7231From James Madison to Alexander J. Dallas, 6 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
I return the answers of the Banks to the Treasury proposition. Some of them, I observe, are sore at the idea of their yielding to the temptation of gain, in prolonging the refusal to resume specie payments. The best mode of repelling the suspicion would be to dispose of their public stock, and thus reduce their dividends. Whilst they refuse to co-operate with the Treasury, that circumstance...
7232The Federalist Number 51, [6 February] 1788 (Madison Papers)
To what expedient then shall we finally resort for maintaining in practice the necessary partition of power among the several departments, as laid down in the constitution? The only answer that can be given is, that as all these exterior provisions are found to be inadequate, the defect must be supplied, by so contriving the interior structure of the government, as that its several constituent...
7233James Madison to James K. Paulding, 27 June 1831 (Madison Papers)
With your favor of the 20th. inst: I recd the Volume of Pamphlets containing that of Mr Chs. Pinckney, for which I am indebted to your obliging researches. I have not yet sufficiently examined the pamphlet in question, but have no doubt that it throws light on the object to which it has relation. I had previously recd yours of the 13th. and must remark that you have not rightly seized the...
7234James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 23 April 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 16 th has been rec d . It is not improbable that there will be an early occasion to send for public purposes, a ship to G.B. & France; & that Norfolk will be the port of Departure. I recommend therefore that your plow be lodged there as soon as may be, with the proper instructions to your Agent. It may not be amiss to include in them a discretion to forward the plow to any other...
7235James Madison to John Hartwell Cocke, 24 December 1828 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. the inclosed from the Proctor. Should Majr. Spotswood’s resignation be persisted in, & allowed to take effect, and a regular Successor not be attainable, I see no other resort but the step suggested by Mr. B. which must be on our assumed responsibility. I shall readily take my share of it in that or any other arrangement you may judge preferable in the emergency. With cordial...
7236From James Madison to James Monroe, [ca. 29 November 1816] (Madison Papers)
It will be proper to take the steps suggested by Mr. Joy for obtaining further information. My enquiry as to Nootka Sound had reference to the grounds of the Brit. claim there, and its analogy to that of the U.S. at the mouth of Columbia. See Vancouvre’s acct. of the B. proceedings at Nootka: also Capt: Morris’s communication to Mr Graham Ocr. 24. 1816. RC ( DNA : RG 59, ML ). Undated;...
7237From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 10 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have requested the Secy. of State to bring into consultation at Washington several subjects, which you will of course learn from him. Among them is the expediency of discontinuing the suspension of the Algerine expedition; with perhaps a reduction of the force to a minimum. The stake & the temptation being thus diminished, the objections to the departure of Commodore Decatur wd. be...
7238From James Madison to Joseph C. Cabell, 7 February 1827 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of January 24. came duly to hand, & relieved me very agreeably from the anxiety produced by the delay of the Report from the Visitors. The improvements made in our code, could not fail to have the good effect you mention on the public disposition towards the University. I had hoped for a greater effect than yet appears on the liberality of the Legislature. You can judge better than...
7239James Madison to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, 1 April 1832 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd from Professor Patterson a copy of his Circular to the Ex. Commee. notifying the death of Mr Brockenbrough, and recomending an arrangt. for filling the vacancy till the meeting of the Visitors. The expediency of the course proposed, seems well supported by his reasons for it, but Genl. Cocke & yourself will be decide on the case much better yn. I could. My Rheumatism still...
7240James Madison to Bernard Peyton, 27 June 1829 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 23d. I canot but say that the sales of the Tobo. have disappointed my hopes, tho’ I have no doubt, your attentions did it justice; and that there must have been a defective management here. It is true, the want of rain at the ripening stage, may account in some degree for the prevailing quality: But it is equally true that my neighbors with the same weather, and a...
7241From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 22 May 1796 (Madison Papers)
Congress are hurrying through the remnant of business before them, and will probably adjourn about saturday next. Petitions in favor of the Treaty still come in from distant places. The name of the President & the alarm of war, have had a greater effect, than were apprehended on one side, or expected on the other. A crisis which ought to have been so managed as to fortify the Republican cause,...
7242Pardon for Clinton Adams and Randall Tarrier, 12 February 1817 (Madison Papers)
Whereas at a Circuit Court of the United States for the County of Washington, in the District of Columbia, held in the month of June last, Clinton Adams and Randall Terrier were convicted of a felony, in robbing upon the Public High-Way, whereupon the said Clinton Adams & Randall Terrier were sentenced by the said Court to suffer the punishment of Death, by Hanging, at a day assigned for that...
7243Enclosure: James Madison: Report on Complaints against Arming of Vessels, 31 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State, to whom the President of the United States has been pleased to refer the Resolution of the Senate of the 28th. inst. requesting that there may be laid before the Senate such documents and papers, or other information, as the President should judge proper relative to complaints against arming the Merchant Ships or Vessels of the United States; or the conduct of the...
7244James Madison to John H. J. Browere, 1 May 1833 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison has recd. the very kind & polite letter of Mr. Browere dated Apl. _______ & regrets that his state of health is such as to forbid his encouraging the prospect of his sitting again for a Bust, or painting, however he might desire to oblige Mr Browere. J. M hopes Mr Browere has not forgotten his promise of bringing or sending the Bust of Mrs M which he wishes to possess. He also...
7245From James Madison to Samuel Lane, 12 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
I recd. yesterday yours of the 5th. Having full confidence in the judgment of Mr. Hassler, I take for granted that the scite chosen by him for an Observatory is well adapted to it. In comparing it however with others, it is necessary to attend to the difference in the degree of fitness, and in the cost of ground and of conveniency to the public. Mr. Munroe Superintendant of the City will...
