401From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 November 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I have never answered your letter by mr Polk , because I intended to have paid you a visit. this has been postponed by various circumstances till yesterday, being the day fixed for the departure of my daur Eppes, my horses were ready for me to have set out to see you. an accident postponed her departure to this day & my visit also. but Colo. Monroe dined with us yesterday, and on my asking his...
402From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 November 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I omitted in my letter of the 23d to say any thing on the subject of mr Wirt; which however was necessary only for form’s sake, because I had promised it. you know he is a candidate for the clerkship of your house, you know his talents, his worth, & his republicanism; & therefore need not my testimony, which could otherwise be given for him in the strongest form on every point. the desirable...
403To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 29 December 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
My promise to write to you before your leaving Albemarle was defeated by a dysenteric attack which laid me up for about a week, and which left me in a State of debility not yet thoroughly removed. My recovery has been much retarded by the job of preparing a vindication of the Resolutions of last Session agst. the replies of the other States, and the sophistries from other quarters. The...
404To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 4 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
My last covered a copy of the Report on the Resolutions of last year. I now inclose a copy of certain resolutions moved by Mr. Giles, to which he means to add an instruction on the subject of the intercource law which has been so injurious to the price of our Tobo. It is not improbable that the Resolutions when taken up, may undergo some mollifications in the spirit & air of them. The Report...
405To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 9 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
The question on the Report printed, was decided by 60 for & 40 agst. it, the day before yesterday, after a debate five days. Yesterday & today have been spent on Mr. Giles’ propositions, which with some softenings will probably pass, by nearly the same vote. The Senate is in rather a better state than was expected. The debate turned almost wholly on the right of the Legislature to protest. The...
406To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 12 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
My last informed you of the result of the debates on the justifying Report of the Select Committee. I am now able to add that of Mr. Giles’s resolutions. The question on the whole was decided in the affirmative by a little upwards of a hundred against less than fifty. The vote was rather stronger on some of the particular resolutions, for example the instruction for disbanding the army. The...
407To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 18 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last the Senate have agreed to the Report —& the Resolutions, by 15 to 6. To the latter they made an amendt. to the definition of the portion of C.L. in force in the U.S. by inserting the words “by Congress” after the word “adopted,” in order to repel the misconstruction which led the minority to concur in that particular resolution as it passed the H. of D. The amendt. was agreed to...
408To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 14 February [1800] (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was from Richd. your last to me is just recd. covering the Bill for drawing Jurors by lot. The plan proposed by the Bill is a great improvement on the regulation in force here. I cannot say, whether it may have the same merit every where. This subject was not wholly forgotten during our late Session . A Bill was even prepared on it, by one of our State Judges . But subjects...
409From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 4 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have never written to you since my arrival here for reasons which were explained. your’s of Dec. 29. Jan. 4. 9. 12. 18. & Feb. 14. have therefore remained unacknoleged. I have at different times inclosed to you such papers as seemed interesting. to-day I forward Bingham’s amendment to the election bill formerly inclosed you, mr Pinkney’s proposed amendmt. to the constn , & the report of the...
410To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 15 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last I have been favored with the following inclosures—The Bill relating to Electors Ramsay’s oration , the Report on ways & means, a motion by Bingham, and the resolution for excluding the Judges from other offices. It is not to be denied that the Constn. might have been properly more full in prescribing the election of P: & V.P. but the remedy is an amendment to the Const:n. and not...
411From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 25 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 15th. is safely recieved. I percieve by that that I had by mistake sent you Ramsay’s Eulogy instead of Cooper’s smaller pamphlet , which therefore I now inclose, merely for the last paper in it, as the two first were in the copy I first sent you. I inclose also mr Nicholas’s amendment this day proposed to the bill concerning President & V.P. formerly sent you. we expect it will...
412From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 4 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Christopher Mc.pherson, better known as mr Ross’s man Kitt, proposing to go to Charlottesville direct, I shall put into his care a packet of books & a letter left in my room for you by somebody, while I was out, without information as to the quarter from whence they come. I observe them addressed to the care of Governor Monroe. I suppose Kitt will carry on the letter; but as he goes in the...
