James Madison Papers
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Sketch for an Autobiography, [ca. 30 September 1816]

Sketch for an Autobiography

[ca. 30 September 1816]

Memorandum sent Sepr. 1816, to Mr. Delaplaine at his request

James Madison was born on the 16th.1 of March 1751. His parents James Madison, and Nelly Madison (before her Marriage Nelly Conway) resided in the County of Orange in Virginia. At the time of his birth they were on a visit to2 her mother who resided on the Rappahannock in the County of King George.

At the age of about 12. years, he was placed by his father under the tuition of Donald Robertson, from Scotland; a man of great learning, and an eminent teacher in the County of King & Queen. With him he studied the latin and Greek languages; was taught to read but not to speak the French;3 and besides Arithmetic and Geography, made some progress in Algebra and Geometry. Miscellaneous literature also was embraced by the plan of the School.

Having remained 3 or 4 years with Mr. Robertson, he prosecuted his studies for a year or two under the Revd. Thomas Martin, the Parish Minister of the established Church, the Church of England as it was then called, and who lived with his father as a private tutor.4

In the year 1769, by the advice of Mr. Martin (and of his brother Alexander Martin,) both of whom5 had been educated at Nassau Hall in N. Jersey, he was sent to that Seminary.6 Dr. Witherspoon was the President. He there went thro’ the ordinary course of Studies and in the year 17717 received a diploma of Bat: of Arts. His health being at the time too infirm8 for a journey home, he passed the ensuing Winter in Princeton, employing his time in miscellaneous studies, but not without a reference to the profession of the Law. (He availed himself of this opportunity of acquiring a slight knowlege of the Hebrew which was not among the College Studies.)9 On his return to Virginia, he continued for some time in very infirm10 health; but in a course of reading more, intended particularly to qualify him for the Bar, for a practice of which however, he never formed any absolute determination.11

On the commencement of the dispute with G. Britain12 he entered13 with the general zeal in the American Cause; being under very early and strong impressions in favor of liberty both civil and religious14 in 177515 He was elected a member of the Committee for the County of Orange living at the time with his father; and participated in the County proceedings belonging to that period.16

Early in 1776 he was elected by the County, a member of the Convention in Virginia which17 decided unanimously on the expediency of dissolving the political connection of the Colonies with G. Britain, and instructed the Delegates in Congs. from Virginia to promote a Declaration of their Independence.18

Having19 been dropped in the election of County Delegates to the Legislature of the State in the following year, he was appointed during the Session of that Body, a member of the Council of State, Patrick Henry being then Governour. He continued a member of it till late in 1779, Thomas Jefferson being then Governour, when he was appointed a Delegate to the Revolutionary Congress.20

He took his place in that Body in March 1780.21 and was continued by annual reelections till the expiration of the Allowed term of three years computed from the definitive ratification of the Articles of Confederation.22

In 1784 he was elected a Delegate from his County to the State Legislature and continued by Several re-election. Having witnessed the defect of Authority in the Revolutionary Congress He inculcated the necessary of new powers to Congs & promoted23 the Convention which was held at24 1786 at Annapolis, for the purpose of investing the Congress with powers over the trade of the U.S: and was appointed one of the Delegates to it, from Virga.25

The Convention having recommended another Convention, to assemble in Philada. the following year, with enlarged powers, he brought forward & drew the Bill of Compliance by the General Assembly of Virginia, which had the opportunity of first deciding on26 the measure recommended from Annapolis, & was included in the Delegation from Virginia to that Convention.27

At the same period he was appointed a Delegate to the General Congs. then sitting at New York,28 after the close of the Convention till the Spring of 1788;29

In the month of april in that year30 he was elected by the County of Orange one of the Delegates to the State Convention which was to decide on the Constitution proposed by the Convention at Philada.31

In the Winter of 1788–9. he was elected a Representative from the District in which he lived in the first Congs. under the new Constitution which met in N. York in March 1789; and was continued by re-elections a member of the House of Representatives till March 1797. when he declined being longer a Candidate.32

In the year 1799. he was elected by his County a delegate to the State Legislature; which protested agst. the Alien & Sedition Acts of Congress; and in 1800. one of the Virginia Electors who voted for Thomas Jefferson & Aaron Burr to be President & Vice President of the U.S.33

In 1801 he was appointed Secretary of State, and remained such till the year 1809. when he was elected President of the U.S. In 1812 he was Re-elected.34

MS (NjP: Andre De Coppet Collection). In the margins, possibly in JM’s hand, are these letters: e, f, g, H, K, L, M, N, O, and Q.

