming and intruding but when proceeding from upright honest principles produced by perhaps the Superior and immediate Spirit of our divine maker to be suggested to the rulers of the country now assembled by a humble private character without any party spirit in such case as this apoligy seems...
It is one of the greatest blessings of our republican Goverment and administration; the Ease, and facility with which, any man can approach the chief magistrate of the nation; and however weak he may be in his political opinions, if he has the love of his Country at heart, it will be a free pasport to his president, under these considerations I have taken the liberty to suggest some few...
The most lamentable delusion seems to have prevailed in the formation of every plan for the establishment of a national Bank which has hitherto been submitted for the consideration of Congress. Your objections to the Bill which you lately returned to the Senate are correct and conclusive as far as relates to its capacity of being useful to the public or private interests of the country during...
Since the perusal of your late Message, I have been led to reflect upon the actual situation of our country, of which your communication to Congress professes to be a faithful exposition; and as I cannot bring my mind to the same results with your Excellency, I trust you will allow me the liberty of expressing some doubts, with my reasons for them, in regard to the prosperous state of our...
Feeling an interest in your wellfare I think proper to inform you that there are numerous incendiaries in and about Washington employed by the British who are watching there opportunity to make way with you by the dagger or poison. I dowbt not that immediately on the receipt of this you will take effectual measures to prevent their insiduous purposes. Hoping that this may reach you in time I...
A friend to the United States of America, who, with many other’s, is compelled against his will to fight on board of the vessels of your enemy, has, fortunately, at this time, an opportunity of transmitting you an information as he hopes may be of use to your country. He subscribes not his name, and has good reason for it: of which, ere long, you will undoubtedly be informed, and will so...
I presume to take the liberty of writing you a letter on a subject, which has and does at the present bear great weight on my mind, That is the treatment of the Soldiers of the 8th. Regt U S Infy., Since Major Daniel Appling has taken the command, delivered from Col. P Jack—Sometime about the first of last august, Major Appling to my certain knowledge has whiped soldiers since he has had the...
I do not mean to dictate but only as a friend to your Administration and as one of the family of the Union to communicate my sentiments in a few particulars as briefly as I can conveniently. I have suggested to you a mode of raising an hundred thousand troops or militia by classing the Citizens of the United States in such a manner as that the amount of the State tax each class annually pays...
The writer of this Communication deems it his duty as one of a suffering Community to state to the Executive of the United states that unless immediate measures are adopted to prevent the further drain of Specie from the middle & southern States that universal Bankrupcy must ensue. In gods name why not meet the Crisis firmly & utter at once fifty or one hundred millions of paper medium & make...
I have taken the liberty to call your attention to certain Strictures contained in the 2d & 3d columns of the second page in the inclosed news paper. To you Sir the Nation has a right to look for an honest upright man at the head of the Treasury department. The People of the United States have not only a right to expect Sir, that the high officer to whom you entrust the management of all the...
21 April 1812, New York. Having just learned that the government intends to appoint an additional judge for the district of New York, recommends John Ferguson of this city. “He is a man of honor and probity, and sincerely attached to the present Administration of the General Government.” Believes that Governor Tompkins and Mr. Sanford would confirm this. “The appointment of Mr Ferguson would...
There appears to be at this time 11. Sail of Armed Vessels Vitze. 4.   74s. Certainly 2   64s. 74 in disguise 2   Frigates 3   Sloops of War & two or three small Tenders or Cutters There appears to be at Blackstones Island Four sail Vitz: 1. 80 Gun ship which went up this morning 1 Transport 1 Brigg & 2 Sloops. In all 19 Sail vitzt. 1. 80 Gun ship 4. 74s. do 2 64 do 4 Frigates 3 Briggs 4...
Memorial of the Merchants & traders in the Borough of Harrisburg respectfully represent. That your memorialists having to transact much of their mercantile business with merchants in the city of Philadelphia through the medium of the Post office consequently are under the necessity of remitting by mail large sums of money to the merchants in the city of whom they purchase merchandize &ca. It...
As a Citizen of the United states, I feel it my duty to give you the following information. I trust that the nature of the communication I am about to make, will equally remove the idea of delation or mischief towards the individual; but if such were the impressions it is to produce, as my only object is to serve the Country and yourself, my personal respect for you shall outweigh this...
I advise thee to be cautious and prudent. Massachusetts will not go to war. The union I fear will be shaken if war continues. Enclosed is a paper from which you may judge of the feelings of the People. RC ( NN ). Undated; date assigned here on the basis of a Salem, Massachusetts, 6 July postmark. Docketed by JM, “June 1812.” Enclosure not found.
