1951Joseph C. Cabell to James Madison, 29 August 1831 (Madison Papers)
I send you by the mail which will convey you this letter, a copy of a pamphlet which I have circulated in this county on the occasion of the recent election, and when you open it, you will be surprized to find that it is the vindication of my course in the Legislature on the subject of the Anti-tariff Resolutions, which I wrote & declined to publish two years ago, and that I have taken the...
1952Joseph C. Cabell to James Madison, 16 March 1828 (Madison Papers)
I suppose you have been notified of your appointment as Visitor of the University for the current term. But it is possible that you may not be apprized that the first monday in April, was fixed upon, for the first meeting of the Board, merely because the Law makes it the duty of the Executive to appoint a time for the first meeting, previous to the slated meetings. At first, I suggested to the...
1953Thomas S. Hinde to James Madison, 20 August 1832 (Madison Papers)
While engaged in the bustle of life, occasionally, a serious thought would pass my mind, respecting the fathers of our Country. Mr Adams Mr Jefferson and Mr Monroe having taken their departure from the present State of being on the fourth of July; I queried in my own mind, whether we should not hear of your departure on the same day: but the 4th of July is past & I trust that you are yet alive...
1954To James Madison from Edmond Kelly, 6 December 1820 (Madison Papers)
Persons influenced by the british Govt have made such efforts to misrepresent me that I deemed it necessary to explain my motives for these Coms. & thereby to shew their necessity—& as it is now evident that I am opposed to all demagocical pursuits, that my object is to preserve a proper subordination to the laws & to expose & defeat british Incendiary Emissaries engaged in factious...
1955C. Schultz to James Madison, 1 January 1829 (Madison Papers)
As candor in Religion , is now vanished from the face of the earth: and hypocrisy under the mask of courtesy and forbearance reigns triumphant in its place; and you have arrived at that moral point again, where candor must resume all her charms: inasmuch as you are now, on the threshold of that bourne; from whence no one returns: to solve any of our well founded doubts, relative to our...
1956To James Madison from Donald Fraser Sr., 8 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
Notwithstanding, my not having the honor of a personal acquaintance, yet, I trust, that, the well known, suavity of your disposition will induce you to pardon my freedom in addressing you at present. Knowing, that for many years past, your highly useful life, has been Devoted to the promotion of the best interests of your beloved Country: I [s]hou’d not have intruded upon your retireme[n]t,...
1957To James Madison from John Adams, 17 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
Accept my thanks for your favour of last month. The safe Arrival of your books has quieted my conscience. There is nothing within the narrow Compass of human knowledge more interesting, than the Subject of your Letter. If “the Idea of a Government in one Center Seems to be every where exploded” perhaps Something remains, undefined, as dangerous, as plausible and pernicious as that Idea. Half a...
1958To James Madison from Edmond Kelly, April 1820 (Madison Papers)
I this day read the presidents last message wherein (agreeable to a wish of the rusian Emperor) he recommends it to congress to deferr any resolution to occupy E Florida untill as I suppose it shall be convenient to Ferdinand to signify how he has or will dispose of it—very probably to England for an armament and money to subdue the south An. colonies or some of them. I consided [ sic ] the...
1959Stephen Bates to James Madison, 31 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty to send you herewith a pamphlet containing the three letters of the Hon Richard Rush, one from the late President John Quincy Adams and one from the Honorable William Wirt of Virginia on being nominated [ ] Candidate for President of the United States on the subject of Free Masonry. Perhaps I may be deem’d presumptious in addressing you on this subject: and nothing but a...
1960To James Madison from Francis Corbin, 3 March 1821 (Madison Papers)
Gout in the Head and Stomach, occasioned more, I believe, by uneasiness than by abstinence, have been my almost constant companions ever since I had the pleasure to receive your last very obliging letter. These, together with a fear of intruding upon you, during the Session of Congress, when, I presume, your correspondents must be numerous, and the Subjects of your correspondence important,...
