1To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 23 April 1789 (Madison Papers)
I was this morning favored with yours of the 12th. instant, as I had been many weeks before with your other from Alexa. I did not recollect, that I had omitted to acknowledge the receipt of the latter until you expressed a doubt of its miscarriage. I confess, it strikes me, as expedient, that a temporary arrangement of impost should be made. The merchants, (I am told and I believe with truth)...
2To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 27 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
Colo. Griffin having announced to me, that you were safely lodged within the fœderal precincts, I shall renew the assault of my uninteresting correspondence. There is a general calm of politicks. The discontented themselves seem willing to wait with temper, until congress shall open their views. It gave me much pleasure, to read your letter to Colo. T. M. Randolph; as it shews a consciousness...
3To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 12 February 1789 (Madison Papers)
Among the arrangements of office which will most likely take place in the United States, some will probably be peculiar to the different states. As I am confident that a knowledge of characters here would assist those in whose hands this business rests, I shall not scruple to request your attention to my particular friend colo. William Heth. He was an officer of distinguished merit in the...
4To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 10 November 1788 (Madison Papers)
On thursday last the candidates for the senate were nominated; and Mr. Henry, after expatiating largely in favor of Mr. Lee and Mr. Grayson, concluded that yourself, whose talents and integrity he admitted, were unseasonable upon this occasion, in which your fœderal politics were so adverse to the opinions of many members. Your friends Page, Corbin, Carrington and White were zealous; but the...
5To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 5 November 1788 (Madison Papers)
On saturday next the election of senators will come on. The running names are yourself, R. H L. & Gr—s—n. Your friends have resolved to nominate you; being well assured, that their labours will not be in vain. It is a mortification to me, that the election shd. be brought on before my seat commences. But Carrington has, I presume, been this day elected, and will be here to morrow. When I say,...
6To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 23 October 1788 (Madison Papers)
Until the meeting of the assembly, which took place the day before yesterday, I have had nothing, with which to repay you for your many friendly attentions. An hundred and seven members are assembled; among whom is the leader of the opposition. I have not seen him; but I am told, that he appears to be involved in gloomy mystery. Something is surely meditated against the new constitution, more...
7To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 12 September 1788 (Madison Papers)
The mail has brought me this evening a resolution concerning the Scioto lands, which was really necessary for the peace of some people’s minds, and will, I hope, be effectual to quiet a general suspicion, which the former act had created. Mr. Bev. Randolph has lately returned from P. Edward; where he saw Mr. H, who grows in violence against the constitution, and is much pleased at the idea of...
8To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 3 September 1788 (Madison Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your favor of the 25th. ulto. Being in Wmsburg., when I received it, I imparted it to our friend, the president, who espouses with warmth an early convention. I sincerely wish, that the valuable parts of the constitution may suffer no ill from the temper, with which such a body will probably assemble. But is there no danger, that, if the respect, which the large...
9To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 13 August 1788 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed are the first two numbers of the Republican, according to your request. Govr. Clinton’s letter to me for the calling of a convention is this day published by my order. It will give contentment to many, who are now dissatisfied. The problem of a new convention has many difficulties in its solution, But upon the whole, I believe the assembly of Virginia perhaps ought, and probably will...
10To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 27 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have just risen from a violent bilious attack, which has vexed me for nearly a fortnight past. But as I am a victim at present to weakness only, I am indulged in the liberty of acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 16th. instant. We hear nothing of the constitution on this side of the river. On the other indeed the discontents are said to be loud; but it does not appear that any of...
11To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 17 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
I thank you for your favor of the 10th. inst. from Orange. Colo. Nicholas in a late letter to me seems to think, that the majority is decidedly for the constitution. Accuracy cannot be expected; but a comparison of the intelligence, which centers here from the various parts of Va., persuades me, that he at least mistakes the degree of the majority, and leads me to suspect, that it lies adverse...
12To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 29 February 1788 (Madison Papers)
The decision of Massts., had it been adverse to the constn, wd. have damned it here. But as it is, it fixes the event, if N. York, N. Hamp. and Maryland should follow the example. This must be understood with this restriction; that altho’ 9 states will force Va. by their assent to come in, there is reason to believe that no intelligence of that sort can reach us before our convention meets; as...
13To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 3 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
By this time the district-bill has passed, in nearly the same form with that of the last year, except that four additional judges are to be created. Mr. Jos: Jones, who is now absent, has thro’ Colo. Monroe signified his wish to be regenerated a judge. He will succeed. It is conjectured that the other three will appear in St. G. Tucker, Grayson, and Prentis. The constitution is not even spoken...
14To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 27 December 1787 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ many mails have passed since I wrote to you last, I am not without excuses of a satisfactory nature; which are too long and unimportant to you to hear in detail. Having shaken off the impediments to writing, I shall be hereafter punctual. My letter is now inclosed to you. What the general opinion is, I would not undertake to vouch because I stay much at home, and I find daily reason to...
15To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 23 [ca. 29] October 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have omitted to write to you since my return home, from an inability to obtain so accurate a grasp of the Opinions prevailing here, as to justify me in communicating the politics of our legislature. The first raptures in favor of the constitution were excessive. Every town resounded with applause. The conjectures of my reasons for refusing to sign were extraordinary, and so far malicious, as...
