1To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 22 November 1788 (Madison Papers)
I cannot, my dear Friend, refrain writing a few Lines, in Consequence of the late Vote of the Assembly respecting Senators for the new Govt. It is certainly a remarkable Instance, to say the least, of that Whim & Caprice wh. has so often controuled the Decisions of Popular Bodies. I do not know indeed, whether you wished an Appointment in the Senate, but if you did, I am sure the Effect of the...
2To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 1 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
I cannot refuse so favourable an oppy. as this wh. Col. Griffin offers, of writing a Line or two. It afforded me great Satisfaction to hear of your Election, especially as I had urged you, by a Letter written previous to the last of the Legislation, respecting the Elections, to permit yourself to be proposed for this District. I rejoice that you are in a Situation, which enables you to be...
3To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 1 August 1787 (Madison Papers)
We are here, & I beleive every where, all Impatience to know Something of your conventional Deliberations. If you cannot tell us what you are doing, you might at least give us some Information of what you are not doing. This wd. afford a Clue for political Conjecture, and perhaps be sufficient to satisfy present Impatience. I hope you have already discoverd the Means of preserving the American...
4To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 11 June 1787 (Madison Papers)
I am greatly indebted to you for the Books you were so good as to send me by Mr Griffin, particularly the Observations of Mr Adams; not however that he has made a Convert of me, any more than I trust, he has of you, to what appears to be the secret Design of his Work. Is it probable, my dear Friend, that all that Trouble was taken, & Shew of Learning displayed, merely to refute the Opinion of...
5To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 9 February 1788 (Madison Papers)
I should, my dear Friend, have acknowledged the Favr of your last, long before this, had my Answer been as little delayed, as the Satisfaction reced. from it, was sincere: but as I always write to you, rather to get your Observations upon political Subjects, than for the Sake of communicating my own, I have been unwilling to impose that Burthen too frequently upon you. Your Answer, tended...
6To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 15 November 1785 (Madison Papers)
As several Matters will probably be agitated this Session in wh. the Interests of our University may be deeply concerned, I have wish’d to give you some Information respecting them, & then as a Friend to Science I am sure we shall have a powerful Advocate in our Favour. The 1st. is involved in the Dismemberment of the State. The Seperation of Kentucky may take Place, without an express Reserve...
7To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, [ca. 1 October] 1787 (Madison Papers)
I was greatly indebted to you for your Favour by Mr. Blair. I do not know whether I should be justifiable in making any observations upon what I suppose, may be considered, as the Chef d’oeuvre of continental Wisdom. Yet to you I will venture a few. The general Plan for a federal Government, that is, the Idea of a Division of the Power of the united States into three Branches, is certainly...