1From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 3 May 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof mr Alexander Woolcot proposing to go on to Virginia, and from a great respect for your patriarchal & republican character, expressing a great wish to be made known to you, I take the liberty of giving him a line of introduction. he is himself a strong republican, a man of understanding and of good character; which I affirm partly on my own knolege of him, but state more on...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 19 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
My duties here require me to possess exact knolege of parliamentary proceedings. while a student I read a good deal, & common placed what I read, on this subject. but it is now 20. years since I was a member of a parliamentary body, so that I am grown rusty. so far indeed as books go, my commonplace has enabled me to retrieve. but there are many minute practices, which being in daily use in...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 22 April 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Feb. 24. which was intended to have reached me at Philadelphia, did not arrive there till I had left that place, and then had to follow me to this, which must apologize for the delay in acknoleging it. in the mean time I had seen in our papers the one with your signature , and seen it with great satisfaction. omitting one paragraph of it, I may be permitted to give to the...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 19 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last which was of the 14th. a Monsr. Leblanc, agent from Desfourneaux has come to town. he came in the Retaliation, and a letter from Desfourneaux, of which he was the bearer, now inclosed, will correct some circumstances in my statement relative to that vessel which were not very material. it shews at the same time that she was liberated without condition. still it is said , but I...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 14 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you a petition on the 29th. of Jan. I know the extent of this trespass on your tranquility, and how indiscreet it would have been under any other circumstances. but the fate of this country, whether it shall be irretrievably plunged into a form of government rejected by the makers of the constitution or shall get back to the true principles of that instrument, depends on the turn which...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 29 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Your patriarchal address to your county is running through all the republican papers, and has a very great effect on the people. it is short, simple and presents things in a view they readily comprehend. the character & circumstances too of the writer leave them without doubts of his motives. if like the patriarch of old you had but one blessing to give us, I should have wished it directed to...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 4 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of April 25. has been duly recieved. were the case of mr Short’s demand one wherein he had left me to decide, I should not hesitate to accept the assurance in your letter in discharge of the US. but mr Short has peremptorily protested against acquitting the US. there was a hesitation on the part of the Secretary of state, whether mr Randolph’s receipt of the money was not by some...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 2 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Jan. 29. and as the rising of Congress seems now to be contemplated for about the last of this month, and it is necessary that I settle mr Short’s matter with the treasury before my departure, I take the liberty of saying a word on that subject. the sum you are to pay is to go to the credit of a demand which mr Short has on the treasury of the...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 14 January 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved some time ago from mr Edmund Randolph a note signed by mr Lyons & yourself undertaking to pay the amount of a decree of Royle’s admrs v. yourselves as admrs of Robinson, to mr Short or myself as his attorney. this undertaking is perfectly satisfactory, and I only wait your pleasure to be signified as to the time when, and place where it may suit you to make the paiment. as it was to...
10From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 7 February 1796 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Jany. 6., owing to failures of the Mail South of Baltimore, did not come to hand within the usual time; and subsequent delays in the communication consultation & decision of Mr. Giles & myself, on the manner of publishing & applying your observations on the carriage tax, have brought down the return of my thanks for your favor to the present date. I read with real pleasure the...
11From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 22 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
From a long acquaintance with, and a sincere regard for you, I always feel pleasure in hearing from you—and of you—consequently, your letter of the 30th ult. was an acceptable annuity. Notwithstanding you have passed your 73 year, whilst you enjoy tolerable health, and retain your faculties in the vigor they are, I wish as well on public, as on private account, that length of days may be added...
12From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 8 January 1795 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 30 Ult: and am joined by my partner in the sincerest returns for your kind congratulations and friendly wishes. I hope this will find you in more confirmed health, and enjoying the commencement of a new year with every prospect that can make it a happy one. One of the papers inclosed gives you the latest news from Europe. It is to be hoped that the dawn of peace...
13From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 17 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 5th instt came duly to hand. I know not from what source a report that, the next associate Judge was to be taken from the state of Georgia, could have been derived. Nothing from me, I can venture to say, gave rise to it; first, because there is no vacancy on that bench at present. 2d because, whenever one does happen, it is highly probable that a geographical arrangement...
