Letters and Other Writings of James Madison

010 - 31 - 4 c

His purpose of resigning the Secretaryship of the Treasury. His abil-
ity and zeal. His consent to prolong his functions to a given date,
for a particular and important object. His invaluable services. Per-
sonal

His treatise on Political Economy. Necessary postponement of an

entire and continued perusal. Its high value. His possible immi-

gration to U. S. A compliment and a caution

Dutch humiliation. De Nagel. Connexion with Russia. The Dutch
Government, during the absence of the Prince of Orange, a Gov-
ernment de facto. Principle implied in the restoration of Louis 18th
by the Allies. American indemnities. Pinkney and Naples. Galla-
tin and France. The Peace of Paris. Military establishments of G.
Britain and Russia. Spirit, &c., all over Europe. U. States and
Spain. Internal affairs. Finances. National Bank. War Taxes.
Double effect of the provision for fostering manufactures. Elec-
tions. New system in the Eastern quarter. Monopoly. The ship-
ping interest. Commercial Treaty with G. Britain. Jay's Treaty.
"Countervailing regulations." Dallas's proposed retirement.
Weather. Crops

To John Nicholas. Washington, May 30

Interior politics of N. York. Defence of a P. O. appointment there.

Meigs. Unreliableness of statements of conversations. Motives for

preventing measures taken on the fairest grounds

To John Rhea. Washington, June 1

A Commissioner for receiving subscriptions to the National Bank;
and also for treating with the Choctaws. Considerations of national
policy towards the Indians. A double extinction of Indian claims
preferable to the risk of injustice. Acquisitions made by the heroic
successes of General Jackson. His immortal reputation

To William H. Crawford. Montpellier, June 21

Gen. Gaines. Extreme measures discountenanced. The preferable

mode of resorting to them if necessary. Contingent invasion of a

foreign territory, and a consequence of it. Delicacy of the question

5, 6

6,7

PAGE.

1816.-Continued.

for the Executive. Its wishes, determination, &c., &c. Distressing

case presented by Gov. Cass. No legal ground for relief. Calcula-

tions. Creek agency

To the Secretary of the Navy. Montpellier, June 27

Kerr. Representation concerning Capt. Porter. Brown

To the Secretary of the Navy. August 22

Correspondence with the Dey of Algiers. Shaler. Chauncey. Pos-

sible hostilities on the part of Algiers

INSTRUCTIONS PREPARED FOR THE NAVY DEPARTMENT

To William H. Crawford, Secretary of War. Montpellier, June 29

Instructions for treating with the Chickasaws. Their lands lying

within the State of Tennessee. Lands on the Tombigbee, and those

running up the Tennessee river. Tract within Kentucky. Gulf

frontier. An ultimatum. Customary rates for extinguishing Indian

titles. Mode of stating the decreasing annuity, &c. -

To the Secretary of the Treasury. Montpellier, July 4

His plan concerning the currency. Mode of paying taxes. A sugges-
tion. Duty of the State Banks and of the State Legislatures. Re-
striction on circulating paper-

To Hyde de Neuville. Montpellier, July 17

His recent visit. Dispositions of Louis 18 and the French nation to-

ward the U. States. Reciprocation of them

To Alexander J. Dallas. Montpellier, July 27

Baker. Sears. Rule as to communications from Consuls. Monroe.

Bagot. U. S. vessels and Bermuda

To the Dey of Algiers. August

Two vessels of war captured by an American squadron. Decatur.

Proposed alternative of a renewal of a former Treaty, or a with-

drawal of our Consul from Algiers. Former causeless war of Al-

giers on U.S. Its punishment. Peace, and its advantages to Algiers.

Restoration of two captured ships. Spanish detention of the Brig

at Carthagena. Intervention of U. S., and restoration of the Brig.

Captious conduct of the Dey. U. S., while "they wish for war with

no nation, will buy peace from none." "As peace is better than

war, war is better than tribute." Authority to our Consul, and our

naval commander, Chauncey, to communicate with the Dey, &c.,

&c.

To Alexander J. Dallas. Montpellier, August 25

Treasury proposition

pose of the Banks.

tion of Congress.

to the action of

and decision of Bank deputies. Apparent pur-
State Legislatures. National Bank. Interposi-
Influence of the local Banks on it. Question as
the Executive. An expedient. Treasury notes

17, 18, 19

Accounts of Duplessis. Chew. Robertson. Porter. Offer of a Cabinet
appointment to Clay. Dallas's purposed retirement from the Treas-

1816. Continued.

ury. Petition of Augustus Johnson for pardon.
Library of Congress. Watterston. Rain. Crops.

To W. H. Crawford. Montpellier, September 21 -

Hall.

Intru-

Onis.