7246From James Madison to William Harris Crawford, 24 April 1817 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. my dear Sir, Your favor of the 18, with the Lupinella Seed, for which I thank you. I will endeavor to make the most of it by sowing a part now, and the rest in October. It will be a valuable acquisition, if it has half the merit ascribed to it. The British affairs appear to be approaching if not already in a paroxism, which but for the horrors of the Revolutionary experiment in...
7247From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 1 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
I am just favored with yours of the 27th. Young Gelston is here preparing to take his passage for France as bearer and expositor of dispatches, in the Syren sloop of war which is waiting for him at Baltimore. He leaves this tomorrow morning. Mr. Gallatin has had a conversation with Turreau at his residence near Baltimore. He professes to be confident that his Govt. will consider England as...
7248From James Madison to John Milledge, 15 December 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
15 December 1802, Department of State. Encloses a copy of a 10 Nov. letter sent to him by the acting consul at Havana. “As the traffic therein alluded to may produce a contravention of the laws of your State, I have thought it might be useful to furnish you with the information it contains.” RC and enclosure ( MnHi : Allyn K. Ford Collection); letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14). RC 1...
7249From James Madison to Rufus King, 15 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
Your communications by Mr. Sitgreaves on the subject of the proposed conversion of the claims against the United States, under the 6th. Article of the Treaty of 1794 into a definite sum, have been duly received, and taken into consideration by the President. Although there may be good ground to contest the real justice of the amount of Debt which will be assumed by such a stipulation, yet...
7250From James Madison to John Hartwell Cocke, 10 January 1828 (Madison Papers)
The last mail brought me your letter of the 4th. inclosing one from Docr. Jones, with your answer. From the footing on which the question of his appointment now rests, and the uncertainty of an earlier provision for the vacant Chair, it may be best to acquiesce in his terms. And if this be your opinion and that of Mr. Cabell & Mr. Johnson, he can be informed by a final letter from you, that a...
7251From James Madison to Littleton Dennis Teackle, 29 March 1826 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 22d. inst: inclosing a copy of the Law providing for primary schools throughout your State. I congratulate you on the foundation thus laid for a General System of Education, and hope it presages a superstructure, worthy of the patriotic forecast which has commenced the Work. The best service that can be rendered to a Country, next to that of giving it liberty,...
7252James Madison to Thomas L. Smith, 21 January 1834 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his respects to Dr. Thomas L. Smith, Librarian, to the "Naval Lyceum" at N. Y. who will receive herewith a Box of Books for that Institution. Draft (DLC) .
7253Slave Trade Petitions, [23 March] 1790 (Madison Papers)
The select committee on the slave trade memorials presented its report, consisting of seven resolutions, on 5 March ( DHFC Linda Grant De Pauw et al., eds., Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America (3 vols. to date; Baltimore, 1972—). , III, 316, 340–41). This report came before the Committee of the Whole on 16 March. After repeated attempts on 16 and...
7254Notes from Congress’ Secret Journal on Instructions to Peace Commissioners, 28 May 1781 (Madison Papers)
MS ( LC : Madison Papers). Two pages of notes in JM’s hand, mainly devoted to recording the appointment of committees, the substance of their reports, and how each delegate voted on motions—all bearing upon instructions to the peace commissioners. JM’s entries are for 28 May, 6, 7, 8, 9–15, and 29 June, 28 July, and 21 September 1781, but he does not record when he made them, although he...
7255The Federalist Number 52, [8 February] 1788 (Madison Papers)
From the more general enquiries pursued in the four last papers, I pass on to a more particular examination of the several parts of the government. I shall begin with the house of representatives. The first view to be taken of this part of the government, relates to the qualifications of the electors and the elected. Those of the former are to be the same with those of the electors of the most...
7256Account with the Commonwealth of Virginia, [28 June] 1788 (Madison Papers)
The Commonwealth of Virginia 1788 To James Madison Dr. June To my attendance on Convention as a Delegate from the County of Orange from the 3d. to the 27th. inclusive } £12:10:0 Travelling 75 Miles 1.10.0 £14. 0.0 Ms ( Vi ). In a clerk’s hand. Docketed by auditor John Pendleton.
7257From James Madison to Henry A. S. Dearborn, 23 August 1824 (Madison Papers)
I have received & thank you for the papers containing your reply to Genl. Hull. A part only of his Address has fallen under my eye. But the facts you have arrayed before the Public, can scarcely fail to make him sensible of his indiscretion in provoking a review of his disastrous career. You have done well in performing this task, both as a contribution to the truth of History; and as the...
7258From James Madison to William Bradford, 17 July 1779 (Madison Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 29th.[?] Ulto. by yesterday’s post, and agreeable to your request take this immediate opportunity of acknowledging it. The Inhabitants of this City roused by the extortions of the times and the example of your State are instituting regulations similar to those you mention. Whether they will have the necessary prudenc[e,] firmness & perseverence, or...
7259To George Washington from James Madison, 16 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter of the 31 of March, and find with much pleasure that your views of the reform which ought to be pursued by the Convention, give a sanction to those which I have entertained. Temporising applications will dishonor the Councils which propose them, and may foment the internal malignity of the disease, at the same time that they produce an ostensible...
7260From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 8 November 1795 (Madison Papers)
I am thus far on my way to Philada. & shall proceed on the journey this morning. I left with my Father subject to your order the packet of papers promised you. In case of his absence, the overseer will be charged with them. Should you send a special messenger, it will be well to provide agst. much roughness in the carriage, as the papers are in a state not unsusceptible of being injured by it....