413To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 4 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor by Mr. Trist was duly handed to me, since which I have recd. the report on imports under your cover, & yesterday your favor of the 25 Ult: accompanied with the pamphlet & Mr. Nicholas’s motion on the Electoral Bill, which appears to be so fair & pertinent, that a rejection of it in favor of any other modification proposed, must fix a new brand on the Authors. The spirit manifested...
414To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 20 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last I have been favored with yours by Christr: Mcpherson . It brought me the first agreeable information of the prospect held out by our Envoys. The posture of Europe, tho’ dreadful to humanity in general, will I trust enforce the disposition of France to come to a proper adjustment with us. And notwithstanding the group of daring experiments presented by our public Councils, I also...
415To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 27 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
My last acknowledged yours by Christ: Mcpherson. I have nothing new to add, but the accts. I have from the elections in a few neighboring Counties . In this Davis & Barbour have succeeded: in the adjoing one, Hill & Early: In Louisa Yancy & Garland Anderson Jr—in Culpeper the two former ones. You will probably learn from Albemarle that F. Walker & a Mr. Garland have prevailed agst. Woods &...
416From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 12 May 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress will rise today or tomorrow. mr Nicholas proposing to call on you, you will get from him the Congressional news. on the whole the federalists have not been able to carry a single strong measure in the lower house the whole session. when they met, it was believed they had a majority of 20. but many of these were new & moderate men, & soon saw the true character of the party to which...
417From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 13 June 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last letter to you from Philadelphia I mentioned that I had sent for yourself by mr Nicholas 160. Doll. recd from Lewis, and 110. Doll. for your father, part of 160.38 D delivered me by mr Hurt for him. the remaining 50. D. I brought & have here in half dimes ready to be delivered. I mentioned also that mr Nicholas would recieve from Barnes Generl Moylan’s money (123. Dol. if my memory...
418From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 July 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Since you were here I have had time to turn to my accounts, and among others undertook to state the one with you: but was soon brought to a non-plus, by observing that I had made an entry Aug. 23. 99. of nails delivered for you, but left the particulars & amount blank till mr Richardson should give them in to me. whether he omitted this, or I to enter them I cannot tell, nor have either of us...
419To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [before 14 August 1800] (Jefferson Papers)
I have had an opportunity since my return of seeing Mr. McGee on the subject of the nails used by him last summer & of collecting through him the information of his brother who brought down the parcell delivered in July. They concur in saying that the Spriggs, the Xs. & XVId. alone formed that parcel & that the XVId. were not brads but nails owing to a mistake in executing the order. I...
420From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 29 August 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Before the reciept of your last favor , mr Mc.Gehee had called on me, and satisfied me that the entry of nails delivered in Aug. & left blank was really of nails charged in July & not then delivered. this misconception on my part arose from imperfect entries made on the reports of mr Richardson who generally delivered out the nails. I am chagrined at it’s having been the cause of my holding...
421From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 September 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I now send by Bp. Madison the balance which should have gone from our last court by mr Barber: but not seeing him the first day of the court, & that breaking up on the first day contrary to usage & universal expectation, mr Barber was gone before I knew that fact.—is it not strange the public should have no information of the proceedings & prospects of our envoys in a case so vitally...
422To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [before 25 September 1800] (Jefferson Papers)
I recd. by Bishop M. the 44. D 53. c committed to his care. The silence which prevails as to the negociations of our Envoys, is not less surprizing to my view than to yours. we may be assured however that nothing of a sort to be turned to the party objects on the anvil, has been recd. unless indeed the publication shd. be delayed for a moment deemed more critically advantageous. As we are left...
423To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 1 October 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Trist left with me yesterday on his way home, the inclosed pamphlet which I return to him thro’ your hands, that you may have an oppy. of perusing it, in case a copy should not yet have reached you. I understand from Mr. T. who left Philada. on monday the 22d. that the prospect of a vote by Pennsa. was rather clouded by the uncertainty of the elections in one or two of the Senatorial...
