James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Richard M. Johnson, 25 February 1815

From Richard M. Johnson

House of R 25. Feb 1815

Sir,

Having received so many demonstrations of your favour, & which have never failed to produce the most lively feelings of gratitude on my part, I feel some hesitations in renewing the recommendation of Joseph F⟨icklin⟩ Esq for a Commercial agency or a consulate;1 as the pacification of the world may present occasions which have not heretofore existed. If however you Should not find it convenient to appoint him, he certainly will not be pressed by your Sincere friend & obt Servt

Rh: M: Johnson

RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1809–17, filed under “Johnson”).

1. In 1811 and 1814 Johnson had forwarded to the State Department letters from Joseph Ficklin (1775–1859) requesting that Johnson recommend him for a commercial agency or consulate. JM nominated Ficklin to be consul at Saint-Barthélemy on 16 Apr. 1816, and the Senate confirmed the appointment four days later. Ficklin had been postmaster at Russellville, Kentucky, 1802–12. After returning from the West Indies, he edited the Kentucky Gazette, 1821–24; served as postmaster at Lexington, Kentucky, 1822–41 and 1843–50; and was a trustee of Transylvania University (DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1809–17, filed under “Ficklin”; Senate Exec. Proceedings description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America (3 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1828). description ends , 3:43–44, 46; PJM-RS description begins David B. Mattern et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Retirement Series (3 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 2009–). description ends 3:104 n. 3).

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    Source Project
    Madison Papers
    Title
    To James Madison from Richard M. Johnson, 25 February 1815
    Author
    Johnson, Richard M.
    Recipient
    Madison, James
    Date
    25 February 1815

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To James Madison from Richard M. Johnson, 25 February 1815,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-09-02-0034. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, Presidential Series, vol. 9, 19 February 1815–12 October 1815, ed. Angela Kreider, J. C. A. Stagg, Mary Parke Johnson, and Anne Mandeville Colony. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2018, p. 31.]

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