421From James Madison to James Wood, 12 April 1799 (Madison Papers)
Capt: Henry Bell of this neighbourhood wishing his pretensions to be taken into view by the Executive in filling the office of Superintendant of the State Arsenals I take the liberty of stating that he enjoys the reputation of having served meritoriously in the war of our Revolution, that he is esteemed a man of strict integrity & honor, and that he may be confided in for a faithful discharge...
422Virginia Resolutions, 21 December 1798 (Madison Papers)
JM’s writing of the Virginia Resolutions should be seen in the light of a long series of actions JM undertook to stop the progress of what he considered to be the wrongful interpretation of the Constitution he had done so much to create and have adopted. In JM’s mind, the abuse of the “necessary and proper” clause in the Constitution had led to the expansion of federal government power well...
423Foreign Influence, [23 January] 1799 (Madison Papers)
The public attention has been much employed for some time, on the danger of foreign influence, and of divisions between the government and the people. The jealousy which has been awakened on these subjects, has however, been exclusively directed towards one foreign nation. To be honorable to our character, and adequate to our safety, it ought to be pointed to every quarter where danger lurks,...
424Account with George Watson, [23 January] 1800 (Madison Papers)
Decr 1th Col James Madison Dr 5 Club in Wine porter 3—2 6 do – do 3—5 7 do – do 3—9 9 pearel Barley 1—6 10 To 2 Dinners for Ladys 6—0 One Botle porter
425Political Reflections, [23 February] 1799 (Madison Papers)
There was never a time when it was more requisite for the public to be truly acquainted with foreign transactions than at the present; nor one at which this information was more difficult. With every thing that regards the French Republic, it is of peculiar importance that it should be accurately and fully understood, because that is the Foreign Power, with which our relations have become more...
426Toasts for an American Dinner, [4 July] 1798 (Madison Papers)
1. The people. May every arm be raised agst Foreign invaders, & every voice agst domestic Usurpers. 2. The Union. May it find an everlasting Cement in the spirit of the Revolution, & the sacredness of the Constitution. 3. The Constitution. May its Authors be its protectors, & its disorganizers its victims. 4. The P. & V. P. may the former never feel the passions of J. A. nor the latter be...
427Death of George Washington, [18 December] 1799 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison addressed the speaker as follows: Death has robbed our country of its most distinguished ornament, and the world of one of its greatest benefactors. George Washington, the Hero of Liberty, the father of his Country, and the friend of man is no more. The General Assembly of his native state were ever the first to render him, living, the honors due to his virtues. They will not be...
428Motion on the Virginia Resolutions of 1798, [23 December] 1799 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison moved, that the committee of the whole should be discharged from further proceedings upon certain answers from several of the states, relative to the communications made by the Virginia legislature at their last session; and that the same should be referred to a special committee of seven. Richmond Va. Argus , 27 Dec. 1799. The House appointed a committee made up of JM, John...
429The Report of 1800, [7 January] 1800 (Madison Papers)
When JM yielded to the entreaties of Virginia Republicans to stand as a delegate to the Virginia General Assembly in the spring of 1799, it was for the immediate purpose of combating the influence of Patrick Henry, who, it was feared, if left unopposed, would succeed in overcoming Virginia’s “resistance to monarchical measures.” But Henry’s death in June 1799 removed the chief obstacle to...
430Edmund Randolph’s Notes on the Common Law, [ca. September] 1799 (Madison Papers)
Among the materials JM drew on for his Report of 1800 were some notes written by Edmund Randolph for a projected essay on the question of whether there was a federal common law of crimes. Although the editors have found no evidence that JM commented on this paper to anyone, its presence in JM’s papers points to its use by the author of the report. The idea that the entire body of English...