14From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 23 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
The Resolutions of the Inhabitants of the County of Caroline, transmitted to me by you, were received with peculiar pleasure; because no Citizen of the United States can have a more sincere desire than I have to see all attempts at subverting or violating the Constitution or Laws of the Land, frustrated; and it gives me much satisfaction to be assured of the firm support of my Fellow Citizens...
15From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 23 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
With very sincere pleasure I received your private letter of the 11th instant. This pleasure was not a little enhanced by your reiterated assurance of my still holding that place in your estimation which, on more occasions than one, you have given me the most flattering testimony—highly gratifying to my mind. This assurance came opportunely, as I had begun to conceive (though unable to assign...
16From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 23 February 1793 (Madison Papers)
Since we had the pleasure of Col: Taylor’s arrival I have left in his better hands the trust of keeping you supplied with whatever communications might interest or amuse you. As the political scene here, is however soon to be suspended, I can not refuse myself the last opportunity I shall have before a dispersion of the dramatis personæ takes place, of enjoying the pleasure I always feel in...
17From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, [10 December] 1792 (Madison Papers)
As you find an amusement in our Newspapers I inclose two of the last; which however contain little of consequence, except a new report from the Treasury Dept. The Mover of the reference which gave birth to it declared he did not mean to authorize a proposition of new taxes, and it appeared that some at least voted for the Motion on that idea. You will find however that a different construction...
18From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 6 December 1792 (Madison Papers)
I am just favored with yours of the 28th. Ult. I wish I could remove your anxiety for the French. The last accounts are so imperfect & contradictory that it is difficult to make any thing of them. They come also thro’ the Brussels & English channels, which increases the uncertainty. It appears on the whole that the combination agst. the revolution, and particularly agst. their new republic, is...
19From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 16 November 1792 (Madison Papers)
I make use of the opportunity afforded by the return of Col. Hoomes to inclose a parcel of the late newspapers, which may contain some things not in the other papers you get. You will find in them all the particulars known here concerning the affairs of France; and sketches of the business as yet brought before Congress. The Presidents Speech & the two answers are I believe also in the...
20From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 9 April 1792 (Madison Papers)
You will find by the inclosed papers that the President’s Negative has saved us from the unconstitutional allotment of 120 Reps. proposed by the Bill on that subject. The contest is now to be between a ratio of 1 for 30, and 1 for 33 thousand. If the next bill should begin with the former, I think it most likely to end in the latter, this being most favorable to the Northern part of the Union,...
21From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 25 March 1792 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 14th. came to hand yesterday. You were right in saying “that the Northern Cocks are true game” but have erred in adding “that they die hard on the Representation bill.” Their perseverance has gained them a final victory. The bill passed on friday last in the form in which it was sent from the Senate; that is with the distribution of 120 members among the States, and the...
22From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 21 February 1792 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 8th. did not come to hand till this afternoon. I thank you for the very just & interesting observations contained in it. I have not yet met with an oppy. of forwarding the Report on Manufactures; nor has that subject been yet regularly taken up. The constitutional doctrine however advanced in the Report has been anticipated on another occasion, by its zealous friends; and I...
23From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 21 January 1792 (Madison Papers)
I have delayed for some time writing in the daily expectation that I should be able to resume the subject of the Representation-bill the progress & fate of which were mentioned in my last. A motion for reviving it in another form has been some days on the table and is now the order of the day, but has been kept back partly by a general torpor resulting from the critical loss of the bill and...
24From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 18 December 1791 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of afforded me much pleasure by the information it gave of the return of such flourishing health, and has laid me under great obligation by the valuable state it inclosed, of the great question lately argued in the federal Court at Richmond. We are all anxious to learn the decision of the Judges, though there is a report, that they decline giving their opinions, & were that not so,...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 24 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved duly your favour of the 13th. and communicated it to the President. The titles of your relation were unquestionably strong of themselves and still strengthened by your recommendation. But the place was before proposed to another whose acceptance will probably fix it. The President is indisposed with a tumour like that he had in New York the year before last. It does not as yet seem...
