121James Madison to Asher Robbins, 12 February 1835 (Madison Papers)
I have long been in debt for the Copy of your "Discourse before the P. B. K. Society of Brown. University;" as I yet am for kind attention from other friends. For apologies for these delays, not unfrequently spun out into entire omissions, I must rely on my age now within a few days of its 85th. year, to which is added a State of health, severely crippled by disease. I find as is,...
122James Madison to Ferdinand R. Hassler, 11 February 1835 (Madison Papers)
I have received your communication relating to the survey of the coast and thank you for it. Finding that my great age now within a few days of its 85th. year, with a constitution & health severely crippled by disease did not permit me to give the attention due to the printed Documents, I can only refer to my former letters for an expression of the sentiments and good wishes retained for you...
123James Madison to Peter S. Duponceau, 7 February 1835 (Madison Papers)
I have received the Copy of Mr. Tyson’s "Discourse before the Young Men’s Colonization Society in Pensylvania, forwarded by you at his request; and I take the liberty of returning through the same Channel, my thanks, for a publication, so valuable and appropriate. It gives me great pleasure to find that the parent society has gained such an auxiliary as that in question, which has commenced...
124James Madison to Isaac A. Coles, 5 February 1835 (Madison Papers)
I am just favoured with yours of the 2d. inst. I owe an apology for not informing you that the articles sent by Commodore Elliot were duly received from the Courthouse, more than you did for not apprizing me that they were left there. Our only regret has been that you & Mrs. Coles could not give us the pleasure of your intended call. We hope another opportunity will be free from disappointing...
125James Madison to [John Quincy] Adams, 4 February 1835 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison with his best respects to Mr. Adams returns him many thanks for his "Oration on the Life & character of De Lafayette". J. M. has read it with a deep impression of the abounding merits which render it worthy of the source from which it comes, and of the object & the occasion which inspired it. RC ( MHi : Adams Papers).
126James Madison to Daniel Newell, 2 February 1835 (Madison Papers)
private I have received your two letters of the 28 & 30 Ulto. and return the paper inclosed in one of them, with a subscription to it as requested*—Should the sum be short of expectations or examples, I am able to say, that the question with myself was whether under the obligations to which my reduced resources are subjected I was justified in subscribing at all. I have not assumed the...
127James Madison to Henry Clay, 31 January 1835 (Madison Papers)
Perceiving that I am indebted to you for a copy of your Report on our Relations with France, I beg you to accept this return of my thanks for it. The document is as able in its execution, as it is laudable in its object of avoiding war without incurring dishonor. It must be the wish of all that the issue may correspond with the object. But may not a danger of rupture lurk under the conflicting...
128[JM] to [William Allen], 13 January 1835 (Madison Papers)
Below is an authority for transferring my credit on the Books of the S. G. T. Company, to yours. FC and enclosure (DLC) . Enclosure is an authorization written by Payne Todd, for Allen to receive the dividend from the Swift Run Gap Turnpike Company.
129James 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...
130James 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...
131James 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...
132James 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...
133Memorandum 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...
134Notes 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...
135James 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) .
136[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...
137James 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...
138James 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...
139James 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...
140James 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...
141James 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...
142James 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 :...
143James 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...
144James 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...
145James 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...
146James 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...
147James 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) .
148James 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) .
149James 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.
150James 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 &...