1From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 21 October 1800 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed to you by Mr. Altson [ sic ] 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...
2From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 2 August 1797 (Madison Papers)
At the desire of Mr. Bringhurst I forward him to Monticello; and make use of the opportunity, the first that has offered, to return you the pamphlet you were so kind as to leave with me. I add to it a late Fredg. paper which has got hold of some important articles of later date than were brought by the last post, and which may therefore be new to you as they were to me. I have had nothing from...
3To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 24 August 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter for Mr. B. came to my hands last week; but not till the opportunity by the then mail was lost. I hear nothing of Monroe but thro’ the Newspapers containing his correspondence with Pickering . As that appears to have been closed on the 31st. of last month, I am in hourly expectation of seeing him . I am also without any late information with respect to the progress of the...
4Virginia 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...
5To 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...
6To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 2 April 179[8] (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last I am in debt for your two favors of the 15th. & 22, the Gazettes of the 3. 6 7 & 8 Ulto, with a regular continuation to the 22d— two statements from the Treasury Department , and Payne’s letter to the French people & armies.—The President’s message is only a further developement to the public, of the violent passions, & heretical politics, which have been long privately known to...
7From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 3 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
Friday’s mail brought me your favor of May 24. The letter from S. Bourne had previously reached us thro’ a Fredg. paper. It is corroborated I find by several accounts from different sources. These rays in the prospect will if I can judge from the sensations in this quarter, have an effect on the people very different from that which appears in the public counsels. Whilst it was expected that...
8From James Madison to David Gelston, 24 October 1800 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 24 October 1800. Acknowledged in Gelston to JM, 21 Nov. 1800 . Reassures Gelston that Virginia will cast all its electoral votes for Jefferson and Burr.
9To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 25 December 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I have let Col. Monroe know that you was furnished with a draught on a House in Philada. for 250 drs. and finding that it would be convenient to him, have authorised him to draw on you for that sum. I have also given him a draught on Genl. Moylan , of which the inclosed is a letter of advice. I reserve the note of Bailey towards covering the advance made by you, unless it should be otherwise...
10From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 9 January 1800 (Madison Papers)
The question on the Report printed, was decided by 60 for & 40 agst. it, the day before yesterday, after a debate [of] 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...
11From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 12 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of Mar: 2. with a continuation of the Gazettes, with an omission however of Feby. 23. I apprized you before of a like omission of Jany. 23. I think the Whigs acted very properly in attending the Birthnight on the principle of appropriating it to the person and not to the office of the late President. It is a pity that the nonattendance of the adamites is not presented...
12From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 18 June 1800 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 18 June 1800. Calendared by JM in his list of letters to Jefferson (DLC: Rives Collection, Madison Papers) as concerning: “Hessian fly, its first appearance in Orange.” Listed in Jefferson’s Epistolary Record (DLC: Jefferson Papers) as received 24 June.
13From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 5 August 1797 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 3d. arrived safe yesterday. I will converse with Col. Monroe, as you desire, on the subject of his letter to you, & listen to all his reasons for the opinion he gives. My present conviction is opposed to it. I have viewed the subject pretty much in the light you do. I consider it moreover as a ticklish experiment to say publickly yes or no to the interrogatories of party spirit....
14From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 12 January 1800 (Madison 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...
15From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 28 August 1799 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 28 August 1799. Listed in JM’s record of letters written to Jefferson (DLC: Rives Collection, Madison Papers) as well as Jefferson’s Epistolary Record (DLC: Jefferson Papers).
16From James Madison to James Monroe, 9 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of yesterday was duly delivered by your servant; and I herewith inclose the copies you request, of the papers formerly transmitted to me. The originals I shall forwd. to Mr. D. as you suggest. I send also your letter to Van Staphorst & his answer, which I found with the other papers & which may possibly be of use now or hereafter in refreshing your memory or otherwise. The other...
17To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 20 October 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I received the inclosed pamphlet from Col. Monroe with a request that it might be returned to you. The publication under all its characters is a curious specimen of the ingenious folly of its author. Next to the error of publishing at all, is that of forgetting that simplicity and candor are the only dress which prudence would put on innocence. Here we see every rhetorical artifice employed to...
18From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 12 January 1799 (Madison Papers)
According to a promise in my last, I inclose a copy of the rates at which McGeehee works. I inclose also a few observations on a subject which we have frequently talked of, which are submitted to your entire disposal, in whole or in part, under the sole reserve of the name of the author. In Gordon’s History Vol. IV p. 399–400, is a transaction that may perhaps be properly referred to in the...
19Foreign 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,...
20From James Madison to James Monroe, [ca. 10 November] 1800 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Erwin proposing to set out in the morning without my again seeing him, I think proper to add to the few lines with which he is already charged, that our interview closed without any allusion to the secondary object of the election. If I had not expected, as intimated by you, that he would bring on the subject, it would no doubt have dropt from me. As it is possible he may draw some...
21From James Madison to James Monroe, 26 July 1800 (Madison Papers)
If this should get to Richmond before you leave it, it will afford you the pleasure of knowing that Mrs. Monroe continues in the good health in which you left her, and that your little son has mended more rapidly than could have been expected. His appetite, his increased strength, and his good humour, are all proofs of his improved situation. You will yourself we hope be a witness of it in the...
22To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 25 October 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I am placed under circumstances which make it proper I should inform you that Mr. Knapp of Philada. is a candidate for the office of Treasr. to the Mint, vacated by the death of Dr. Way, and is particularly anxious that you should be possessed of that fact, and of the testimony I may be able to give as to his qualifications and character. During several of the last winters I spent in Phida....
23To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 3 June 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Friday’s mail brought me your favor of May 24. The letter from S. Bourne had previously reached us thro’ a Fredg. paper. It is corroborated I find by several accounts from different sources. These rays in the prospect will if I can judge from the sensations in this quarter, have an effect on the people very different from that which appears in the public counsels. Whilst it was expected that...
24From James Madison to James Monroe, 30 January 1799 (Madison Papers)
We have now been near six weeks settled in our new domicil, where we do not abandon the hope of welcoming you and your amiable family, notwithstanding the damp thrown on it by your last letter. The Season of year, tho’ frequently an obstacle, frequently also presents favorable spells, of which we have had already a fine specimen, & seem to be promised more. Mrs. Monroe’s health might be aided...
25From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 11 November] 1800 (Madison 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...
26Account 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
27From James Madison to Oliver Wolcott, 17 September 1797 (Madison Papers)
The death of Major Lindsay the Collector at Norfolk requiring a new appointment to be made within your branch of the administration, Mr. Francis Taylor of that place, wishes to present himself to the attention of the Executive; and I am requested to join my voucher to that of others, in his favor. Altho’ related to him by a kindred not very remote, I have the pleasure of a slight personal...
28From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., ca. 5 March 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 5 March 1797. Referred to in JM to James Madison, Sr., 12 Mar. 1797 . Requests his name not be placed on Orange County ballot for Virginia House of Delegates.
29From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 14 February 1800 (Madison 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 can not 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,...
30From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 2 November 1799 (Madison Papers)
The Bearer Mr. Polk is a Portrait Painter & a kinsman of Mr. Peale of Philada. He visits Monticello with a wish to be favored with a few hours of your sitting for his pencil. Having no acquaintance with you he asks the aid of a line towards obtaining one, and this will be presented to you for the purpose. With perfect sincerity I am yours RC ( IGK ). Docketed by Jefferson, “recd Nov. ⟨3⟩.”...