8461The Federalist Number 14, [30 November] 1787 (Madison Papers)
We have seen the necessity of the union as our bulwark against foreign danger, as the conservator of peace among ourselves, as the guardian of our commerce and other common interests, as the only substitute for those military establishments which have subverted the liberties of the old world, and as the proper antidote for the diseases of faction, which have proved fatal to other popular...
8462From James Madison to James Monroe, 4 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
Mr George W. Murray, whose cargo shipped on board of the Active of Philada was condemned in January last, by the Judge of the Vice Admiralty at Antigua, considering the condemnation as particularly oppressive, has requested that his case might be recommended to your patronage. It seems, that a residence he formerly had in France, for a particular purpose, was considered by the Court of...
8463From James Madison to Reverend Thomas Martin, 10 August 1769 (Madison Papers)
I am not a little affected at hearing of your misfortune, but cannot but hope the cure may be so far accomplished as to render your journey not inconvenient. Your kind Advice & friendly cautions are a favour that shall be always gratefully remembered, & I must beg leave to assure you that my happiness, which you and your brother so ardently wish for, will be greatly augmented by both your...
8464From James Madison to James Monroe, 21 November 1806 (Madison Papers)
I have left the inclosed open for your inspection and beg the favor of you to forward it by some safe conveyance, if you have not in the mean while been apprized of Mr. Harris’s having received a duplicate. I have the honor to be &c DNA : RG 59—IM—Instructions to Ministers.
8465From James Madison to John Graham, 24 September 1809 (Madison Papers)
I drop you this merely to intimate my purpose of setting out for Washington on friday next and to request that nothing may be forwarded after Wednesday next. Letters &c. put into the mail on that day will get to hand in time, as I shall be at home after the hour at which the Rider arrives. You will have noticed the return of the letter of Turreau, supposed to have been omitted at the office of...
8466From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 30 October 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). On the cover is this note: “Colo. Pendleton will be so Obliging as to bring the form he promised to Church next Sunday T. Jones.” Pendleton and Thomas Jones (d. 1782), a planter, lived in St. Mary’s Parish, Caroline County, and were members of the same congregation of the Church of England. JM addressed the letter to “The Honble Edmund Pendleton Esqr Caroline County...
8467From James Madison to William Hill Wells, 16 June 1813 (Madison Papers)
The President of the United States regrets that the error of his watch, and the precipitancy of his servant, prevented his seeing, at 11 o’clock, today, the committee of the Senate, on the subject referred to them. If the state of his health should not permit him to see the committee, he will apprize them of it in time. Printed copy ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress...
8468James Madison to Daniel Newell, 1 December 1835 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of Novr. 17. having been directed to Petersburg which is very distant from me, was not recd. till yesterday. I am sorry that I cannot give to it the answer that would be most agreeable. Unwilling as I am to obtrude my private affairs on others, the occasion requires me to say that for a number of years past the drafts of various denominations on my resources, have so far exceeded...
8469From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 3 December 1784 (Madison Papers)
My last informed you that a vote had passed in favor of Circuit Courts. A bill has since been brought in and will shortly be considered. The difficulty of suiting it to every palate, & the many latent objections of a selfish & private nature which will shelter themselves under some plausible objections of a public nature to which every innovation is liable render the event extremely uncertain....
8470From James Madison to James Wilkinson, 12 October 1811 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of the 9th inst: inclosing a statement of a private conversation between Lt. Opie, and Mr. Simmons Acct. of the War Department, made by the former. The considerations out of which the Court Martial in your case grew, would attach particular regret to any circumstance affecting, even in appearance or opinion, the justice and fairness of the proceedings, as they...
8471I. Text as Received by Jefferson, 1790, 4 February 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. of Jany. inclosing one of Sepr. last did not get to hand till a few days ago. The idea which the latter evolves is a great one, and suggests many interesting reflections to legislators; particularly when contracting and providing for public debts. Whether it can be received in the extent your reasonings give it, is a question which I ought to turn more in my thoughts...
8472James Madison to George Tucker, 17 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I understand that the correspondence between Judge Pendleton & Richard H. Lee has been deposited by the grandson of the latter in the University of Virga. and I find among the letters of the former to me, one in wch. he incloses a copy of remarks on the original Judicial bill, then depending in Congs. which had been sent to him by R. H. Lee then a member of the Senate, with a request of his...
8473From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 29 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
The Secretary of State, to whom has been referred by the President of the United States a Resolution of the House of Representatives of the 23d Inst., requesting the President to communicate to that House such information as he may have received relative to the Copper mines on the South side of Lake Superior, in pursuance of a Resolution of the 16th. April 1800, authorising the appointment of...
8474From James Madison to James Blair, ca. 20 February 1796 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 20 February 1796. Mentioned in JM to James Madison, Sr., 21 Feb. 1796 . Orders clover seed for Montpelier.
8475From James Madison to the Senate, 22 January 1816 (Madison Papers)
I nominate John Taylor, of Mississippi Territory, to be a member of the Legislative Council of the same Territory, in the place of Thomas Barnes, resigned. RC ( DNA : RG 46, Executive Proceedings, Nominations, 14B–A1). In John Payne Todd’s hand, signed by JM . The Senate approved the nomination on 23 Jan. 1816 ( Senate Exec. Proceedings, Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of...
