James Madison Papers

From James Madison to James Monroe and William Pinkney, 3 December 1806

To James Monroe and William Pinkney

Department of State December 3d. 1806

Gentlemen

The President having this day coplied1 with the recommendation in your letter of Septr. 12.2 by a special message to Congress on the subject of the non-importation act of the last Session, I lose not a moment in forwarding to Mr. Merry’s care the inclosed copy.3 Hoping that it will either find him still at Alexandria, or overtake him before the vessel gets out of reach, I remain with great respect and consideration Your most Obt Servt.

James Madison

RC and enclosure (DLC: Rives Collection, Madison Papers); letterbook copy (DNA: RG 59, IM, vol. 6); Tr (DNA: RG 46, Executive Proceedings, Foreign Relations, 10B-B1); Tr (DNA: RG 233, President’s Messages, 10A-D1). RC in Forrest’s hand, signed by JM; docketed by Monroe as “3. Decer 1806 Mr Madison suspension of the non importation law.” For enclosure, see n. 3.

1The letterbook copy and both Trs have “complied.”

2The letterbook copy has “12” changed to “11” September; for the letter, see PJM-SS, 12:292–99.

3The enclosure, in Pleasonton’s hand, is a copy of Thomas Jefferson’s 3 December 1806 letter to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives (printed under “Special Message on Great Britain” in Ford, Writings of Thomas Jefferson, 8:496–97).

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