An old friend presumes to address you on a subject extremely interresting to the society of which he is immediately a member and not uninterresting to the goverment of his country . He should not have disturbed you at this time, this crisis in our political affairs, when every energy of your mind is known to be directed to the best interests of our country, amidst a number of almost...
An officer in the British service, I have been dispatched to this place, by the order of my Goverment, for the purpose of arming, and rousing the Creek Nation of Indians, by every possible means , to make War on the people of the U.S. The policy adopted by my country, is such, as my breast cannot approve, and indeed, the cause , as well as the mode of prosecuting the war, on their part, I...
On reading in one of our Public prints a definition of Treason given as by one of the Circuit Judges of the United States I was led to reflect whether or not it be timely and Advisable to amend or modify the Constitution of the United States so as to make it Treasonable to attempt to dissolve the Union or to aid or encourage it by writing publishing or pronouncing anything that might be...
Rais’d by the honorable Suffrages of the American people, to the most dignified state amongst mankind, conjecture, is now lost in certainty and it may fairly be pronounced, that you were born for the benefit of the human family. It would be superfluous to attempt to show by any species of argument, that to those who have assisted in raising you to an emenence, to which they believ’d you were...
Although I have not the honor to be personally acquainted with you, yet I shall take the liberty to write you a few lines. I am acquainted with the different political parties in this City, and throughout the State; and am in the freequent habit of discussing different Political subjects, with Federalists, Clintonians &c; and in general, with such as have not made up their minds, at all...
The illicit commerce between Great Britain & the United States, through the Channels of Halifax, and amelia Island, being, as is supposed, unquestionable, would it not be adviseable to prohibit any Intercourse whatever with those places, and generally, with every place in the possession, &c. of G. B. on the Continent of North America, or within one hundred leagues thereof, or such other...
As General Armstrong was one of your principal Secretaries, Bon Amie and Bottle Companion, enjoying your confidence in a super-eminent degree, it would be cruel, as well as ungenerous in me to doubt for a single moment his honor or veracity. In his letter to the public, he states, “that you informed him that you was also an object of the suspicions and menaces of the militia of the District.”...
25 April 1811. “The Subject of this letter has given me much pain. It induces me to trespass on You for the 3d & last time.… No Benefit can result to me by this act; On the contrary I might draw upon myself, an host of Enemies, with the Secretary of War at their head.… The present letter is on the existing state of our Military Establishment & the arms & implements of War.… In adverting to our...
I did myself the honour of addressing you some months ago, upon the subject of national defence, and at the same time gave myself considerable trouble in collecting from various publications important hints on military affairs, which in my opinion might have rendered essential service to our country, and which are still capable of putting our Military power into a highly improved state. I am...
This looks like seperation Jimmy the thing is ripening, and if the War continues 6 months it will be Matured. RC ( NN ). Postmarked New York, 12 Apr. Undated; date assigned here on the basis of the postmark. Docketed by JM, with his note: “Anonymous / Apl. 13. 1813 / Celebration of Russian Vicry. at Boston.” Damaged by removal of seal. On 13 and 27 Feb. 1813, the Boston Columbian Centinel...
Can the President call forth the militia of the Union, or any part of that militia, without the aid of the State Executives? This question must be decided by the constitution, and by the three acts of May 8, 1792—Feby 28, 1795, and April 10, 1812. The constitution authorizes the calling forth of the Militia on three occasions only. 1. To execute the laws of the union. 2. To suppress...
I see with pain by the public papers that the British have burnt several places of no Importance but this Shews they mean to carry on the War to distroy & burn all they can of course we must relatiate, there are 500 Towns in Cornwal, Scotland, & Ireland where the Cheasepeak frigate, might go & burn with as much ease as the British ships now burn our little Towns in Virginia & Maryland, as a...
1810 Coll. Robert Patten for the President of the United States, Dr, to Robert Fielding febr. 3. 1810 To 3 new full plated Globes for the Chariot  30,— six ℔ of the best wax canoles for do   4,80 a Case for do. & Porterage   2,— $36,80 Recd payment from Coll Patten Ms ( DLC ). Canole: a variant spelling of cannel, a hard bituminous coal that burns very brightly; also sometimes written channel
The present Circumstances of our Country looks very alarming, & for want of resources makes it so much the worse, would it not be well for the proper Authoritys of every State Government to Borrow Money on its own Acct. and receive no less of any Individual or Co. then one Hundred dollars, the State to Pledge itself in 6 or 7 years for the Payment of it this will effect a willingness for...
