To James Madison from William Duane, 10 August 1805 (Abstract)
From William Duane, 10 August 1805 (Abstract)
§ From William Duane. 10 August 1805. “Wm Duane’s respects to Mr Maddison—Sends a paper in which there is an article, that it may be proper he should see—the same information is stated in other papers of N York, of not so hostile a character as the N York Gazette.1
“Wm D. would have waited on Mr Maddison before now, but was desirous not to intrude while there was likely to be any interruption of other company—and on the subject of Spanish affairs he refrained rather from saying any thing than endanger any erroneous or premature discussion.”
RC (DLC). 1 p.
1. The enclosure has not been found, but Duane probably referred to an article in the 2 Aug. 1805 New-York Gazette and General Advertiser asking how the paragraph in Jefferson’s 8 Nov. 1804 message to Congress which stated that Spanish objections to the validity of the American title to Louisiana had been withdrawn, but the question of the territory’s exact limits remained to be settled, could be reconciled with the news that Monroe and Pinckney’s negotiations had “failed in every point.” The paper added: “An involved message, which may be read with equal chance of comprehension either backwards or forwards, will put every thing to rights.”