James Madison Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/04-04-02-0676

To James Madison from James Monroe, 13 February 1828

From James Monroe

Oak hill Feby 13th. 1828.

Dear sir

Yours of the 5th. has been receivd, in which you intimate the expectation, of receiving by the mail of that day, a letter from Judge Brooke. I indulged a hope of receiving one from him, about that time, containing the official notification of our nomination, but instead thereof, I recd. a private one, apprizing me of his arrival in Richmond, and that he should write me, the official note, as soon as he could obtain a copy of the proceedings of the Convention, from the printer, in whose hands they were. This letter, is of the 5th., and as I presumed, he might obtain the papers mentiond that evening, or the next day, I expected to have heard from him on monday last. I have not however yet heard from him, to my great surprise. From a view of the gazettes, I find that we stand, in a very equivocal state before the nation, the presumption being in many parts, that we wish to remain neutral, but are held in this state, for a political purpose, by the Committee, who are chargd with availing themselves of our names, to favor their object. I think they act unwisely, in delaying the notification, & that an injurious reaction, is likely to follow, the disclosure of the fact, that we will not serve. Several letters from friends at washington, complain of our silence. It remains for us to decide, whether we will suffer ourselves, to be held much longer in this state. What I propose is, to wait until saturday the 23. of this month, & to allow the interval, for the receipt of the promised communication from Judge Brooke. If we receive none before that day, to address a communication, to our fellow citizens, apprizing them of our nomination, by the Convention, & of our decision not to act, giving the same reasons for it, as we should do, in answer to a letter to Judge Brooke, to send a copy of such communication, to Pleasants & also to Ritchie, with a request to each to publish yours & mine in the same paper. It will be well, to take no notice of our having apprized, many members of the convention, that we wod. not act, before the nomination, or of the omission of the Chairman to give us official notice of it.

If in the interim we receive the official notification from Judge Brooke, this plan will of course be laid aside, & the answer be given to him. I hope to hear from you, & to receive your views on the subject, for I shall take no step until I do.

Mrs Monroe was attacked on sunday with a very severe indisposition, & is still afflicted with it. We were much alarmd, but she is now considerd out of danger. Our best regards to Mrs Madison & your mother—your friend—

James Monroe

RC (DLC).

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