James Madison (1809-1817)
MADISON, James (1751-1836). Letter signed ("James Madison"), as Secretary of State, to James L. Cathcart, Department of State, 11 June 1804. 1½ pages, 4to, seal hole and center crease neatly repaired, show-through.
Details
MADISON, James (1751-1836). Letter signed ("James Madison"), as Secretary of State, to James L. Cathcart, Department of State, 11 June 1804. 1½ pages, 4to, seal hole and center crease neatly repaired, show-through.
BATTLING AND NEGOTIATING WITH THE BARBARY PIRATES
"By Commodore Barron who is proceeding to the Mediterranean with five additional frigates," Madison writes to special envoy Cathcart, "...I take occasion to mention that if after receiving my last letter, which permitted your return to the United States, as soon as your convenience might require, you should have continued with Commodore Preble's Squadron, your conduct is approved by the President; but after the arrival of the new Commodore, as there will be several gentlemen under his command, who have some acquaintance with Barbary affairs, and there will be less inducement to the abandonment of your wishes, your stay in the Mediterranean will recur to the footing pointed out in my [earlier] letter...Enclosed [not included] is a copy of the Act of Congress for raising a revenue and making appropriations for defraying the expense of the war with Tripoli."
Jefferson and Madison tried carrots before wielding their stick against the Barbary pirates who declared war on the United States in 1801. Cathcart was a special diplomatic envoy who accompanied William Eaton to Tripoli to try and negotiate a peace deal. When that proved impossible Jefferson sent Stephen Decatur and the Marines to the shores of Tripoli, and when they were done the Emir was in a more conciliatory frame of mind. Madison wanted someone else at the negotiating table this time around and Tobias Lear, Washington's former secretary, finally hammered out a treaty in 1805. Lear was likely one of the "gentleman" acquainted "with Barbary affairs" that Comm. Barron had aboard his frigate.
BATTLING AND NEGOTIATING WITH THE BARBARY PIRATES
"By Commodore Barron who is proceeding to the Mediterranean with five additional frigates," Madison writes to special envoy Cathcart, "...I take occasion to mention that if after receiving my last letter, which permitted your return to the United States, as soon as your convenience might require, you should have continued with Commodore Preble's Squadron, your conduct is approved by the President; but after the arrival of the new Commodore, as there will be several gentlemen under his command, who have some acquaintance with Barbary affairs, and there will be less inducement to the abandonment of your wishes, your stay in the Mediterranean will recur to the footing pointed out in my [earlier] letter...Enclosed [not included] is a copy of the Act of Congress for raising a revenue and making appropriations for defraying the expense of the war with Tripoli."
Jefferson and Madison tried carrots before wielding their stick against the Barbary pirates who declared war on the United States in 1801. Cathcart was a special diplomatic envoy who accompanied William Eaton to Tripoli to try and negotiate a peace deal. When that proved impossible Jefferson sent Stephen Decatur and the Marines to the shores of Tripoli, and when they were done the Emir was in a more conciliatory frame of mind. Madison wanted someone else at the negotiating table this time around and Tobias Lear, Washington's former secretary, finally hammered out a treaty in 1805. Lear was likely one of the "gentleman" acquainted "with Barbary affairs" that Comm. Barron had aboard his frigate.