751The Federalist Number 14, [30 November] 1787 (Madison Papers)
We have seen the necessity of the union as our bulwark against foreign danger, as the conservator of peace among ourselves, as the guardian of our commerce and other common interests, as the only substitute for those military establishments which have subverted the liberties of the old world, and as the proper antidote for the diseases of faction, which have proved fatal to other popular...
752From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 3 December 1784 (Madison Papers)
My last informed you that a vote had passed in favor of Circuit Courts. A bill has since been brought in and will shortly be considered. The difficulty of suiting it to every palate, & the many latent objections of a selfish & private nature which will shelter themselves under some plausible objections of a public nature to which every innovation is liable render the event extremely uncertain....
753From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 18 March 1786 (Madison Papers)
Your two favours of the 1 & 20 Sepr. under the same cover by Mr. Fitzhugh did not come to hand till the 24th ult: and of course till it was too late for any Legislative interposition with regard to the Capitol. I have written to the Attorney on the subject. A letter which I have from him dated prior to his receipt of mine takes notice of the plan you had promised and makes no doubt that it...
754From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 12 December 1786 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed paper will give you a knowledge of the mode and terms on which Tobo. is made a commutable. It also contains some Resolutions of importance relative to the navigation of the Mississippi. The Senate have concurred in them, though not unanimously. Some of the members of that branch objected to the pointedness of the language. Others doubted the propriety of taking up a subject of so...
755Power of Congress to Regulate Commerce, [29 August] 1787 (Madison Papers)
Charles Pinckney moved to require the approval of two-thirds of each house to pass an act regulating foreign and interstate commerce, insisting that any regulatory power over trade was a concession made by the South. Mr. Madison went into a pretty full view of the subject. He observed that the disadvantage to the S. States from a navigation act, lay cheifly in a temporary rise of freight,...
756To George Washington from James Madison, 7 December 1786 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the communications in your favor of the 18th Ult: which has remained till now to be acknowledged, it was the opinion of every judicious friend whom I consulted that your name could not be spared from the Deputation to the Meeting in May in Philada. It was supposed that in the first place, the peculiarity of the mission and its acknowledged preeminence over every other public...
757From James Madison to Lafayette, 4 December 1784 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 4 December 1784, Richmond. Lafayette refers to this letter in the 17 December addendum to his 15 December 1784 letter to JM . The lost letter contained news of the resolution passed in the House of Delegates to have two busts of Lafayette made and placed in the Virginia capital and in Paris.
758Import Duties, [28 April] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Goodhue, Gerry, and Thatcher of Massachusetts objected to the six-cent duty on molasses as ruinous to the Massachusetts fishing industry and rum distillers and burdensome to the poor. Mr. Madison . I shall make no observation, Mr. Speaker, upon the language of the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Thatcher) because I do not conceive it expresses either the deliberate temper of his own mind, or...
759From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 4 September 1787 (Madison Papers)
Your last favor was dated the 9th. of July. I have been long anxious to learn the re-establishment of your health, as well as to receive information concerning the family in general. The Convention has not yet broken up but its Session will probably continue but a short time longer. Its proceedings are still under the injunction of secresy. We hear that a spirit of insurrection has shewn...
760To George Washington from James Madison, 5 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
On our journey hither we have fallen in with the Bearer of the Electoral votes of Georgia. They are unanimous as to the President and are all thrown away on individuals of the State as to the Vice President. The Representatives were not chosen when the Gentleman set out, but the election was to take place in a day or two after. General Matthews, he tells us will be one, Mr Baldwin another, &...
761Note on “The North-American,” No. 1 and No. 2, 17 September and 8 October 1783 (Madison Papers)
17 September and 8 October 1783. In the Pennsylvania Journal, and the Weekly Advertiser (Philadelphia) of 17 September and 8 October there are two essays, respectively entitled “The North-American, No. 1” and “The North-American, No. 2.” With some reservations, Edmund C. Burnett attributed these anonymously written articles to James Madison. Irving Brant is completely convinced that JM was...
762To George Washington from James Madison, 4 June 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 2d Ulto was not recd till my arrival here on monday evening. I found, contrary to my expectation that not only a very full house had been made on the first day, but that it had proceeded to the appointment of the President & other officers. Mr Pendleton was put into the chair without opposition. Yesterday little more was done than settling some forms and Resolving that no...
763From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 20 September 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover missing. Many years later, after the return of the letter to him, JM wrote “Sepr. 20. 1783” at the top of the last page. Your favor of the 31 ult: came to hand yesterday. As the reason which chiefly urged my departure for Virga. has ceased I have been led to protract my attendance on Congress by the interest I felt in some measures on foot, and the particular...