1At a later date JM interlined “[5 O.S].”

2JM originally wrote, then canceled, “his maternal grand mother near Port Royal in the.”

3JM added, then canceled, “and Italian” here.

4JM originally wrote, then canceled, “family teacher.”

5At this point JM also interlined “who.”

6Here JM canceled “of which” and interlined “(The climate of William & Mary being regarded as unfavorable to the health of persons from the mountainous region).” He also canceled at the end of the sentence “for the sequel of his Education.”

7JM originally wrote “1772.”

8JM later interlined here “occasioned in a great degree by the severity of application for.”

9JM interlined here “His infirm health occasioned by labor in qualifying himself with Jos. Ross, in one year, for the task asessment of 2 years and an [canceled] experiment for some Weeks of the minimum of sleep & maximum of study. [Canceled] incident shewing ignorance of French language, previous to Revol.”

10JM later canceled “infirm” and interlined “deficient” here.

11JM later interlined “see letters to E.R. Mar. 10.—84. July 26. 1785.”

12JM canceled “in 1774” here.

13JM wrote, then canceled, “joined” here.

14JM interlined here “hence his Exertions to stay the persecution of the unlicensed preachers, particularly the Sect of Baptists, just sprung up &c ⟨their?⟩ numbers called forth by the persecution &.”

15JM later interlined “in 1775” here.

16JM later interlined “See address of Come. to P. Henry. Causes preventing him from entering the Army, viz his feeble health, and a Constitutional liability, to sudden attacks, somewhat resembling Epilepsy, and suspending the intellectual functions. These continued thro’ his life, with prolonged intervals.”

17JM later interlined “formed the Declaration of Rights & Constitution for the State, & which on [left blank] of May.”

18JM later interlined “(See note [g] as to Decln. of Rights & toleration. Being young, & in the midst of distingd. & experiencd members, he did not enter into debate, but suggested the exchange of toleration &c.”

19JM later added “in consequence of declining the practice of treating voters &c.”

20JM later added “To make himself acquainted with the subject of a circulating medium, & with a view to the character & sum of that existing, and ready to expire, [illegible] he availed himself of an unavoidable delay in repairing to Congs. to draw up the observations first printed in a Phil⟨ad⟩ ⟨paper⟩ afterward printed, see Freneaus Natl Gazetteer.”

21JM originally wrote, then canceled, “1800” here.

22JM later added “See Note (J)” and “A few days previous to his arrival, Congs. had adopted the new System of the curren[c]y of 1 for 40.”

23JM originally wrote, then canceled, “proposed” here.

24At the foot of the page here, JM later added “See his acct. of the Legisl proceedgs in his letters to Mr J-n. his views as to Legislative payment of Brits debts, and opposition to paper emissions. His acquiescence in the Incorporation of Prot: Epsc. Church, his opposition & memorial agst. the [illegible] Estabt. ⟨Plan?⟩ ⟨&ce?⟩ proposed by P Henry.”

25JM later added “See his correspondence with Genl. W. E.R. Mr Jeff-n and a littany [of] letters between him & N. Webster. See also proceedings at Annapolis, the address from pen of A. H. See also the correspondence with Mr. J-n relating t[o] Geo. Mason of Green Spring—on the subject of Genl. Assesst. & remonstrance agst. it, signed by the people of differnt Sects. & to an extent wch. defeat the project & led to the passage of the Bill on Religious freedom.”

26Here JM later interlined “(N. Jersey had first taken it into Consideration).”

27JM later interlined “of which he took the Debates &c. See his Correspondence with Genl. W. thereon—with E.R., particularly his proje’t in Feby. 1787—with Mr. Jefferson &c.”

28JM later interlined “in which he took his seat forthwith & resumed it.”

