8491James Madison to Edward Livingston, 2 August 1834 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of February 8th. was duly received and I regret that it has not been sooner acknowledged. But such was and has since been the decrepit state of my health, that I have been obliged to avoid as much as possible the use of the pen. Being at present partially relieved from a supervening malady under which I have for a considerable time been particularly suffering I avail myself of the...
8492James Madison to John P. Kennedy, 4 August 1834 (Madison Papers)
I have duly received the Copy of "Swallow Barn" with which you favoured me. The condition of my eyes, and the inroads on my general health, make it so uncertain when I shall be able to avail myself of the pleasure which the 2 volumes promise, that I take the liberty of tendering you my thanks, in advance: well assured by the reputation of the work; and by what I have seen from the same pen...
8493James Madison to David A. Hall, 8 August 1834 (Madison Papers)
Although your favour of March 28th accompanying the " History of the Bank " has been so long on hand, the continued inroads on my health, have not permitted me even yet to do more than glance at the Contents of the volume. From that I perceive that it comprizes information which must be extensively acceptable; particuarly to those engaged in political & historical researches. I sincerly wish...
8494James Madison to the Committee for Democratic Republicans, Madison County, Virginia, 18 August 1834 (Madison Papers)
I have received, Fellow Citizens, your letter of the 1st Instant inviting me in the name of a large number of Democratic Republicans of your county to a public dinner to be given on the 23d to the Honble John M. Patton, their Representitive in Congress. My continued debility from age and sickness not permitting me to accept the invitation, I can only express my grateful acknowledgements for...
8495James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 25 August 1834 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 20th. and inclose a fair copy of so much of Mr. Jefferson’s letter to me as relates to the resolutions of 98-99. The letter is dated Augt. 23d. not 28th but is so identical with the printed letter to Mr. W. C. Nicholas as to prove that one of the dates is erroneous. I return the letter of Mr. W. C. N. which I found in the letter of Mr. J. I find no letter from Mr. J....
8496James Madison to Edward Coles, 29 August 1834 (Madison Papers)
I have received, my dear Sir, your favor of the 17th. The motives to it are as precious to me, as its object is controvertible. You have certainly presented your views of the subject with great skill and great force. But you have not sufficiently adverted to the position I have assumed, and which has been accorded or rather assigned to me by others, of being withdrawn from party agitations, by...
8497James Madison to James Leander Cathcart, September 1834 (Madison Papers)
I recd. in the due time your letter of Aug. 11. But in my present condition I have been obliged to spare the use of the pen as much as possible, especially when an answer was not pressing, and I could give none that could be of much importance. It may well be supposed that at my age, and after a lapse of nearly 30 years, my memory must be a very fallible resort for information as to...
8498James Madison to George Joy, 9 September 1834 (Madison Papers)
I have received your two letters of June 4th & 11th. with their enclosures. The letter to your brother records a touching incident in the life of Lafayette, a life which if history does it justice, will fill some of its most conspicuous & interesting pages. Observing that Mr. Adams had been designated by Congress to prepare an Obituary Memoir of the man so much admired and beloved by our...
8499James Madison to Aaron Vail, 9 September 1834 (Madison Papers)
I inclose a letter for Mr. George Joy of London, which I request the favor of you to have delivered. I am anxious that it should not fail to reach him. In compliance with your letter of—I forwarded to you the autograph lines which were wished. I hope the letter got safely to hand. With cordial salutations FC (DLC) .
8500James Madison to Thomas R. Dew, 15 September 1834 (Madison Papers)
J. M. presents his thanks to Professor Dew for the Copy of his Essay on Usury. The subject being very ably handled, will doubtless aid in dissipating the erroneous views of it which have so long prevailed. FC (DLC) .
8501James Madison to Henry D. Gilpin, 15 September 1834 (Madison Papers)
J. M. with his respects to Mr. Gilpin acknowledges the receipt of his able & eloquent Speech on the 4th. of July. The delay in returning his thanks for it, has an apology in the decrepit state of his health, of which he is obliged in this as in other cases to avail himself. FC (DLC) .
8502James Madison to Samuel L. Southard, 15 September 1834 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison with his respects to Mr Southard returns him many thanks for his biographical discourse on Mr Wirt. The character of this meritorious Citizen is a rich theme for eloquent and instructive comments; of which the discourse is a signal & happy illustration. RC (NjP) ; FC (DLC) . In an unknown hand, signed by JM.
8503James Madison to William H. Winder [Jr.], 15 September 1834 (Madison Papers)
I am sensible of the delay in acknowledging your letter of and regret it. But apart from the crippled condition of my health, which almost forbids the use of the pen, I could not forget that I was to speak of occurrences after a lapse of 20 years, & at an age in its 84th year; circumstances so readily and for the most part, justly referred to, as impairing the confidence due to recollections &...
8504James Madison to Isaac S. Lyon, 20 September 1834 (Madison Papers)
I must apologize for the great delay in acknowledging your letter of Apl. 20th, by referring, (now a common and necessary resort) to the feebleness of age, accompanied by severe & continued inroads on my health. My respect for your object, would make it very agreeable to me, to aid it in the way you mention. But on looking into the parcels of pamphlets I possess, I find none that would supply...
8505James Madison to Edward Coles, 3 October 1834 (Madison Papers)
I have received yours of the 15th Sepr. and have commenced an answer; but interruptions of different sorts and my crippled fingers, make the progress very tedious. Tell me where an answer will catch you. Finding that I have in order to avoid the sale of Negroes sold land till the residue will not support them, concentered and increasing as they are, I have yeilded to the necessity of parting...
