Scarce partly-printed DS, signed “James Madison" as president and "Jas. Monroe" as acting secretary of state, one page, 15.75 x 10, January 24, 1815. President Madison appoints William Ward of Ohio as "Principal Assessor under the act, entitled 'An act for the assessment and collection of Direct Taxes and Internal Duties." Signed at the conclusion by both Madison and Monroe. Lower left bears the original white paper seal. In very good condition, with creasing, edge tears, and areas of paper loss, none of which affect the two bold signatures.



James Monroe was appointed by President James Madison as Secretary of State on April 2, 1811, with Monroe assuming duty on April 6, 1811, and serving until March 3, 1817. As this document infers, Monroe's title was for a time changed to acting Secretary of State from October 1, 1814 to February 28, 1815, a period when he also served as Secretary of War.