29JM later interlined “See his debates in Congress during that period—and correspondence with E.R. E-P. Jos Joness, & Mr Jn his object in going there⟨fore⟩ mainly to correct the project of Mr. Jay as to the Mississippi, likely to alienate Kentucky then a part of Virga. from an increase of the power of the Confedy. During the winter of 87–88. bore a part in the Federalist.”

30JM later interlined “1788).”

31JM later interlined “See the debates matl which were not well taken. See his letter to Jonathan Elliott on the subject: also the letters to Mr. J-n. to Alexr. Hamilton, R. King—at the Close of the Convention, returned to N.Y. See his debates in Congs. of that date.”

32JM later interlined “having become a married man, & thinking the oppy. afforded by the State of Pub Affrs. & the example of Gen W. favorable to such a Step. For the plans of excluding him from the Senate, & first, and then from H. of R. see letters to him from E.R. Corbin Turberville, Carrington. For inaugural Message, & answer, the case of titles & see the debates and letters to E.R. Mr. Jeff-n. Mr. Pendleton &c Same as to Tariff to British trade—origl. holders. & assignees of debt. (change of ideas to be explained) introduction of amendts—anecdote of Dalton as to Gen. W. opins—Case of Bank—Virga. Resolns—Carriage Tax—Giles Resolns agt ⟨Mr?⟩ ⟨vs.?⟩ H. See letter of E.R. to J.M. explaining the mystery. Jay’s treaty. See the Pol. Observations. Debates in Congs. made ⟨a Citizen⟩ of The Convention with Genl. W—draft of his provl. farewell—See Correspondence with Genl. W.”

33JM later interlined “For the Resolns. & Rept. on those acts, see the Journals of H of. D and the explann. of them, his letter in N.A. Review for the year—30. For the equality of Votes between J-n & Burr, see misleading letters of Gelston to J.M. which alone induced Mr Wythe to Vote for Burr in the Electoral College.”

34JM later added: “In 1829. He was elected by his County, a member of the State Convention which formed the Constitution, which was submitted to the people of the State & ratified by them, and is now in force. ⟨V. National 47 at 48 evidenced to his Treasury & Mr Washington⟩.

“For his agency as Secy. of State—See State papers. For the true origin of Embargo. See Jeffn’s works as to what passed in the Cabinet & the Correspondence of J.M. with George Joy.

“In 1809. & 1812. Elected P. See State papers—correspondence with Hds. of. Depts—letters to Mr. J-n—private correspon with Foreign M⟨r?⟩s. Armstrong [which JM then canceled]—Barlow—Erving—Pinkney—Gallatin—J. Q. Adams—Eustis. For Case of Robt S. see state of Conversation with him—do. of Armstrong, instructions agst. his assumed discretion, and statemt. of Conversation with him previous to his retreat from office. Review of his mistatement in the periodical [left blank] as to the appt. of Genl. Jackson.

“Since return to private, life, devoted to his farm & his Library, and with much avocation from both, by the Laborious Correspondence, which seemed to be entailed on Ex. Ps—which see particularly by letters on Pol: & Constn. subjects e.g. Wheaton, J.G. Jackson—Evans description begins Charles Evans, ed., American Bibliography […] from […] 1639 […] to […] 1820 (12 vols.; Chicago, 1903–34). description ends . &c. &c &c Which See. within this period he was also engaged a Member of the Albemarle Agricl. Socy, and as Presidt. was obliged to deliver an address, which See; and since death of Mr. J-n has been latterly Rector of the University of Virga. of which he was from its origin a Visitor—see notice of his death in the record of the Board—and his vindication of Mr J-n agst. the attack of the Sons of Mr. Bayard—in Walshs Natl. Gazette [left blank] in 1831.

“In 1829—he was prevailed on notwithstanding his age & very feeble health to be a member of the Convention which revised the Constn. of the State. See the letter of a Come. & his answer. See in the printed debates the small part he had in them. His main effort was to promote a compromise of ideas between parties nicely balanced, & threateng an abortion to an Experiment nearly connected with the prosperity of the State and the capacity for self Govt. His private opinions on the rule of suffrage & the basis of representation and the fabric of the Govt were either controuled by the known will & meditated instn. of his Constn—or yielded to the necessity of preventing a distressing abortion of the expert. by such a middle course as was taken.”

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