16To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 30 September 1787 (Madison Papers)
We arrived here last night, with as little inconvenience as possible. Betsey has recovered by travelling. Baltimore resounds with friendship for the new constitution, and Mr. Chase’s election depends, as it is said, upon his opinion concerning it. He waited on me, with an expectation, I suspect, of learning something to foster his opposition. I was prepared, because I had heard of his harangue...
17To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 11 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure to acknowledge your favor of the 2d inst. The election for Hanover is over; Mr. Parke Goodall being returned, after a positive and unalterable declaration in public of his affection for paper money. His colleague Mr. Thos. Macon is supposed from the influence of his father over him to be an enemy to it. It is doubtful, what part Mr. Henry has taken in communicating his...
18To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 4 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
Genl. Washington is prevailed upon to agree to go to Phila. if his health will permit. He is at present afflicted with the rheumatism, so as to be unable to move himself in his bed sometimes, and often to raise his hand to his head. He purposes to travel earlier than for the meeting, that he may apologize to the Cincinnati for his refusal of their presidency. Mr. Jay’s report on the treaty...
19To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 27 March 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have turned my mind somewhat to the business of may next: but am hourly interrupted. At present I conceive With these objects, ought not some general propositions to be prepared for feeling the pulse of the convention on the subject at large? Ought not an address to accompany the new constitution? I was informed, that Colo. R. H. Lee attended at Northumberland court house a few days ago at a...
20To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 22 March 1787 (Madison Papers)
I am afraid by your omission to acknowledge my letters, that all of them, tho’ written punctually to the time, except during my absence to the Naval offices, have miscarried. Genl. Nelson refuses to join us. Colo. R. H. Lee has been appointed in his stead. This seemed proper from the conspicuousness of the Character, and the respect, due to past services. The objection to his unfoederal...
21To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 15 March 1787 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 15 March 1787 . Acknowledged in JM to Randolph, 2 April 1787 . Requested JM to inform Gardoqui of the action of the Virginia council disavowing responsibility for George Rogers Clark’s seizure of Spanish property at Vincennes.
22To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 7 March 1787 (Madison Papers)
This moment your favor of 26th. ulto. was handed to me. I intended constantly to inclose the gazettes to you, and was prevented only by a supposition, that the printer performed that office. It shall be remembered with pleasure hereafter. Why has congress changed the day for meeting in Phila.? I rejoice at the alteration; because it removes the terror on my spirits, that the prospect of my...
23To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 1 March 1787 (Madison Papers)
I acknowledge with great pleasure your two favors of the 15th. & 18th. ulto., received this evening. The documents to be forwarded to you as stated in my public letter will prove the truth of your suspicion, that the occlusion of the Missi. to Virginia, would throw the western settlers into an immediate state of hostility with Spain. If the subject be canvassed, it will not be sufficient to...
24To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 6 December 1786 (Madison Papers)
A notification of the inclosed appointment would be scarcely necessary to you, who were a Witness of its passage; were it not to solicit your acceptance. I have the honor to be &c. FC ( Executive Letter Book Executive Letter Book, 1786–1788, manuscript in Virginia State Library. ). In the hand of a clerk. Unsigned. Enclosure not found. As commissioner to the Federal Convention in Philadelphia...
25To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 12 June 1786 (Madison Papers)
When Major Moore came to town, I was under the severe regimen of blisters and purges, produced by four violent colds, which I caught at four different courts and for the management of which I could not find the least leisure. Even now I am as hoarse as a raven, but free from fever or pain. Indeed my past fevers were slight and my pain, except from the blisters, of no account. I have never...
26To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 1 March 1786 (Madison Papers)
I am much indebted to you for Bayle and the Confessional. I delivered the treatises on air, with the history of their journey from hence to Orange, to Dr. Currie. He put them into the hands of McClurg who reports in strong terms of approbation the work of Scheele, as being most learned in Chymistry. The circular letters have been dispatched, with an authentication of our commercial Character...
27To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 17 July 1785 (Madison Papers)
By some inexplicable mystery, the inclosed letter from Mr. Jones, and my intended answer to your last epistolary favor, have still remained in my possession. Being engaged when the gentleman, who brought your friendly attention to me, I doubt whether I gave him an intelligible reply to his question, if my answer was ready. Our apparent disobedience to the appointment of the assembly must be...
28To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 12 February 1785 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letters were forwarded by the president to my care. Learning from him, that a package, in which they were covered, contained some fresh literary information, I took the liberty of opening it; especially as it was suggested, and the event shewed, that it contained two other letters, one for Mr. Page, the other for Mr. Madison himself. The executive are at last persuaded of their...
29To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 27 January 1784 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover missing. Docketed by JM, “Randolph. Edmd. Jany. 27. 1784.” Altho’ your return from congress has brought you nearer in point of distance, it has fixed a wider gulph between us in point of communication by letter. But I do not mean to suffer the danger of miscarrage, to which even a private opportunity is exposed, whensoever any thing, worthy of notice, occurs....
30To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 13 September 1783 (first) (Madison Papers)
RC (Harvard College Library: Dearborn Papers). Addressed in the hand of a clerk, probably George Hay, “To James Madison. Sept 13th: 1783,” and almost certainly enclosed by Randolph in his longer letter of the same date to JM ( q.v. ). If your attention to congressional business, and your cramped situation will allow you to shew civilities to a new acquaintance, I must consign Mr. Francis...