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Document 5229

JAMES MONROE
The Secretary of State decides to not publicly release his opinion on a pending "measure".
ALS: "Jas Monroe" as Secretary of State, 1p, 6¼x8 inlaid on 7½x8¾ sheet. No place, 1812 September 9. Integral leaf addressed by Monroe to: "Mr. Gales" (sic, Gates). In full: "On further reflection I believe that it will be better not to make the remarks which I suggested to you just as you left me this morning. If the measure is adopted, you may state the fact, in your next in explicit terms." THOMAS GATES, JR.'s newspaper, the "Mercantile Advertiser", began publishing in New York in 1792. Evidently, Gates and Monroe had met that morning and the Secretary of State had second thoughts about releasing his opinion in Gates' paper. Three months earlier, on June 18, 1812, Congress declared war on Great Britain and the War of 1812 had begun. In June and July, Congress authorized the issuance of war bonds and increased tariffs on imports. Both the House and the Senate passed war-related bills on July 6, 1812, then adjourned. The Congress did not reconvene until November 2, 1812, so it is not clear if Secretary of State Monroe was referring to a measure to be adopted by Congress or by the Madison administration. The letter is in fine condition. The leaf's folds show expert repairs.

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