![MADISON, James, President. Presidential message to Congress calling for A DECLARATION OF WAR against Great Britain, with the Congressional Act authorizing the declaration. A special, unnumbered issue of The National Intelligencer, Washington D.C.: [Joseph Gales Jr.], 18 June 1812. Folio broadside, 17 7/8 x 10½ in. A few ink stains from verso, neatly backed.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2011/NYR/2011_NYR_02514_0060_000(madison_james_president_presidential_message_to_congress_calling_for_a092312).jpg?w=1)
Property from the New Jersey Historical Society
MADISON, James, President. Presidential message to Congress calling for A DECLARATION OF WAR against Great Britain, with the Congressional Act authorizing the declaration. A special, unnumbered issue of The National Intelligencer, Washington D.C.: [Joseph Gales Jr.], 18 June 1812. Folio broadside, 17 7/8 x 10½ in. A few ink stains from verso, neatly backed.
Details
MADISON, James, President. Presidential message to Congress calling for A DECLARATION OF WAR against Great Britain, with the Congressional Act authorizing the declaration. A special, unnumbered issue of The National Intelligencer, Washington D.C.: [Joseph Gales Jr.], 18 June 1812. Folio broadside, 17 7/8 x 10½ in. A few ink stains from verso, neatly backed.
PRESIDENT MADISON CALLS FOR A DECLARATION OF WAR. The long message is printed in 4 columns, the first headed "Office of the National Intelligencer, 4 O'clock P.M....The injunction of secrecy was about an hour ago removed from the following Message and Act..." Madison's formal request to Congress for a Declaration of War established a powerful precedent for subsequent chief executives. The document contains an itemization of persistent British violations of America's sovereignty and neutrality, a "crying enormity" which, Madison finally concluded, could only be answered by military resistance, to maintain America's "genuine, republican independence" (Ketcham, James Madison, p. 530). In places Madison's message echoes the Declaration of Independence. Despite his impassioned request, Madison only reluctantly took the nation into war. The Congressional act, at the bottom of column four, authorizes President Madison to "use the whole land and naval forces" and to issue letters of marque and reprisal.
PRESIDENT MADISON CALLS FOR A DECLARATION OF WAR. The long message is printed in 4 columns, the first headed "Office of the National Intelligencer, 4 O'clock P.M....The injunction of secrecy was about an hour ago removed from the following Message and Act..." Madison's formal request to Congress for a Declaration of War established a powerful precedent for subsequent chief executives. The document contains an itemization of persistent British violations of America's sovereignty and neutrality, a "crying enormity" which, Madison finally concluded, could only be answered by military resistance, to maintain America's "genuine, republican independence" (Ketcham, James Madison, p. 530). In places Madison's message echoes the Declaration of Independence. Despite his impassioned request, Madison only reluctantly took the nation into war. The Congressional act, at the bottom of column four, authorizes President Madison to "use the whole land and naval forces" and to issue letters of marque and reprisal.