31James Madison to Joseph Wood, 27 February 1836 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. Sir your letter of the 16. inst. requesting such information as I might be able to give pertaining to a Biography of your father in Law the late Chief Justice Ellsworth. My acquaintance with him was limited to the periods of our cotemporary services in public life, and to the occasional intercourse, incident to it. As we happened to be thrown but little into the familiar...
32James Madison to William B. Rogers, 26 February 1836 (Madison Papers)
J. M. with his respects to Professor Rogers, returns many thanks for the Copy of his Report on the "Geological Reconnaissance of the State of Virginia." Unskilled as he is in the subject; he cannot but regard the Report as an able & instructive commencement of a task, which if duly prosecuted under the auspices it merits, cannot fail to amplify greatly the resources of the state, & to afford...
33James Madison to Samuel L. Southard, 26 February 1836 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison with friendly salutations to Mr Southard thanks him for the copy of his speech on the 25th of Jany. In his present condition he can read but little. He has however borrowed from other claims on his attention, the time required for a perusal of the Speech. Whether regarded as a test of debating powers, or as a material for the political history of our Country, it is a Document, that...
34James Madison to Frederick Freeman, 22 February 1836 (Madison Papers)
James Madison having reason to believe, that in the Autograph lately furnished to Mr. Freeman, there was a lapsus of attention, in the reference to the year of his age, which instead of 84th. ought to have been 85th. which will soon be completed from the date of his birth in March 1751. Mr. Freeman will be so good as to alter the figure 4 into 5, after which this note may be destroyed. RC...
35James Madison to William C. Preston, 22 February 1836 (Madison Papers)
Your letter introducing the Earl of Selkirk was duly delivered and I soon found that his intelligence, and social merits—justified the reception asked for him. Mrs. Madison and myself cannot forego the occasion to thank you for the kind & friendly terms in which you express your sentiments towards us, & to assure you that there are affectionate reminiscences between the two families which will...
36James Madison to Moses Dawson and Others, 20 February 1836 (Madison Papers)
I have received fellow Citizens, your letter inviting me to a public dinner, at Cincinnatti, on the 4th. of March, to celebrate the expiration on the preceding day, of the Charter of the U. S. Bank; and requesting from me, if unable to attend, an appropriate sentiment to be given in my name, by the Company. Retaining as I do, my convict<ion> heretofore officially, and otherwise expressed, that...
37James Madison to Matthew Jackson, 20 February 1836 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 6th. instant. The number relating to my religion addressed to me from diversified quarters, led me long ago to adopt the general rule of declining correspondences on the subject, the rule itself furnishing a convenient answer. I will not however withhold the expression of my sensibility to the friendly interest you take in my welfare here and hereafter; and your...
38James Madison to Frederick Freeman, 12 February 1836 (Madison Papers)
In acknoledging the receipt of your letter of January 30. and thanking you for your kind wishes, which are sincerely returned, I comply with your request of an autographic line. Being written near the close of my 84th. year, with fingers crippled by Rheumatism, my name is added, as familarly written previous to the causes of the change. RC (owned by H. Spencer Glidden, Andover, Mass.); draft...
39James Madison to Martin Van Buren, 12 February 1836 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison has duly received the Copy of the President’s Message of the 8th. inst., enclosed by Mr. Van Buren and respectfully thanks him for the interesting communication. FC (DLC) .
40James Madison to William Cranch, 9 February 1836 (Madison Papers)
Private I have just received your letter of Feby. 4th. The petition to Congress was returned with my signature two days ago. I think the postponement of the public invitation of plans for the Monument was very proper for the reasons you give. I doubt the expediency of the proposed application to the Legislature of Virginia without more knowledge than I have of its dispositions on the subject...
41James Madison to Caleb Cushing, 9 February 1836 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of the 3d. Instant, enclosing a copy of your speech on the right of petition &c; which certainly contains very able and interesting views of the subject. I do not wonder at your difficulty in understanding, the import, of the passage cited from my speech in the first Congress, under the present Constitution, being myself at a loss, for its precise meaning, obscured...
42James Madison to William Cranch, 31 January 1836 (Madison Papers)
I enclose a letter from Mr. McCleland, of whom I have no knowledge, containing a plan for the Washington Monument. I have merely informed him that I should do so—with an intimation to address to you his further communications on the subject. It has I believe been the practice abroad in such cases to invite a competition from men of genius and taste. With my respects and cordial salutations FC...
43James Madison to Thomas McCleland, 31 January 1836 (Madison Papers)
I have received Sir your letter of Jany 23d. containing a plan for the proposed Washington Monument. When my appointment as President of the Society was made known to me, I intimated that my acceptance of it was merely as an evidence of the interest I felt in the object, and that in my present condition the appointment could be but honorary. This being every day more and more the case I shall...
44James Madison to Edward Everett, 30 January 1836 (Madison Papers)
I have received the copy of your address to the two branches of the Legislature, which I have read with much pleasure. It is what I should have taken for certain it would be, a very able document, and of a character appropriate to the occasion. I am not sure however, that I ought to congratulate you on the event, which led to the address, since it withdraws your services from a wider theatre,...
