From James Madison to Jonathan Elliot, 25 November 1826
To Jonathan Elliot
Montpellier Novr. 25. 1826
Dear Sir
I have recd. yours of the 21st. The proceedings of the State Conventions—on the Constitution of the U.S. in my possession are 1. Of Massachussetts in a thick pamphlet.1 2. New York, also a thick pamphlet.2 3. Pennsylva. a thin vol: in boards, containing the Speeches of Mr. Wilson, and Mr. McKean, both in favor of the Constitution.3 The Speeches of other members, were not published at the same time and in the same form. It is possible they may have been published at a later day.4 4 Virginia. There were three thin vols. in Boards,5 of which the 1st. has disappeared from my sett.6 5. N. Carolina. A volume in Boards containing the proceedings of the first Convention which di[s]agreed to the Constitution.7 Those of the second which adopted it, if printed have never come into my hands. The proceedings of the Conventions of other States, may have been printed, either in books pamphlets or Newspapers, but I do not possess them, nor recollect to have understood this to have been the case. It might be worth while, as opportunities offer, to search into cotemporary publications of every description. Some of them may furnish lights on the subject in letters or essays from persons, concerned in public affairs.
I send you the N.Y. pamphlet, the only one not mentioned as in the Library at Washington; and I will send any or all of the others, if you desire it and give me the intimation. With friendly respects.
James Madison
RC (MiD-B); draft (DLC).
1. Debates, Resolutions and Other Proceedings of the Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( 15516).
2. Debates and Proceedings of the Convention of the State of New-York ( 21310).
3. Lloyd, Debates of the Convention, of the State of Pennsylvania, on the Constitution ( 21365).
4. The draft adds here “in some other form.”
5. Debates and Other Proceedings of the Convention of Virginia, Convened at Richmond, on Monday the 2d Day of June, 1788 […] (3 vols.; Petersburg, Va., 1788–89; 21551, 22225).
6. The draft continues here: “I believe there has been a subsequent Edition in a single volume.” A second edition of the Debates and Other Proceedings of the Convention of Virginia, “Taken in Short Hand, by David Robertson of Petersburg,” was published in one volume in Richmond in 1805 ( 9665).
7. Proceedings and Debates of the Convention of North-Carolina, Convened at Hillsborough, on Monday the 21st Day of July, 1788 […] (Edenton, N.C., 1789; 22037).