1291To James Madison from George Washington, 5 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
I thank you for the communications in your letter of the first inst. The decision of the House on the question respecting a paper emission, is portentous I hope, of an auspicious Session. It may certainly be classed among the important questions of the present day; and merited the serious consideration of the Assembly. Fain would I hope, that the great, & most important of all objects—the...
1292To James Madison from George Washington, 22 October 1787 (Madison Papers)
When I last wrote to you, I was uninformed of the Sentiments of this State beyond the circle of Alexandria, with respect to the New Constitution. Since, a letter which I received by the last Post, dated the 16th., from a Member of the Assembly, contains the following paragraphs. “I believe such an instance has not happened before, since the Revolution, that there should be a house on the first...
1293To James Madison from George Washington, 1 December 1788 (Madison Papers)
By a notification in the Pensylvania Packet, it appears that the Southern Mail was robbed on the 22d. Ult in the State of Delaware. As it was about, at least not far from the time, I wrote you fully in answer to your favor of the 5th. of Novr. I am anxious to know its fate. If it has not reached your hands I will upon intimation thereof transmit a duplicate of my sentiments respecting the...
1294To James Madison from George Washington, 16 December 1786 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 7th. came to hand the evening before last. The resolutions which you say are inserted in the Papers, I have not yet seen. The latter come irregularly, tho’ I am a subscriber to Hays Gazette. Besides the reasons which are assigned in my circular letter to the several State Societies of the Cincinnati, for my non-attendance at the next General meeting to be holden in...
1295To James Madison from Noah Webster, 5 July 1784 (Madison Papers)
From the small acquaintance I had with you at Philadelphia & the recommendation of Mr Jefferson, I take the liberty to address you on the subject of Literary property & securing to authors the copyright of their productions in the State of Virginia. The Grammatical Institute of the English Language is so much approved in the Northern States, that I wish to secure to myself the copy-right in...
1296To James Madison from Alexander White, 4 December 1788 (Madison Papers)
Your obliging letter of 5t. October reached me before I left Woodville. I was detained some days by an indisposition so that the Resolutions on which the Address to Congress and letter to Clinton were founded, had passed before my arrival, I had however the pleasure of giving my negative to the Address and Letters themselves, and of contributing somewhat towards forming those which were...
1297To James Madison from Alexander White, 16 August 1788 (Madison Papers)
I retired to this place to obtain a little rest, but find so great a proportion of the Company came for diversion, that my Views are nearly frustrated. A rainy Day has afforded me an opportunity of giving you the trouble of opening this, the trouble of reading it will depend on yourself after observing the Signature. I have frequently been honored with your conversation from which I conceive I...
1298To James Madison from James Wilkinson, 22 February 1787 (Madison Papers)
Motives of regard, to the general Interests of the United States, prompt this Address; your Virtues as a Man, and your Integrity & descernment as a Politician, subject you to the intrusion: A Republican in every impulse of the Senses, I deal not in apologies. The inclosed papers came to my Hands a few days Since; under the delusion of names, the applicants have mistaken the Authority of the...
1299To James Madison from Hugh Williamson, 2 June 1788 (Madison Papers)
By the Time this comes to Hand you will be pretty well engaged in discussing the new Constitution & attempting to convince men who came forward with the Resolution not to be convinced. Of all the wrong heads who have started in opposition none have been mentioned who appear to be so palpably wrong as the People of Kentucke. It is said that some antifed in Maryland on the last Winter fastened...
1300To James Madison from John Witherspoon, 11 August 1788 (Madison Papers)
The Diploma for the Degree of Dr of Laws which the Trustees & Faculty of this College did themselves the Honour of conferring upon you last Commencement ought to have been sent long ago but as there are no printed forms for the honorary Degrees we often find it difficult to get them properly executed. This occasioned a little Delay at first which has been protracted to a very blameable Length....
1301To James Madison from George Wythe, February 1785 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. February 1785, Williamsburg . This letter informed JM that the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws had been conferred upon him by “the University of William & Mary.” See JM to Wythe, 15 April 1785 .
1302To James Madison from George Wythe, 8 September 1788 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty, my dear Sir, to desire a mr Prince to call upon you; in case he do not meet with mr. Wickham in Newyork, for about three guineas, the price of some fruit trees, which he is directed to send to me, including freight, &c. I am, as much as I can be any man’s, dear sir, your well-wisher and obedient servant RC ( MeHi ). Addressed by Wythe to JM at New York and franked.
1303The Annapolis Convention, September 1786 (Editorial Note) (Madison Papers)
In the spring of 1786 JM’s enthusiasm for the approaching convention at Annapolis ranged from the lukewarm to the moderately hot, almost as the weather of the season. Forty years later, JM recalled that the meeting grew out of a motion presented by another delegate to the General Assembly in 1786 (JM to Noah Webster, 10 Mar. 1826, Madison, Writings [Hunt ed.] Gaillard Hunt, ed., The Writings...
1304Debates and Resolutions Related to the Regulation of Commerce by Congress, Including a Call for a Convention at … (Madison Papers)
History is replete with ironies and surely one occurring fairly early in JM’s development as a public man concerns the Annapolis convention of 1786. Often cited as a seedling for the full-grown Federal Convention of 1787 where JM was thrust into the national prominence he maintained for the next three decades, the documents and letters emanating from the October 1785 session of the Virginia...
1305Madison in Congress, February–May 1787 (Editorial Note) (Madison Papers)
JM presented his credentials to Congress on 12 February 1787, marking his return to the federal council after an absence of more than three years. The interval had seen a continuing decline in the prestige and influence of Congress—a trend that had begun with the coming of peace in 1783. Indicative of this trend was the spotty attendance of the delegates, for between 3 November 1786 and 17...
1306The General Assembly Session of October 1786 (Editorial Note) (Madison Papers)
Historians tend to see the past only in the official documents or letters from public men. Yet in Virginia for almost three hundred years the main topics of conversation were undoubtedly the weather, the market price of tobacco, and horses for riding, racing, pulling, or plowing. This perspective was evident when, on the eve of JM’s arrival in Richmond to take his seat in the General Assembly,...
1307Madison at the Federal Convention, 27 May–17 September 1787 (Editorial Note) (Madison Papers)
JM had already committed himself to work for a new constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation when he arrived in Philadelphia on 5 May 1787, nearly three weeks before the Federal Convention had a quorum. The government he hoped to see established would be “republican,” deriving its authority from the great body of the people and administered by persons appointed directly or...