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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

CABINET MEMORANDUM. 1 mad. mss. ( Submitted to the Cabinet, June 23 and 24, 1814.) - James Madison, The Writings, vol. 8 (1808-1819) [1908]

Edition used:

The Writings of James Madison, comprising his Public Papers and his Private Correspondence, including his numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed, ed. Gaillard Hunt (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1900). Vol. 8.

Part of: The Writings of James Madison, 9 vols.

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CABINET MEMORANDUM.1mad. mss.

(Submitted to the Cabinet, June 23 and 24, 1814.)

1. Shall the surrender by Great Britain of the practice of impressment, in a treaty limited to a certain period, be an ultimatum? Monroe, Campbell, Armstrong, Jones—No—Rush inclining but not insisting otherwise.

2. Shall a treaty of peace, silent on the subject of impressment be authorized? All no; but Armstrong and Jones, who were aye.

3. Shall a treaty be authorized comprising an article, referring the subject of impressment along with that of commerce to a separate negotiation? Monroe, Campbell, Armstrong & Jones Aye—Rush for awaiting further information from Europe.

June 27, 1814.

In consequence of the letters from Messrs. Bayard & Gallatin of May 6—7 and of other accounts from Europe, as to the ascendency & views of Great Britain and the dispositions of the great Continental powers, the preceding question No. 2, was put to the Cabinet, and agreed to by Monroe, Campbell, Armstrong & Jones; Rush being absent: our ministers to be instructed, besides trying the other conditions to make a previous trial to insert or annex some declaration or protest against any inference from the silence of the Treaty on the subject of impressment, that the British claim was admitted or that of the United States abandoned.

[1 ]From the copy made by Madison’s direction for the statement he prepared in 1824 in reply to General Armstrong’s communication printed in 1821 in the Literary and Scientific Repository. (See Post, January, 1824.)