From James Madison to Joseph C. Cabell, 28 December 1827
To Joseph C. Cabell
Montpellier Decr. 28. 1827
Dear Sir
Your favor of the 15th. was duly recd. I had previously learnt with the feelings due to the memory of my old & highly esteemed1 friend, the event which it communicates. I thank you for the Catalogue of pamphlets which had been collected by him, and now return it. Tho’ containing some articles that are rare, and a number that are valuable, I have noticed none that I am desirous of procuring from Genl. Tucker.
I am glad you escaped the trip to the university, which would not have found or produced a Quorum of Visitors. I hear nothing of late not known to you, as to a Successor to Mr. Bonnycastle, nor any thing from Mr. Long as to the prospect of a protraction of his stay with us. I had prepared a letter to Mr Gallatin requesting his interposition with the Trustees of the London University;2 but before it went off the account of his leaving England was in the Newspapers. It does not yet appear who is to take his place.
I hope you succeeded in what you sought at Corrotoman in support of your claim under the Treaty, and calculate that this will find you returned to Richmond.
Have you yet had an opportunity of looking into the proceedings & debates of the first Congs.3 in 1789. On doing so I find that the first Legislative subject taken up was the Tariff; that the encouragement of manufactures, was admitted tacitly or expressly by every member to be a Constitutional object of the power. It is remarkable that members from Virginia, White,4 Parker, Moore Bland, made propositions for encouraging Hemp Coal, Beef. Bland suggested in favor of the last, a prohibition of imported Beef. Members from S. Carolina, Tucker & Burke made propositions or employed arguments on a like principle. The first Act of Congs. indeed (see Vol. 1. Laws of U.S) includes in the preamble the encouragement of Manufactures among the objects to be provided for.5
I find by a letter from Govr. Giles,6 that the chasm in the Journals of the Senate, is greater than in those of the H. of Delegates. It has been intimated to me that Old Judge Pendleton certainly possessed a compleat set of the Journals to a certain period. It would be well that the Successor to his papers, be without delay applied to. If the Journals or any of them for the sessions, 84 to 87, inclusive should be printed, you will oblige me by forwarding a copy of them.
I hope you have not forgotten or mistaken the decided ground on which I have placed myself in relation to the Presidential question, and that if any idea should be entertained of naming me on an Electoral ticket, which, after what has publickly appeared from me, I presume cannot be the case, you will be good eno’ to save me from the answer which would be unavoidable. Health & all other happiness
James Madison
RC (ViHi); draft (DLC).
1. In the draft, JM placed an asterisk here and in the left margin wrote: “(Je Tucker).” He was referring to Judge St. George Tucker.
3. The draft has “at N.Y.” here.
4. Alexander White (1738–1804), a graduate of Edinburgh University, practiced law in Virginia and represented Frederick County in the House of Delegates, 1782–86, 1788, and 1799–1801. White served in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1789–93, and as one of the commissioners who planned the city of Washington and its public buildings, 1795–1802 (, 8:73–74 n. 1).
5. Section 1 of “An Act for laying a Duty on Goods, Wares, and Merchandises imported into the United States,” 4 July 1789, reads: “Whereas it is necessary for the support of government, for the discharge of the debts of the United States, and the encouragement and protection of manufactures, that duties be laid on goods, wares and merchandises imported” (, 1:24).