8476From James Madison to Jonathan Russell, 5 May 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. within a few days yours of Jany 6. It reminds me of your preceding one of February 15. 1815, which, tho’ recd. at a late day, would have been sooner acknowledged, but for a conflict between my wish to alleviate the feelings it disclosed, and the duty imposed by my view of the case out of which they arose. I have gained however nothing by the delay; and can therefore only say now,...
8477From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 18 March 1786 (Madison Papers)
Your two favours of the 1 & 20 Sepr. under the same cover by Mr. Fitzhugh did not come to hand till the 24th ult: and of course till it was too late for any Legislative interposition with regard to the Capitol. I have written to the Attorney on the subject. A letter which I have from him dated prior to his receipt of mine takes notice of the plan you had promised and makes no doubt that it...
8478From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 12 December 1786 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed paper will give you a knowledge of the mode and terms on which Tobo. is made a commutable. It also contains some Resolutions of importance relative to the navigation of the Mississippi. The Senate have concurred in them, though not unanimously. Some of the members of that branch objected to the pointedness of the language. Others doubted the propriety of taking up a subject of so...
8479From James Madison to the House of Representatives, 14 January 1811 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 January 1811. Transmits copies of the documents requested in the resolution of 4 Jan. 1811. RC and enclosure ( DNA : RG 233, President’s Messages, 11A-D1); Tr ( DNA : RG 46, Legislative Proceedings, 11A-E3). RC 1 p. In a clerk’s hand, signed by JM. For enclosure, a printed copy of JM’s proclamation of 2 Nov. 1810 and a Treasury Department circular to customs collectors dated 2 Nov. 1810,...
8480From James Madison to John Morton, 11 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
A petition has been addressed to the President by Charles Drew, representing that he sailed from Norfolk in Virginia in July last, for porto rico, where he purchased a Brig and proceeded to the Havanna; that he sailed thence for Philadelphia, but his vessel being upset, he and his crew were thrown back to the Havanna; That he again shipped himself at that place for Philadelphia, as master of...
8481James Madison to Edward Everett, 17 April 1830 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 11th. was duly recd. I had noticed the stress laid in a late debate, on the proceedings of the Virga. Legislature in. 1798-9. as supporting the nullifying doctrine so called; and the frequent references also to my participation in those proceedings. But altho’ regretting the erroneous views taken of them, and making no secret of my opinions, I was unwilling to obtrude any...
8482To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 6 May 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry I can give you no other account of our public situation than that it continues equally perplexed and alarming as when I lately gave you a sketch of it. Our army has as yet been kept from starving and public measures from a total stagnation by draughts on the States for the unpaid requisitions. The great amount of these you may judge of from the share that has fallen to Virginia. The...
8483From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
The last mail brought me your favor of Jany. 1. inclosing an unsealed one for Mr. A. & submitting to my discretion the eligibility of delivering it. In exercising this delicate trust I have felt no small anxiety, arising by no means however from an apprehension that a free exercise of it could be in collision with your real purpose, but from a want of confidence in myself, & the importance of...
8484From James Madison to Albert Gallatin, 8 November 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To Albert Gallatin. 8 November 1805, Department of State. “I request you to be pleased to issue a warrant for three thousand three hundred & Seventeen dollars & eight cents, on the appropriations for the relief of Seamen, in favor of James Davidson Jnr. the holder of the enclosed bill of exchange drawn upon me on the 26th. Septr. last, for the same sum, by Josiah Blakely, Consul of the...
8485From James Madison to James Monroe, 4 July 1823 (Madison Papers)
To my requests the day before yesterday I forgot to add that of a Copy of As letter to Harrison acknowledging the receipt of his Resignation; the date only being formerly asked for & sent in your last. Yours RC ( DLC : Monroe Papers); draft ( DLC ). RC docketed by Monroe. Minor differences between the copies have not been noted.
8486Power of Congress to Regulate Commerce, [29 August] 1787 (Madison Papers)
Charles Pinckney moved to require the approval of two-thirds of each house to pass an act regulating foreign and interstate commerce, insisting that any regulatory power over trade was a concession made by the South. Mr. Madison went into a pretty full view of the subject. He observed that the disadvantage to the S. States from a navigation act, lay cheifly in a temporary rise of freight,...
8487James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 11 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I rec d yesterday morning yours of the 8 th and return the several copies of letters enclosed in it. The letter to you from M r Cabell was returned by the mail before the last. I know not any course better to be taken in relation to D r Cooper , than your letters to him &
8488From James Madison to John G. Jackson, 12 April 1811 (Madison Papers)
I recd. at the same time your two letters of the 1st. & 5th. It was found that the appt. of a Judge to succeed Mr. Nelson, had taken place a week or two before. Your name had been brought into view under high auspices, but it does not appear that your willingness to accept the office (or the sufficiency perhaps of your health) was counted on. You say nothing on the subject of Merinoes; which...
8489From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 24 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 21. with the letters returned under the same cover was recd. last night. As you had not then recd. the last letters from Mr. G. & myself on the modified proposal to disuse B. Seamen, I shall wait the arrival of your next before I conclude on the instructions which are to go by the Wasp. I found by the accts. from Bermuda, that the mere difficulty which suspends the Treaty is...
8490To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 27 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recd. yours of the 17th. accompanied by the Direct tax bill which I have not yet been able to run thro’. Every thing I perceive is carried as the war party chuse. They will of course be the more responsible for consequences. The disposition to continue the Session is a proof that the operation of the irritating proceedings here on those of France is expected to furnish fresh fuel...