26From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 14 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
The letter with which you were pleased to favor me—dated the 9th instt—overtook me at Littlepages bridge the 11th. The hurry into which I was thrown by a variety of occurrances at Richmond, prevented my acknowledging the receipt of it before I left that City. I now do it, with assurances that it gave me sincere pleasure to find by it that you were well. The general arrangement of the Surveys...
27From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 13 February 1791 (Madison Papers)
Since the receipt of your favor of the 15 Jany. I have had the further pleasure of seeing your valuable observations on the Bank, more at length, in your communications to Mr. White. The subject has been decided, contrary to your opinion as well as my own, by large majorities in both Houses, and is now before the President. The power of incorporating can not by any process of safe reasoning,...
28From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 2 January 1791 (Madison Papers)
Previous to my leaving N. Y. I recd. a letter from you which was not then answered, because the subject of it required more consideration than could then be spared and because an answer was not prompted by any thing agitated or proposed on the subject, in Congress. I am afraid that notwithstanding the interval which has passed I am still not sufficiently prepared to do justice to your queries,...
29From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 22 June 1790 (Madison Papers)
The pressure of business as the session approaches its term, the earlier hour at which the House of Representatives has for some time met, and the necessity of devoting a part of the interval to exercise, after so long a confinement, have obliged me to deny myself the pleasure of communicating regularly with my friends. I regret much that this violation of my wishes has unavoidably extended...
30From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 2 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I thank you very sincerely for the readiness with which you have complied with my troublesome request on the subject of the Stamp-Act. I made it on a supposition that you had been present at the proceedings of the Virga. Assembly, which I find was not the case. But, knowing the accuracy & extent of your intelligence on all such interresting occurrences, I consider the particulars with which...
31From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 13 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
I thank you for your favor of the 2d. instant. From the sentiments expressed in it you will hear with pleasure that the proposed assumption of the State debts, was yesterday negatived, after many days deliberation, by 31 vs 29. We hoped that this vote would have been mortal to the project. It seems however that it is not yet to be abandoned. The other part of the Secretary’s Report has been...
32From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 4 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
You will see by the papers herewith covered that the proposed assumption of the State debts continues to employ the deliberations of the House of Reps. The question seems now to be near its decision, and unfortunately, tho’ so momentous a one, is likely to turn on a very small majority, possibly on a single vote. The measure is not only liable to many objections of a general cast, but in its...
33From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 4 March 1790 (Madison Papers)
Your recommendation of Docr. Morrow was handed me some time ago. I need not tell you that I shall always rely on your vouchers for merit, or that I shall equally be pleased with opportunities of forwarding your wishes. The only act of much consequence which the present Session has yet produced, is one for enumerating the Inhabitants as the basis of a reapportionment of the Representation. The...
34From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 28 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
I write to you, my dear Sir, on a subject which has engaged much of my reflection, and to which I am persuaded I shall obtain your ready and candid attention. Regarding the due administration of Justice as the corner stone of good government, I have considered the first arrangement of the judicial department as essential to the happiness of our country, and to the stability of its’ political...
35From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 23 September 1789 (Madison Papers)
The pressure of unfinished business has suspended the adjournment of Congs. till saturday next. Among other articles which required it was the plan of amendments, on which the two Houses so far disagreed as to require conferences. It will be impossible I find to prevail on the Senate to concur in the limitation on the value of appeals to the Supreme Court, which they say is unnecessary, and...
36From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 14 September 1789 (Madison Papers)
I was favd. on saturday with yours of the 2d. instant. The Judiciary is now under consideration. I view it as you do, as defective both in its general structure, and many of its particular regulations. The attachment of the Eastern members, the difficulty of substituting another plan, with the consent of those who agree in disliking the bill, the defect of time &c. will however prevent any...
37From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 21 August 1789 (Madison Papers)
The last 8 or 10 days have been spent on the subject of amendts. The work has been extremely difficult and fatiguing, as well on account of the dilatory artifices of which some of the antifederal members are suspected, as of the diversity of opinions & fancies inseparable from such an Assembly as Congress. At present there is a prospect of finishing to day, the plan so far as it lies with the...
38From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 15 July 1789 (Madison Papers)
I am particularly obliged by your favor of the 3d. which incloses your remarks on the Judiciary bill. It came to hand yesterday only, and I have not had time to compare your suggestions with the plan of the Senate. Nor do I know the alterations which may have taken place in it since it has been under discussion. In many points, even supposing the outline a good one, which I have always viewed...