8506James Madison to Isaac A. Coles, 3 October 1834 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison with his best respects to Col: Coles, requests the favor of him to have the enclosed delivered to his brother, if in the neighbourhood. Should he have left it, and be out of immediate reach, Col C. will be so obliging as to return it to me, with a notice of the most expedient address for a letter to his brother. [printer’s fist] The enclosed letter contains a check on the B. Bank of...
8507James Madison to Edward Coles, 8 October 1834 (Madison Papers)
I have just received your letter of the 5th. with the Bond enclosed in it, and catch a fugitive opportunity of requesting by the Mail, that the small balance, may remain in your hands, applicable to some small object in Phila. Accept our joint wishes that health and happiness may attend you both; with our regret that we could not have the pleasure of personally expressing them. RC (NjP :...
8508James Madison to Mann Butler, 11 October 1834 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 21. Ult in which you wish to obtain my recollection of what passed between Mr. John Brown and me in 1788, on the overture of Gardoqui "that if the people of Kentucky would erect themselves into an independent State, and appoint a proper person to negociate with him, he had authority for that purpose and would enter into an arrangement with them for the...
8509James Madison to Edward Coles, 15 October 1834 (Madison Papers)
I have received my dear Sir, your letter of the 15th. ultimo. I did not anticipate a complaint that mine was not full enough; being an effort which in my present condition, I had rarely made. It was not my object to offer either a plenary or a public review of the agitated topics; but to satisfy a friend that I ought not in my 84th. year, and with a constitution crippled by disease, to put...
8510James Madison to Edward Everett, 22 October 1834 (Madison Papers)
(I have received the copy of your Eulogy on Lafayette; and tho’ obliged in my present condition to read but little at a time, have gone through it, and with great pleasure, finding a reward in every page as I proceeded. It is a fine picture finely framed, with a likeness faithful to the noble original; the more noble for having renounced the vain title. It cannot fail to be universally...
8511James Madison to Edward Coles, 15 November 1834 (Madison Papers)
For the lateness of this acknowledgment of your letter of the 31 Ult: my dear Sir, I must plead my crippled condition which has not mended, and more than usual calls on my attention. It would seem that neither of us have seized precisely the views of the other, in our comments on the political questions which have agitated the public. I retain the opinion in which I am glad you agree, that...
8512James Madison: On Nullification, December 1834 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ the Legislature of Virginia declared at a late Session almost unanimously, that S. Carolina was not supported in her doctrine of nullification by the Resolutions of 1798, it appears that those Resolutions are still appealed to as expressly or constructively favoring the doctrine That the doctrine of nullification may be clearly understood, it must be taken as laid down in the Report of...
8513James Madison to Unknown, re majority governments, December 1834 (Madison Papers)
You justly take alarm at the new doctrine that a majority Govt. is of all Govts. the most oppressive. The doctrine strikes at the root of Republicanism, and if pursued into its consequences, must terminate in absolute monarchy, with a standing military force; such alone being impartial between its subjects, and alone capable of overpowering majorities as well as minorities. But it is said that...
8514James Madison to [Unknown], December 1834 (Madison Papers)
Having alluded to the Supreme Court of the U. S. as a Constitutional resort in deciding questions of Jurisdiction between the U. S. and the individual States a few remarks may be proper shewing the sense and degree in which that character is more particularly ascribed to that Department of the Govt. As the Legislative, Executive & Judicial Departments of the U. S. are co-ordinate, and each...
8515Memorandum of checks drawn on Bank of Fredericksburg, December 1834 (Madison Papers)
Deposit 5400 + 600 (check every Memorandum of checks drawn on the Bank of Fredericksburg on the fund recd. from Mr Taylor. No. 1. fav. of W. Allen $1500 2. J. C. Payne 400 3. E. Coles.....2050 octb 4. J. Ballard & Co. ..... 200 10 5. Js. Shepherd ..... 80 10 6. Eras: T. Rose .... 250 17. 7 Docr. Grymes ..... 15 20. 8. D & M. Cutts ... 45 31. 9. Jas. Cowherd .... 1047 Nov 11. 20. Peter Gray...
8516Notes on Nullification, December 1834 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ the Legislature of Virginia at a late Session declared almost unanimously, that South Carolina was not supported in her doctrine of nullification by the Resolutions of 1798 it appears that those Resolutions are still appealed to as expressly or constructively favoring the doctrine. That the doctrine of nullification may be clearly understood, it must be taken as laid down in the Report...
8517James Madison to the New England Society of New York, 20 December 1834 (Madison Papers)
—I have recd. fellow Citizens your letter inviting me in behalf of the New England society in N. York to a dinner on the 22d. Inst., their anniversary celebration of the principles & virtues of their pilgrim Fathers. The obstacles to my acceptance of the invitation being insuperable I can only express my acknowledgments for the kindness & politeness which dictated it. The exalted feelings...
8518[JM] to William Allen, 22 December 1834 (Madison Papers)
Estimating the price of flour as rather more likely to be better than lower, I have preferred a small loan from the bank to a sale of the flour on hand. You will oblige me therefore, by turning the enclosed note into a credit for in Bank, and letting me know when I may draw on it. Your letter noting the balance in your account, was duly recd. I had disposed of a draft on you for $80 in favor...
8519James Madison to Langdon J. Jay, 24 December 1834 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of the 20th. instant. The object of it will be attained, by this acknowledgment, with my name and that of Mrs. M. subscribed. (DLC) .
8520James Madison to Daniel Drake, 12 January 1835 (Madison Papers)
The copy of your "Discourse on the History charac[ter] and prospects of the West", was duly received; and I have read with pleasure, the instructive views taken of its interesting and comprehensive themes Should the youth addressed and their successors follow your advice, and their example be elsewhere, in noting from period to period, the progress and changes of our country under the aspects...