764Members of the First Branch of the Legislature Barred from Federal Offices, [22 June], [23 June] 1787 (Madison Papers)
Gorham moved to strike out that part of the third resolution of the report of 13 June making a member ineligible to hold any office “under the national government for the space of one year after” the member’s term of service expired ( Farrand, Records Max Farrand, ed., The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 (4 vols.; New Haven, 1911–37). , I, 228). Mr. Madison. Some gentlemen give too...
765From James Madison to George Washington, 5 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
On our journey hither we have fallen in with the Bearer of the Electoral Votes of Georgia. They are unanimous as to the President and are all thrown away on individuals of the State as to the Vice President. The Representatives were not chosen when the Gentleman set out, but the election was to take place in a day or two after. General Matthews, he tells us will be one, Mr. Baldwin another, &...
766From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 22 August 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have your favor of the 13th. The effect of Clintons circular letter in Virga. does not surprize me. It is a signal of concord & hope to the enemies of the Constitution every where, and will I fear prove extremely dangerous. Notwithstanding your remarks on the subject I cannot but think that an early convention will be an unadvised measure. It will evidently be the offspring of party &...
767From James Madison to George Washington, 8 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
I am just honoured with your favor of the 5th. inst. The intelligence from Genl. Knox is gloomy indeed, but is less so than the colours in which I had it thro’ another channel. If the lessons which it inculcates should not work the proper impressions on the American Public, it will be a proof that our case is desperate. Judging from the present temper and apparent views of our Assembly, I have...
768From James Madison to Eliza House Trist, 27 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 23d. instant by Mr. Jay has been delivered to me; but I have not yet been to thank him for it. I have had a cold which made me extremely hoarse, but did not otherw[ise] affect me much. At present I am clear even of that inconvenience. I hope this will find you equally recovered from your indisposition. I have not made a trial of my french with the Marchioness yet, thou[gh] I have...
769Rule of Representation in the Senate, [29 June], [30 June] 1787 (Madison Papers)
Ellsworth, arguing the advantages of making “the general government partly federal and partly national ,” moved that each state have an equal vote in the Senate ( Farrand, Records Max Farrand, ed., The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 (4 vols.; New Haven, 1911–37). , I, 474). Mr. Madison. I would always exclude inconsistent principles in framing a system of government. The difficulty...
770Salaries for Members of the First Branch of the Legislature, [22 June] 1787 (Madison Papers)
The clause in the report of 13 June providing that the members of the first branch of the legislature “receive fixed stipends … to be paid out of the National-Treasury” was under debate ( Farrand, Records Max Farrand, ed., The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 (4 vols.; New Haven, 1911–37). , I, 228). Mr. Madison concurred in the necessity of preserving the compensations for the Natl....
771From James Madison to George Washington, 28 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
The information which I have by the Eastern mail rather increases than removes the anxiety produced by the last. I give it to you as I have recd. it in the words of Mr. King. “Our Convention proceeds slowly. An apprehension that the liberties of the people are in danger, and a distrust of men of property or education have a more powerful effect upon the minds of our opponents than any specific...
772From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 June 1785 (Madison Papers)
Finding from a letter of Mr. Mazzei that you have never been furnished with a copy of the Bill for establishing the Christian Religion in this State, I now inclose one, regretting that I had taken it for granted that you must have been supplied thro’ some other channel. A very warm opposition will be made to this innovation by the people of the middle and back Counties, particularly the...
773Deed of Gift of Orange County Lands, 19 August 1784 (Madison Papers)
This indenture made the nineteenth day of August One Thousand Seven hundred eighty four Between James Madison the Elder of the County of Orange of One Part And James Madison the Younger his Son of the sd. County of the Other Part Witnesseth that the Said James Madison the elder in Consideration of Paternal affection and of five Shillings the Receipt of which is hereby Acknowledged Doth by...
774From James Madison to James Monroe, 9 April 1786 (Madison Papers)
I am favoured with yours of the 18th. of March. My last answered your preceding one relating to your territorial speculation. I hope it has been reced. I forgot to intimate to you, though I presume it would have been superfluous, that it will be well in every purchase to ascertain by information as far as possible, the proportion of land which lies on the river and comes within the description...
775Resolution to Select Commissioners for a Federal Convention, 30 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
Resolved that this house will on Monday next proceed by joint Ballot with the Senate, to the Choice of seven Commissioners, to meet such Commissioners as may be appointed by the other States in the Union, at a Convention to be held in the City of Philadelphia in May next, for the Purpose of revising the foederal Constitution. Ms ( Vi ). In Beckley’s hand. Docketed on the verso with date and...