39From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 21 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
The last favor for which I am to thank you is of June 9th. For some time past I have been obliged to content myself with inclosing you the Newspapers. In general they give, tho’ frequently erroneous and sometimes perverted, yet on the whole, fuller accounts of what is going forward than could be put into a letter. The papers now covered contain a sketch of a very interesting discussion which...
40From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 17 May 1789 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 3d. instant was not recd. till two days ago. It is not certain however that the post office is chargeable with the delay, the date of its receipt stamped at Fredg. being the 16th. of the month. The progress of our revenue system continues to be slow. The bill rating the duties is still with the Senate. It is said that many alterations will be proposed, consisting of...
41From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 19 April 1789 (Madison Papers)
My last was committed to Majr. Rogers of your County who embarked some days ago from this place for Virginia. I have been since favored with yours of the 7th. instant; and am much & truly gratified with the proof it contains of your good health. We have not yet either the President or Vice President on the ground. The former is expected in a few days. The latter we are told will certainly come...
42From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 8 April 1789 (Madison Papers)
You will not learn without some surprize that the sixth of this month arrived before a quorum was made up in both branches of the New Legislature, and the first of the month, before a Quorum was attained in either. The first & only joint step taken by the Congress was the examination of the ballots for President & vice president. The votes were found, as was expected, to be unanimously given...
43From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 20 October 1788 (Madison Papers)
I acknowledge with much pleasure your favor of the 6th. instant. The “balmy” nature of the resolutions concerning the Mississippi will I hope have the effect you suggest; though the wounds given to some & the pretext given to others by the proceedings which rendered them necessary, will not I fear be radically removed. The light in which the temporary seat of the new Government is viewed &...
44From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 3 March 1788 (Madison Papers)
The Convention of N. Hampshire have disappointed much the general expectation. Instead of adopting the Constitution they have adjourned without any final decision until June; this expedient being found necessary to prevent a rejection. It seems that a majority of 3 or 4 members would have voted in the negative, but in this majority were a number who had been proselyted by the discussions, but...
45From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 21 February 1788 (Madison Papers)
The receipt of your favor of the 29th Ult: which did not come to hand till a few days ago was rendered particularly agreeable to me by the prospect it gives of a thorough reestablishment of your health. I indulge the reflection and the hope that it denotes a remaining energy in the Constitution, which will long defend it against the gradual waste of time. Your representation of the politics of...
46From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 28 October 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. and acknowledge with great pleasure your favor of the 8th. instt. The remarks which you make on the Act of the Convention appear to me to be in general extremely well founded. Your criticism on the clause exempting vessels bound to or from a State from being obliged to enter &c in another is particularly so. This provision was dictated by the jealousy of some particular States,...
47From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 20 September 1787 (Madison Papers)
The privilege of franking having ceased with the Convention, I have waited for this opportunity of inclosing you a copy of the proposed Constitution for the U. States. I forbear to make any observations on it; either on the side of its merits or its faults. The best Judges of both will be those who can combine with a knowledge of the collective & permanent interest of America, a freedom from...
48From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 27 May 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have put off from day to day writing to my friends from this place in hopes of being able to say something of the Convention. Contrary to every previous calculation the bare quorum of seven States was not made up till the day before yesterday. The States composing it are N York, N. Jersey, Pena. Delaware, Virga. N. Carolina & S. Carolina. Individual members are here from Massts. Maryland &...
49From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 22 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
The period since my last has afforded such scanty materials for a letter that I have postponed it, till I have now to thank you for yours of 7th. inst: which came to hand two days ago. I always feel pleasure in hearing from you, but particularly when my concern for your doubtful health is relieved by such an evidence in its favor. At the same time I must repeat my wishes to forego this...
50From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 24 February 1787 (Madison Papers)
If the contents of the Newspapers of this place find their way into the gazettes of Richmond you will have learnt that the expedition of Genl: Lincoln against the insurgents has effectually dispersed the main body of them. It appears however that there are still some detachments which remain to be subdued. & that the Government of Massts. consider very strong precautions as necessary agst....