1961Joseph C. Cabell to James Madison, 16 March 1829 (Madison Papers)
I went out of the house yesterday for the first time, since my arrival at this time: but my health is still in a feeble state, and it will probably be some weeks before I shall be able to resume my usual private pursuits. I do not take the Enquirer, and therefore am often ignorant of what is said in that paper. I filed away the numbers of Mr. Giles’s commentaries upon your letters, as far as...
1962To James Madison from George Long, [November 1827] (Madison Papers)
“To ensure the success of the University in all departments, it must certainly be an object of the highest importance to possess teachers who will zealously prosecute their respective studies, and make the profession of a public teacher the profession of their life. The degree of Knowledge acquired before entering on duties of this kind has, I believe, been found by experience not to be a...
1963To James Madison from Nicholas P. Trist, 16 September 1826 (Madison Papers)
Our friend Mr Terrell is now among us, on a farewell visit, preparatory to his removal to New orleans, whither he goes in the fall. During this visit, he desires much to put into execution his long deferred pilgrimage to Montpellier; and, in compliance with this wish, I shall take the liberty of guiding his footsteps thither some time before the close of the month. During Mr Jefferson’s life,...
1964To James Madison from Francis Corbin, 24 September 1818 (Madison Papers)
On the 18th. of this month I intended to have set out on my journey to pay my respects to you and to Mrs. Madison at Montpelier. But Symptoms of the Gout, occasioned by being caught in a heavy rain, warned me, and still warn me not to venture at any distance from home. If these should wear off, and my Plantation matters, which are very backward, Tobacco especially, will permit me to leave them...
1965To James Madison from Edmond Kelly, [ca. 30] October 1817 (Madison Papers)
It is almost unnecessary for me to mention that the diligence with which I am watched by the friends of England Caused that Inspection of all I write by which Traitors found themselves discovered. I find it has only encreased their Caution but not stopped their progress their hopes from recent promises of an Invasion seem to have encreased their Confidence. General perhaps Lord A Jackson has...
1966Andrew Stevenson to James Madison, 20 November 1830 (Madison Papers)
My hands have been so full since my return home that I have been prevented, till now, from availing myself of your kind permission to address you, in relation to some of the important & interesting subjects, discussed by us, during my recent visit to Montpelier. I do not intend however, at this time, to touch those vital questions, in the discussion of which you have lately taken part, & to...
1967To James Madison from Benjamin L. Lear, 14 December 1822 (Madison Papers)
At the request of my friend Captain Hull of the navy, I have been Endeavouring to settle, at the Treasury Department, the accounts of his uncle, the unfortunate General Hull, once Governor of Michigan, and have Effected a settlement, of all I believe, excepting the charge made by him for his salary as Governor of Michigan, from 1st of April 1812 to the 1st of March 1814, at $2000 per annum....
1968John Quincy Adams to James Madison, 18 August 1834 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 30th. ulto. with its enclosures would have been received with unmingled pleasure, but for the alloy of its intimations with regard to the state of your health—The partial relief which you have recently enjoyed, I will hope may have been symptomatic of a more general renovation, and reserve for you yet years of comfort and tranquility to witness the continual gigantic growth...
1969To James Madison from Henry Lee, 5 August 1824 (Madison Papers)
As the reputed authour of a rejected address which was reported to the Jackson Convention in this town, I take the liberty of forwarding for your perusal a correct copy of it —a step that seems proper as parts of your publick conduct, & points of the constitution, are touched upon in the paper. As the paper was prepared at the request of the committee & its tone attempered by the wishes of...
1970To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 April 1825 (Madison Papers)
I have received a proposition from Mr. Perry the owner of the lands which separate the two tracts of the University which I think of so much importance to that institution as to communicate to the visiters by letter in their separate situations. The University tract of 100 acres is ¾ of a mile distant from that of the Observatory of 153 acres. The water which supplies the cisterns of the...
