The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
TO THOMAS JEFFERSON. |
The writings of James Madison, | ||
TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Apl 24, 1812
Dear Sir,—I have just recd. your favor of the 17th.
The same mail brings me the "Proceedings of the
you will accept my thanks.
I had not supposed that so great a proportion of
produce, particularly of Wheat & flour, was still in
the hands of the farmers. In Penna. it was known
to be the case. In N. Y. almost the whole of the
last crop, is in the Country, though chiefly in the
hands of the Merchants & Millers. The measure
of the Embargo was made a difficult one, both as to
its duration & its date, by the conflict of opinions
here, and of local interests elsewhere; and to these
causes are to be added, that invariable opposition,
open with some & covert with others, which have
perplexed & impeded the whole course of our public
measures. You will have noticed that the Embargo
as recommended to Congs. was limited to 60 days.
Its extension to 90 proceeded from the united votes
of those who wished to make it a negotiating instead
of a war measure, of those who wished to put off the
day of war as long as possible, if ultimately to be met,
& of those whose mercantile constituents had ships
abroad, which would be favored in their chance of
getting safely home. Some also who wished &
hoped to anticipate the expiration of the terms,
calculated on the ostensible postponement of the
war question as a ruse agst the Enemy. At present
great differences of opinion exist, as to the time &
form of entering into hostilities; whether at a very
early or later day, or not before the end of the 90
days, and whether by a general declaration, or by
a commencement with letters of M. & Reprisal.
adjournment for 15 or 18 days. Whatever may be
the decision on all these points, it can scarcely be
doubted that patience in the holders of Wheat &
flour at least, will secure them good prices; Such
is the scarcity all over Europe, and the dependence
of the W. Indies on our supplies. Mr. Maury writes
me, on the 21st of March, that flour had suddenly
risen to 16 1/2 dollars, and a further rise looked
for. And it is foreseen, that in a State of War, the
Spanish & Portuguese flags & papers real or counterfeit,
will afford a neutral cover to our produce as
far as wanted, in ports in the favor of G. B. Licences
therefore on our part will not be necessary; which
tho' in some respects mitigating the evils of war,
are so pregnant with abuses of the worst sort, as to
be liable in others to strong objections. As managed
by the belligerents of Europe they are sources
of the most iniquitous & detestable practices.
The Hornet still loiters. A letter from Barlow
to Granger, fills us with serious apprehensions, that
he is burning his fingers with matters which will
work great embarrassment & mischief here; and
which his instructions could not have suggested.[51]
comedy, in the face of common sense, as well as of
his instructions.[52] His extravagances place us in
the most distressing dilemma.
Always & affey. Yrs.
The allusion is to Barlow's efforts to negotiate a full commercial
convention. April 23, Monroe wrote to him: "I will observe generally
that the project is thought to be liable to objections which would delay
if it did not defeat here, a Treaty corresponding with it. A formal
Treaty was not contemplated by your instructions. The objects contemplated
by them were 1st, The admission of our productions into
France on beneficial terms. 2nd, security for our neutral and national
rights on the high seas, and 3dly, provision for the Rambouillet and other
spoliations; and these objects it was expected might be obtained by
Decrees or Acts of the French Government adopted separately and
independently by itself."—D. of S. MSS. Instr.
The instructions were to take possession of East Florida, if the
Spanish governor was disposed to surrender it. If a foreign power
should attempt to take possession he was to take effective measures
for its occupation.—Annals of Cong., 12th Cong., Part 2, p. 1687.
Matthews, however, organized a force and took possession of Amelia
Island. See Henry Adams, vi, 237, et seq.
The writings of James Madison, | ||