James Madison Papers

To James Madison from George Graham, 30 August 1815

From George Graham

August 30th. 1815

Dear Sir

The Foreign Packet directed to Mr. Crawford & returned by you, was forwarded by the mail of that day to Richmond, with directions to the Post Master there to forward it to “Lexington, Georgia” should Mr. Crawford have passed thro’ Richmond.

Dr. Ker’s Letter has been answer’d, and a thousand dollars out of the Contingent fund forwarded to him; the appropriation for the Hospital Depart. is expended. A complimentary Letter was written to his son by Mr. Dallas; you were of opinion that the Brevet commission could not issue, on the recommendation of Genl. Jackson as his appointment had not been sanctioned by the secretary of war, previous to the military peace establishment.1

Governor Cass was authorized by Mr. Dallas to draw upon this Department for only fifteen hundred dollars, to be applied to the releif of the distressed inhabitants of the Michigan territory, & which sum he had expended; in consequence of your memorandum he has been authorized to extend the releif, but in doing so, to adhere to the strictest economy.2

The Letter from the Commissioners was referred to the Commissioner of the General Land office, for information as to the boundary line of the Cherokees, but he could give none, of which the Commissioners were advised; their draft for two thousand dollars has been accepted.3 With sincere regard yr. obt. Sert

Geo: Graham

RC (DLC).

1See JM to Graham, ca. 28 Aug. 1815, and n. 1.

2JM’s memorandum on this subject has not been found, but it was written in response to a 22 June 1815 letter to the War Department from Michigan Territory governor Lewis Cass, reporting that the inhabitants of the territory were appealing to him for provisions and seed wheat. Graham’s 30 Aug. 1815 reply directed him to dispense supplies from army stores and to draw on the War Department for funds to buy seed, all with “strict adherence to economy” (DNA: RG 107, LSMA).

3See JM to Graham, ca. 28 Aug. 1815, and n. 2.

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