424To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 21 October 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed to you by Mr. Altson of S. Carolina, who proposes to call at Monticello on his return from a Northern tour. He will probably be made known to you by other introductions; but those which he has brought to me, as well as a short acquaintance with him make me feel an obligation to add mine. He appears to be intelligent, sound in his principles, and polished in his manner....
425From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 9 November 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by mr Erwin , a gentleman of Boston, with whom I became acquainted last winter on a letter of introduction from old Saml. Adams. he is sensible, well informed & strongly republican, wealthy & well allied in his own state & in England. he calls to pay his respects to you. I inclose you two letters which the Govr. sent me by him for perusal. it is a pity that a part of...
426To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, [ca. 11] November 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours by Mr Erwin was delivered by him, safe with the two letters inclosed. I forwarded them by him this morning, as you desired to the Governour. They confirm in substance the state and difficulty of the negociation as presented by the late Statement under the Paris head . The observations on the delays carried out by the Ex. and the favorable moment lost thereby, are interesting, and deserve...
427From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 19 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Mrs. Brown ’s departure for Virginia enables me to write confidentially what I would not have ventured by the post at this prying season. the election of S. Carolina has in some measure decided the great contest. tho’ as yet we do not know the actual votes of Tenissee, Kentucky & Vermont yet we believe the votes to be on the whole J. 73. B. 73. A. 65. P. 64. Rhode isld. withdrew one from P....
428To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 20 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I did not write to you from Richmond, because I was considerably indisposed during my stay there, & because I could communicate to you nothing that would not reach you with equal speed through other channels. Before I left that place, the choice of electors in S. Carolina, had been recd. by the Govr. in a letter from Col. Hampton, and was understood by all parties to fix the event of a...
429From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
All the votes are now come in except Vermont & Kentuckey, and there is no doubt that the result is a perfect parity between the two republican characters. the Feds appear determined to prevent an election, & to pass a bill giving the government to mr Jay, appointed Chief justice, or to Marshall as Secy. of state. yet I am rather of opinion that Maryland & Jersey will join the 7. republican...
430To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 10 January 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Mrs Browne having been detained at Fredg for some time, I did not receive your favor of the 19th. in time to be conveniently acknowledged by the last mail. The succeeding one of the 26th. came to hand on the 7th. instant only, a delay that fixes blame on the post office either in Washington or Fredg. In all the letters & most of the newspapers which I have lately recd. thro’ the post office,...
431From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not written to you since the letter by mrs B . your’s of Jan. 10. is recieved, and your own wishes are entirely acquiesced in as to time. Clermont has refused. I think to adopt your idea at Baltimore . I dare not through the channel of the post hazard a word to you on the subject of the election. indeed the interception & publication of my letters exposes the republican cause as well as...
432II. To James Madison, 12 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The H. of R. has been in conclave ever since 2. aclock yesterday. at 10. P.M. 17 ballots had been tried, & were invariably 8. 6. & 2 divided. I have not heard from the Capitol this morning I can venture nothing more by the post but my affectionate salutations, to yourself & mrs Madison. P.S. 1. P.M. the H. of R. suspended the balloting from 7. to 12. this morning, & after trying a few more...
433From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Notwithstanding the suspected infidelity of the post, I must hazard this communication. The Minority in the H. of R. after seeing the impossibility of electing B. the certainty that a legislative usurpation would be resisted by arms, and a recourse to a Convention to reorganise & amend the government, held a consultation on this dilemma. Whether it would be better for them to come over in a...
434To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 28 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 1st. instant was to have been acknowledged a week ago, but the irregularity of the post occasioned by high waters has delayed it to the present opportunity. I have now to acknowledge your two subsequent ones of the 12th. & 19th . In compliance with the last, I had proposed to leave home in a few days, so as to be with you shortly after the 4th. of March. A melancholy...