1Jared Sparks to James Madison, 16 April 1835 (Madison Papers)
Will you allow me to ask a favor, which I cannot doubt you will very readily grant? By some accident, for which I cannot account, a letter from you to General Washington, dated Decr. 9th. 1786, has been mislaid or lost. I think I remember having seen the letter, but whether it was in the parcel that I sent to you I cannot say. General Washington alludes to it in such a manner, that it seems...
2Jared Sparks to James Madison, 17 January 1832 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment received your very obliging note of the 7th. instant. Yours of Nov. 25th. also came safely to hand. As to the main point in question, this letter seems to me conclusive, but I am still a good deal at a loss about the first draft of the Committee. The history of the composition of that draft would be a curious item in the proceedings of the convention. Perhaps it may...
3Jared Sparks to James Madison, 14 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
My mind has got into a new perplexity about Pinckney’s Draft of a Constitution. By a rigid comparison of that instrument with the Draft of the Committee reported August 6th, they are proved to be essentially, and almost identically, the same thing. It is impossible to resist the conviction, that they proceeded from one and the same source. This being established, the only question is, whether...
4Jared Sparks to James Madison, 16 June 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have procured from the Department of State a copy of the letter from Mr Charles Pinckney to Mr Adams, when he sent his draft for publication. This letter is so conclusive on the subject, that I do not think it necessary to make any further inquiry. It is evident, that the draft, which he forwarded, was a compilation made at the time from loose sketches and notes. The letter should have been...
5Jared Sparks to James Madison, 24 May 1831 (Madison Papers)
I am under many obligations to you for your full and satisfactory letter, respecting the part taken by Gouverneur Morris in the Convention. The information is valuable, & not to be obtained in any other Quarter. I should not trouble you at present, were it not for a hint contained in the postscript to your letter, respecting a pamphlet by Mr Morris on the threatened repeal of the law of...
6Jared Sparks to James Madison, 30 March 1831 (Madison Papers)
Having recently engaged to write a life of Gouverneur Morris, which is to be published with a selection from his writings, I take the liberty to apply to you for a few hints respecting the part he acted in the Convention of 1787. From several quarters I have understood, that he was an active member, and had a good deal of weight and influence, but the published account of that convention is so...
7Jared Sparks to James Madison, 16 July 1830 (Madison Papers)
I send you enclosed a copy of the extract contained in the Draft of Washington’s Farewell Address, as first transmitted by him to Hamilton. You will remember my saying to you, that this extract purports to be the Address, which he intended for the public, if he had resigned at the end of his first term. It is doubtless essentially the same as the Sketch you sent him. Perhaps it may have...
8Jared Sparks to James Madison, 5 May 1830 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty to forward to you a recent number of the N. A. Review, which contains an article (p. 454) written by me respecting early revolutionary matters, in which you may possibly find some things to interest you, should you ever have leisure to look into it. Since my return I have conversed with Mr Adams concerning Charles Pinckney’s draft of a constitution. He says it was furnished...
9Jared Sparks: Notes on conversations with James Madison, 19 April 1830 (Madison Papers)
The apportionment of taxation in the old states of 3/5 for slaves was decided rather from accident, than any accurate calculation. The subject caused much debate in Congress. The east and the south differed. The former was for a high ratio, the latter for a low;—¼, ½, 2/3 were proposed and rejected. At length Mr Madison proposed 3/5, which was accepted, & he still thinks it very near the true...
10Jared Sparks to James Madison, 15 April 1830 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of the 8th. instant, and shall accept with very great pleasure your kind invitation to visit Montpellier and examine the letters of General Washington in your possession. I shall probably go in the stagecoach, which I understand will reach Orange Court House on monday. Meantime please to accept the assurances of the perfect respect with which I am, Sir, your much...