1171To James Madison from William Bingham, 25 April 1789 (Madison Papers)
I will make no Apology to you for the small Portion of Time that the Perusal of this letter may claim from more valuable Avocations. By Letters I have received from Europe, I am induced to think that Strong Impressions on the public Mind, will be made by the first legislative Acts of Congress, which will display in Some Measure, the Character of our new Government. I am afraid we Shall be...
1172To James Madison from William Bingham, 12 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
I had the Honor of addressing you under Date of the 19 July & having then wrote you a very long Letter, must apologize for again troubling you on the Same Subject. I therein mentioned that the Plaintiffs in the Action in Massachusetts concerning the Brig Hope & her Cargo, had produced on the Trial, Proof that the Cargo was British Property. But however natural, Such an Inference, knowing that...
1173To James Madison from John Binns and Others, 20 April 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 April 1813, Philadelphia. “A vacancy having occurred in the office of Treasurer of the Mint by the death of Dr. Rush, we respectfully recommend Dr. Elijah Griffiths for that appointment. He is a native of this state and has resided for many years in this City. His intelligence and good morals, joined to his unassuming manners has rendered him much respected. As a politician his conduct has...
1174To James Madison from John Binns, 11 July 1814 (Madison Papers)
Conscious as I am of the many public and truly important duties which at this time inevitably press upon your excellencies attention I could not be prevailed upon by any personal or private considerations to obtrude myself upon your notice; but when I am urged by convictions of public duty and the hope of doing a public service I cannot forbear, however otherwise unwilling respectfully to...
1175To James Madison from John Binns and Others, 6 February 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 February 1813. “The Naturalized Citizens of the United States residing in the City and vicinity of Philadelphia, natives of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland have at various meetings had under their serious consideration the Proclamation of the Prince Regent under date of the 26th. October 1812, upon which subject, with all the respect due to the enlightened Chief Magistrate of...
1176To James Madison from John Binns, 7 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
A very unexpected request from Mr. Bernard Smith imposes upon me the necessity of obtruding myself for a few moments upon your attention. He requests me under oath to controvert a deposition made by one Gardner relative to a certain publication or publications which have been printed in the Democratic Press. I do assure you Sir, in the most solemn manner that I never have at any time or upon...
1177To James Madison from John Binns and Others, 2 January 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 January 1813. “At a very numerous and respectable meeting of citizens of the United States, natives of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, held in the city of Philadelphia January 2, 1813, to consider the proclamation of the Prince Regent of the 26th October, 1812 (a copy of which is enclosed), it was resolved to communicate to you, sir, the sentiments of the meeting on this...
1178To James Madison from John Binns, 13 April 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 April 1804, Northumberland, Pennsylvania. “As it sometimes happens that communications from the several departments of the General Government are required to be inserted in the newspapers of the several States, I take the liberty of requesting that if any thing of the kind should require to be inserted in the newspapers of this State, from the department over which you preside, that the...
1179To James Madison from Thomas E. Birch, 17 March 1809 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
17 March 1809, Inglesville, Montgomery County, Virginia. A native of the British West Indies, Birch solicits a naval commission on the basis of his experience under Horatio Nelson and other British commanders and with Stephen Decatur, Sr., aboard the Rising Sun in the Revolution. Since 1793 he has been “engag⟨ed⟩ in the education of the Columbian youth,” while publishing books on elocution....
1180To James Madison from Solomon Birckhead, 7 May 1813 (Madison Papers)
I hope it will not be thought presumptuous in a private Citizen of Baltimore to address the President of the Union upon an occasion so awful & alarming as at present hangs over our City. Congress have thought proper to involve us, with this once happy Country, in a state of war, with a powerful nation, against whom we can atchieve nothing—whom we can injure little—and at whose mercy our Towns...