45James Madison to William C. Rives, 26 January 1836 (Madison Papers)
I return with thanks the papers you kindly favored me with an opportunity of perusing. They are not without interest tho’ superseded by the mass of information now before the public. I am sorry to find from this, that so much uncertainty still clouds the issue of the controversy with France. Should it fail of an amicable adjustment by the parties themselves, it is quite possible that Great...
46James Madison to Martin Van Buren, 22 January 1836 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison, with his best respects to Mr. Van Buren, thanks him for the Copy of the President’s late Special Message and the Documents accompanying it. He wishes he could have found in the posture of the controversy with France less of a remaining cloud over the desired issue to it. RC ( CLjC ); draft (DLC) .
47James Madison to William Allen, 18 January 1836 (Madison Papers)
William Allen is authorized to receive my share of the dividend lately declared by the Swift run gap Turnpike Company. FC (DLC) .
48James Madison to John Fellows, 6 January 1836 (Madison Papers)
I received Sir in due time your letter of Septr.—with the Volume accompanying it. But such has been my decrepit condition, the effect of age, and chronic disease, that I have not been able to do more than dip occasionally into the work. This very partial view of its contents, has however satisfied me, that it affords information on curious & not uninteresting subjects, which spare to readers...
49James Madison to Lydia R. Bailey, 5 January 1836 (Madison Papers)
I have received a few days ago No. 36 of the Quarterly Review, the preceding no. 35 was omitted or miscarried—You will be so good as to forward that no. with respect. FC (DLC) .
50James Madison to P. Mortimer Fitzwilliams, 5 January 1836 (Madison Papers)
I have received Sir your letter of Decr. 27th. requesting autograph names to repair the loss of a collection you had made for a gentleman of distinguished standing in the British Parliament. On recurring to my files, I find they have been so far exhausted by applications of a like sort, that I can promise from them no aid for your purpose. With respect FC (DLC) . Addressed to Fitzwilliams in "...
51James Madison: Essay on Sovereignty, December 1835 (Madison Papers)
Sovereignty It has hitherto been understood, that the supreme power, that is, the sovereignty of the people of the States, was in its nature divisible; and was in fact divided, according to the Constitution of the U. States, between the States in their United, and the States in their individual capacities that as the States in their highest sov. char. were compent to a surrender of yr whole...
52James Madison: Origin of the Constitutional Convention, December 1835 (Madison Papers)
A sketch never finished nor applied. As the weakness and wants of man naturally lead to an association of individuals, under a Common Authority, whereby each may have the protection of the whole against danger from without, and enjoy in safety within, the advantages of social intercourse, and an exchange of the necessaries & comforts of life; in like manner feeble communities, independent of...
53James Madison to Charles J. Ingersoll, 30 December 1835 (Madison Papers)
I thank you, tho’ at a late day, for the pamphlet comprizing your address at New-York. The address is distinguished by some very interesting views of an important subject. The Absolutists on the "Let alone Theory" overlook the two essential prerequisites to a perfect freedom of external Commerce, 1. that it be universal among nations. 2. that peace be perpetual among them. A perfect freedom of...
54James Madison to Levi Woodbury, 29 December 1835 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison with his respects to Mr. Woodbury thanks him for his interesting Report from the Treasury Department. The exuberant prosperity of our Country is a happy illustration of the beneficent operation of its political Institutions; and with the anticipated rate of its growth in population, in productive capacities, and in resources for protection, not only on its borders, but on the Ocean,...
55James Madison to Bellamy Storer, 24 December 1835 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of Decr. 22d. covering a communication from Mr. Hodges. Had you found it convenient to deliver it in person, it would have afforded me an agreeable opportunity of welcoming you to my abode. I very sincerely express my sensibility to the friendly views you have taken of my public Career—and I pray you to be assured of my cordial respects and good wishes. FC (DLC) .
56James Madison to William Allen, 22 December 1835 (Madison Papers)
I have this day drawn on you in favor of Walter S. Chandler for two hundred dollars which you will please to meet by a sale of as much flour as may be requisite. FC (DLC) .
57James Madison to Robert H. Goldsborough, 21 December 1835 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 15th. with the Tobacco seed it refers to. I tender the thanks due respectively to Mr Vaughan and yourself for the obliging attention to which I am indebted; and will take measures for turning the seed to the best account. I was favored many years ago by Col. G. Mason with a sample of the like seed, and had hills enough planted from it to test its character in...
58James Madison to Martin Van Buren, 15 December 1835 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison with his respects to Mr. Van Buren thanks him for the copy of the President’s message on the 7th. instant. It is a very able Document, and in some of its aspects particularly, interesting. The mode in which it disclaims any threats to France seems well adapted to the occasion. Its effect on the sensibilities of the French Executive, should these be involved in the sequel, may...
59James Madison to Albert J. Kidd, 9 December 1835 (Madison Papers)
I have your letter & am glad to find, that the information you request, will have probably reached you thro’ the Newspaper which contain it as notified from the authoritative source. I have only therefore to express my hopes, that your exertions on the occasion have the success they merit, & tender the respects I pray you to accept Draft (DLC) . Written on the same page with a draft of JM to...
60James Madison to Lucian Minor, 9 December 1835 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison with his best respects to Mr. Minor thanks him for his Address on "Education &c". before "The Institute of Education of Hampden Sidney College". He has read it with the pleasure which could not fail to be imparted, by the instructive and impressive views it takes of a subject vitally important to our popular Institutions. FC (DLC) .