13 January 1813, New York. Writes JM “in behalf of Aliens.” Recounts an episode in which [Barent] Gardenier “was sued by a female alien servent for wagers [ sic ] amounting to 35$,” which he refused to pay. Relates another example of Federalist mistreatment of aliens, in which “A respectable Englishman” became intoxicated and consequently unguarded in his speech and accused Washington of being...
I belong to the American Army and with the ardent feelings of the soldier I join a devout solicitude for my Countrys Interest and glory, while with Spartan disinterestedness I take the liberty of hinting to your superior judgment the outlines of a plan to reduce the Canades in one campaign, & thereby retrieve the waining honor of our Arms, I entreat you Sir, not to deem it disrespectful in me...
At a time like the present when my life & Property, as well as that of Millions of the inhabitants of the U S—is in Danger we ought not to be refused the priveledge of addressing our Complaints to our political Head & Father. I shall therefore proceed to make known to you the Distresses & Sentiments & Wishes of the People of this Section of our Country. Every Town on the Seaboard & on the...
The enormous importation and the great amt. of British Dry goods brought in here on British Acct. totally preclude all Competi[ti]on on Our part, and our Cotton Mills are fast approaching their dissolution. Lately in the want of exports to meet those enormous importations some 7 or 8 Tons of Cotton yarn was bought up at Very reduced Prices and exported; but I cannot beleive that at present our...
20 February 1810, New Haven. Advocates the establishment of “ privileged corps ” of engineers to defend the seacoast from attack by armed vessels in lieu of the volunteers called for by JM. RC ( DNA : RG 107, LRRS , A-26:5). 1 p. Signed “A Native American.” Docketed by a War Department clerk as received 26 Feb. 1810. The House committee that acted on JM’s 3 Jan. 1810 message calling for “a...
As the Situation of a chief magistrate is honorable & as it has cognizance of all the Sub-officers of Government, it is the imperious duty of that chief Magistrate to know the abilities, the honesty, the liberality, & judgment of any Sub-officer. It is too frequently the case, that chief magistrates are imposed upon, by the false representations of the talents of those, who apply for...
27 April 1812, Boston. Promised in his last not to trouble JM again. “But an Idea has since struck me In consequence of the difficulty you had in selling the 18 million and the enormous Interest you was obliged to give. … If you should again want 18 million of Dollars that for this 18 million there should be Issued from the treasury 36 Million of 3 P C Stock and that your Contracters for Navy...
“Illustrious” Madison! canting “Fellow Citizen”!!! ☞ ☞ ☞ I hope you and all your infernal Set, are now in the Suds : if you are not yet, a post or two, will convince you. War, has taken place, between Britain, and the United States; you may recollect this, & credit anonymous’ account, in future . All , that I have predicted, & warned you of, will come to pass. A commence , you will hear of,...
In my opinion, your honor, the honor of the United States, and the honor of this State, require that a complete examination of the pretentions and Claims of the Military aplicants, whose names have been laid before, and Sanctioned by the Senate, Should take place, previous to their being Commissioned; if Nothing else render it necessary the Juggling used by the Clintonian faction, to have your...
It is a fact that of the many Vessels that have for some months past enter’d the ha[r]bors of the U. S. pretending to be french privateers the Diligent Brig that arrived at Phila. is the only legal cruiser. It is not intended to include the national schooner No. 5 the rest are an edition of the Bucaneers of old who rob all Vessels they meet with having m⟨oney?⟩ with which they return to the...
There is most shamefull conduct going on here. One John Tappan a verry religious man—and others—say B & C. Adams Tappan & Searle—Israel Thorndike—David Hinkley—a base sett of Tories—do enter Goods at Bath under Judge Sewall and Bond them by Apraisement in the most corrupt manner—there is now a cargo in their valud. at $300.000. I am told from good authority that John Tappan claimd 50 pacages...
The Petition of the Subscribers, Fishermen of Boston and its vicinity, humbly sheweth, That many of them have, inadvertently and without due reflection, signed a petition to the Legislature of Massachusetts, praying for relief from the restrictions imposed upon them by the “Act laying an Embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States.” They have since learnt,...
As it appears you are wholly insensible of what is doing here, or intirely disregard the consequences of having such immense quantities of British goods brought into market, even under the eyes of the Custom House officers, and their Deputy’s who disregard there oaths, and are bribed to hold there tongues, and be out of the way—do you not know the effects—that it dreans the vaults of all the...
16 December 1809, Portland. JM’s remarks in his annual message to Congress regarding the militia prompted this letter, which might have been sent to Ezekiel Whitman, the Maine district congressman, but “he might not be so sensible of the importance of the subject as you appear to be.” Every man should attempt to qualify himself for militia duty, but there is an aversion stemming “from the...