To James Madison from James Barbour, 14 January 1828
From James Barbour
Washington Jany 14th. 28
Dear Sir
It is with great reluctance that I have prevailed upon myself to address you—on the subject of this communication. Sustained however by the coinciding opinions of some of our most distinguished Citizens who entertain for you the profoundest respect and warmest friendship—and believing whatever may be your views that you cannot doubt for a moment the state of my feelings towards you or my motives I beg leave to offer you a few suggestions on a subject interesting alike to yourself and to your Country. I learn to day that you have been placed by the Anti Jackson Convention at the head of the Electoral College for Virginia. This measure is one involving the most important results. The opinion is general that your decision on this call will essentially determine the presidential contest. With those who believe that in the decision of this contest the problem of Man’s capacity for Self Government is involved—the anxiety for your acceptance is not to be described. A call made by the Convention immediately from the People a Convention composed of all that is worthy—and on whose acceptance on your part such great results depend imposes on you in the estimation of your Friends an obligation of Great Solemnity. Believing however that there is no one more competent than yourself to assign a Just measure to its extent and no one who will more readily pursue the suggestions of their Judgement or more ready to answer every call made by patriotism I forbear to enlarge on the various considerations which present themselves to others who have come to the conclusion that you owe it to the times to make the sacrifice required of you by the Convention.1 In ordinary circumstances you would not I am persuaded have been appealed to. The crisis only will Justify it. The crisis only imposes the obligation on you to accept the call. The influence of your name will make faction itself dumb. It will be the rallying point of the Good and the wise thro’out the Republic. History will assign you its finest page as the Author of the Constitution—and in its greatest danger as its preserver. I invoke you in the name of the Constitution. I beg to assure you of my profound consideration and warmest friendship
James Barbour
RC (DLC).
1. Some of the “various considerations” not mentioned in this letter were outlined in Barbour’s 2 January 1828 letter to Hugh Mercer and Francis Brooke (typed Tr owned by Craig Wylie, Boston, Mass., 1958): “After the most mature reflection I think you should nominate Mr. Madison and Mr Monroe. Govr Coles’ letter leaves no doubt as to the opinions of Mr Jefferson and Mr Madison whose name is from the existing circumstances embraced in the dark. They will either accept or reject the call. If they accept our wishes will have been realized. If they refuse it will either be on neutral ground or with an expression of their sentiments—if the latter the advantage will be little short of their acceptance—if the former it will be on the ground of their indisposition to joining in the contest of the day. If on this ground we may infer their good will to our cause—us having nominated them us shall have shown our confidence in their being with us. The game we are playing in Virginia requires bold measures—it is no time for higling. Believing as I do that it is their duty to serve in the impending crisis I hope they will not be wanting to themselves or to their Country.”