Objection to notice that a law would not be enforced.
ders on the public lands. Governor Clarke. The Indians.
Fort on the Chatahouchee. Spain. Gen. Jackson

To Mr. Crawford. Montpellier, September 22

Additional regulations for R. B. Lee, Commissioner, &c. Carroll's
claim. A caution. Dallas

To W. H. Crawford. Montpellier, September 23

Confidential representation from Jesup to Monroe. Folly, ignorance,

&c., of the Councils of Spain. Onis's intrigues. Precautions on our

Southwestern frontier. Gen. Jackson

To A. J. Dallas. Montpellier, September 27

-22, 23

- 23,

Sketch of the finances. Crawford. Clay declines the War Depart-
ment. Monroe. D.'s continued service

To W. H. Crawford. Montpellier, September 30

Jesup's communication and C.'s letters. Gen. Jackson. Erving. Patter-

son. Destruction of negro fort, &c. Rush. Clinch. Case novel, &c.

Captured negroes and Spain. Establishment on the Apalachicola.
Spanish jurisdiction. Jameson's agency. A visit from the Indians
to Washington to be discountenanced. Monroe. Clay. Lowndes's
general talents and public standing

Dallas about to leave Washington. Offer of War Department to
Lowndes

To Wilson Carey Nicholas, Governor of Virginia. Montpellier, October 5
Heads of Departments allowed to select their own clerks. Dallas and
the Banks. The currency. Circular from the Directors of the lit-
erary fund. System of public instruction

Dr. Freeman. Mrs. Madison and Mrs. Adams. Steel. A.'s favorable

judgment on the course of M.'s administration

Time fixed for Crawford to enter the Treasury Department. Lowndes.

Improbability of Jesup's intelligence. The Spanish squadron

To A. J. Dallas. Montpellier, October

Cabinet arrangements. Lowndes. Crawford. Monroe

To William Lowndes. Washington, October 16

Offer of the War Department to him

To A. J. Dallas. Washington, November 11

Requests a prospectus of the receipts and expenditures of the fiscal

year, &c., &c. Probable criticism on a part of D.'s "Sketches"

To the Rev. Wm. Bentley. December 28

Crowninshield. B.'s approval of M.'s administration, &c. Monroe - 31, 32

1817. [P. 32-57.]

To Carlo Botta. Washington, January

1817.-Continued.

Suggests a translation into English of B.'s "Camillo." One contem-

plated of his "Storia della Guerra d'America"

To Charles J. Ingersoll. Washington, January 21 -

Death of Dallas. His eminent character and services -

To William H. Crawford. February 4

Arrangements of certain banks for resuming specie payments

To Thomas Jefferson. Washington, February 15

Spafford's letter. Weather. Extreme cold. Pinkney's want of suc-

cess at Naples. "Pride, poverty, and want of principle." Govern-

ment of Spain. "Its habitual mean cunning." Onis. British Cab-

inet. Dey of Algiers. Chauncey. Shaler

Failure of harvests in Europe and in U. S. "Most exceptionable
turn" of the compensation law. Claims-law relating to horses and
houses. The two Houses of Congress and the W. India trade. Sen-
ate bill concerning roads and canals. Expected departure from
Washington and interview with J.

To Committee of the City of Washington, March 4 -

Expressions of regard and respect from the citizens of Washington.

Its selection for the National Metropolis by its great Founder. Jef-

ferson's aids to it. Its disaster during the late war. Good wishes

To George M. Dallas. Washington, March 6

D.'s intended publication of the life and writings of his father. High

merits of both. A favorable reception of the work not doubted.

Consent to a dedication, &c.

To Albert Gallatin. March -

Hassler. Le Sueur. Crawford. Specie payments. Selfishness of the

banks. Manufactories crippled. Depression of prices. High prices

of agricultural products. Appeals to Congress in behalf of manu-

factures. Proposed reciprocation of the British W. I. navigation

act. The plaster act. The British general navigation act of Charles

II. Weather. Crops. Price of corn. Prospect of permanent resi-

dence on farm. F. Preston's son

To William Eustis. Washington, March

E.'s expected return from Holland. Monroe. Good wishes. Private

To William H. Crawford. Montpellier, April 24

Lupinella seed. Approaching paroxysm of British affairs. Equi-

librium of external causes." J. Adams. Conjectured division of

the Whig party, and question between the Government with the

army and the mass of the nation. Arrival at home. Agricultural

prospects. Weather. Hessian fly

To John Adams. May 22

Condorcet. A.'s observations. Idea of a Government" in one centre."

Experience of some States of the Union

Question as to the sufficiency of checks and balances, founded on the

- 40, 41

1817.-Continued.

distribution of power among different bodies, all deriving their ex-
istence from the elective principle, &c. Circumstances in U. States
favorable to the experiment. A.'s approval of M.'s Administra-
tion. Good wishes

To D. Lynch, Jr. Montpellier, June 27

Election as a member of a society for encouraging domestic manufac-

tures. This policy, within certain limits, and in reference to cer-

tain articles, a proper exception to the general rule of leaving to

the sagacity of individuals, and to the impulse of private interest,

the application of industry and capital

Wish of every prudent nation to be independent of other nations for

the necessary articles of food, of raiment, and of defence. Particu-

lar considerations applicable to U. S. Temporary interposition on

behalf of other articles. The case of immigrants. Grounds of pref-

erence among articles of consumption and use. A politic and patri-

otic rule. Acknowledgments -