1971To James Madison from Edmond Kelly, 25 December 1817 (Madison Papers)
Confident that you feel in retirement the same anxiety as when in office to preserve that Independence which your administration secured under perilous Circumstances I have addressed you without Ceremony but I hope with that respect which is the meed of true & exalted patriotism & virtue from an Idea that it was my duty to make the Communication and that whatever the public safety rendered...
1972To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton Gaines, 16 October 1826 (Madison Papers)
In soliciting your attention to the enclosed copy of a letter which I have addressed to the Adjutant General of the Army, preparatory to a review of the principal occurrences of the late war with England, in which I was immediately concerned; I cannot but hope that my conduct may occur to your recollection in a light sufficiently favorable to exonerate me from any possible charge of a...
1973To James Madison from Francis Corbin, 25 December 1818 (Madison Papers)
Ever since the receipt of your last very kind and flattering letter, I have been so much occupied by executorial and other business, which called me, unexpectedly, to the lower Country, that I have not been able to attend to any thing else, not even to my own health. This has been much impaired by an Influenza, from the pulmonary effects of which I have hardly yet recovered. Mrs. Corbin and my...
1974To James Madison from George W. Spotswood, 29 November 1825 (Madison Papers)
This has been one of the most distressing years I have ever experienced, but although I have met with the loss of two of my most valueable servants, I feel happy, when I reflect that my wife and Children are spared; At one time, Sir, I had Eight of my family on the bed of sickness, and with a fever (if fatal) would have terminated there existence in a short time, but the great skill, and...
1975To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 September 1821 (Madison Papers)
Mr Brockenbrough has been closely engaged, since our last meeting in settling the cost of the buildings finished at the University, that we might obtain a more correct view of the state of our funds, and see whether a competency will remain for the Library. He has settled for 6. pavilions, 1. hotel, and 35. dormitories and will proceed with the rest; so that I hope, by our next meeting, the...
1976To James Madison from Richard Rush, 18 June 1817 (Madison Papers)
When it became my lot to superintend for a short time, the business of the department of state, I little imagined, that among the foreign ministers, the Abbe Correa was the one with whom my official relations were to be the least smooth. Having imbibed a veneration for his character and genius, struck with the engaging simplicity of his manners and liberality of his principles, I had, on the...
1977To James Madison from Benjamin Waterhouse, 30 June 1825 (Madison Papers)
Having reached home but a few days since, I seize the first day of leisure to express to you, and your good Lady my grateful acknowledgements for your polite attention, while sojourning in your hospitable mansion, where I experienced what I had often heard from the voice of fame. After passing about a week at Washington, principally with my greatly esteemed, & highly venerated friend, I left...
1978To James Madison from William Taylor, 19 July 1822 (Madison Papers)
You may have heard of the Consular Appointt. I recd. from the President of the United States to the Port of Vera Cruz. I reached my Port of destination 17th April, remained there 2 days only, and then came on to this place, the Capitol of the Empire of Megico, where I have continued ever since, partly on account of the black vomit having made its appearance in Vera Cruz, and the Castle of San...
1979Joseph C. Cabell to James Madison, 3 March 1831 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 9th ult. was received in Richmond where I went about the middle of the month and remained till the 28th on business in the Court of Chancery. On the 1st. inst. I waited on Mr. John Page the Rector of Wm. and Mary and shewed him your letter and the two papers enclosed in it. The enclosed reply has been handed me by Mr. Page in reply to your communication, and you will perceive...
1980Jared Sparks to James Madison, 14 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
My mind has got into a new perplexity about Pinckney’s Draft of a Constitution. By a rigid comparison of that instrument with the Draft of the Committee reported August 6th, they are proved to be essentially, and almost identically, the same thing. It is impossible to resist the conviction, that they proceeded from one and the same source. This being established, the only question is, whether...