James Madison Papers

From James Madison to Robert Y. Hayne, 26 April 1826

To Robert Y. Hayne

Apl. 26. 1826

J. Madison presents his respects to Mr. Hayne1 with many thanks for his politeness in forwarding the copy of his Speech on the “Mission to Panama.”2 The subject appears to have been discussed with great ability on both sides; and the Speech is of high rank among the ablest on the side which it espouses.

Draft (DLC).

1Robert Young Hayne (1791–1839), a Charleston, South Carolina, lawyer, served in the state legislature and as state attorney general before his election to the U.S. Senate in 1822. He served there until 1832, making his mark as an anti-tariff proponent and as a strict constructionist and nullifier. He is best known for a series of speeches he made in the Senate in answer to Daniel Webster in 1830. Hayne was governor of South Carolina, 1832–34, during the nullification crisis; mayor of Charleston, 1835–37; and president of the Louisville, Cincinnati and Charleston Railroad from 1836 until his death (Sobel and Raimo, Biographical Directory of the Governors, 4:1400–1401).

2[Robert Y. Hayne], Speech of Mr. Hayne, Delivered in the Senate of the United States, on the Mission to Panama, March, 1826 (Washington, D.C., 1826; Shoemaker description begins Richard H. Shoemaker, comp., A Checklist of American Imprints for 1820–1829 (11 vols.; New York, 1964–72). description ends 24818).

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