801James Madison: Notes on nullification and the nature of the Union, December 1831 (Madison Papers)
thinks it more desirable than probable that on discussing the urgent case of S. C, abstract questions may be avoided; that if not avoided, it is important that the several speakers shd. distinctly understand the meaning of each other, without wch. the debates may become verbal unintelligible & interminable; that it is particularly important to be kept in view that the characteristic...
802James Madison to Ralph Randolph Gurley, 29 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
I received in due time your letter of the 21st Ult. and with due sensibility to the subject of it. Such, however, has been the effect of a painful Rheumatism on my general condition, as well in disqualifying my fingers for the use of the pen that I could not do justice "to the principles and measures of the Colonization Society in all the great and various relations they sustain to our own...
803James Madison to David Michie, 24 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your friendly letter of the 16th & am much obliged by the kind interest you take in my health. I wish I could give you a more favorable account of it but the Rheumatism aided by the rigor of the Season has gained much upon me. It has crippled my limbs and has not spared my hands & fingers in so much that in the few lines I have to put on paper I am obliged to make use of a...
804James Madison to William B. Sprague, 24 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your letter of the 12th and would cheerfully make a direct application for the Autograph of Mr Blair if I knew the proper source. Mr Tyler a Virginia Senator in Congress will I beleive be able to ascertain it and doubtless equally willing to attend to your wishes I take the liberty therefore of suggesting the expediency of a line to him on the subject. I am laboring under a severe...
805Edward Everett to James Madison, 23 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have this day Your favor of the 21st, accompanied with a copy of a letter of the 14th Nov. The latter, I am concerned to say, never reached me. Deeply regretting its loss, I am nevertheless gratified to find, that it had occurred to You, that my neglect to answer it, was not intentional. I return You, with many thanks, the pamphlet You were good enough to send me. I feel very much gratified,...
806James Madison to Edward Everett, 21 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
In my letter thanking you for the Copy of your address to the American Institute of New York I took occasion to remind you of the little pamphlet addressed by the Virginia Assembly of 98 to its Constituents and of the other containing the report of a Committee of the legislature of South Carolina in 28. They were enclosed to you at or about the date of my letter published in the North American...
807James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 21 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
I return the Newspapers. The passage referred to is a sad sample of Pulpit authenticity, justice & delicacy. In what relates to me, there is scarce any part wholly true in the sense intended. How such a string of misinformations cd. have been gathered, it is not easy to imagine. I never studied law with Mr. Jefferson. The Story of my father’s interference, & my evasion of his anxious...
808James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 18 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 14th. with the printed communication is recd. It was not my object in the remarks on Col. H. B Speech to suggest any immediate publication in any form on the subject. I thought it well that a discreet & friendly hand should possess & preserve an antidote to mistatements whether White or black. I detain the newspapers a day or two for perusal of the passages referred to Affect....
809David Michie to James Madison, 16 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have thought the enclosed paper might give you perhaps, a better acct. of the Belgium & Holland question, & a more detailed statement of the fate of the reform bill, than you may, in other papers, have seen. I therefore send it to you—Should I get any pamphlets or papers from Washington or else where that I may think interesting, I will take the liberty of sending them to you, likewise under...
810Nicholas P. Trist to James Madison, 14 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
Your letter & the Speech are recd.—Your signature on the frank indicated but too plainly the state of your hand; and I fear that this unprecedented weather strengthens the enemy to the point of allowing you no rest. I shall write a few lines to-night, if not prevented. Meanwhile Affte adieux RC (ViHi : Nicholas P. Trist Album Book).
811William B. Sprague to James Madison, 12 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
I fear you will think, and not without good reason, that I am presuming too much upon your kindness in troubling you with one more inquiry in connexion with my favorite pursuit of collecting autographs. I have at length succeeded, tho’ not without great difficulty in obtaining a letter or some other document in the hand writing of each of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, with...
812James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 10 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
My Rheumatism is very obstinate. It has baffled all my remedial adjustments including the oiled Silk. Among its effects, it disables my pen, & my hand from holding a Book or handling my papers RC (DLC : Nicholas P. Trist Papers).
813James Madison to Nicholas P. Trist, 1 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
I return with my thanks the printed speech of Colo. Hayne on the 4th. of July last. It is blotted with many strange errors, some of a kind not to have been looked for from a mind like that of the author. I cannot see the advantage of this perseverance of South Carolina in claiming the authority of the Virginia proceedings in. 98-99, as asserting a right in a single State to nullify an Act of...
814Thomas W. Griffith to James Madison, 1 December 1831 (Madison Papers)
The acknowledgement of the receipt of my communication on the subject of the Constitution and Manufactures, which you did me the favor to address me on the 22 September last, claims my thanks, and your appology for declining any further remarks on that subject, more than sufficient. Having passed through some of the critical Scenes of the French Revolution among that people, and desirous to...
815James Madison to H[ugh Francis] Rose, November 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yr. letr. of the 4th. The former one did not miscarry, and an answer wd not have been delayd. but for a severe Rheumatism which has deeply affected my general health & so crippled my hands & fingers as to make writing equally difficult & painful. It is proper howevr. that you shd. not be left to indulge expectations which can not be fulfilled. I am glad to find you so anxious for...
816Tench Ringgold to James Madison, 29 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
Immediately after the receipt of your kind letter I wrote to Mr Ludwell Lee on the subject thereof, and now have the pleasure to inclose his answer; from which I fear there is no prospect of obtaining the information desired by you. I also transmit a letter from Mr Lees son. If he makes any farther communication I will forward it to you. I am informed by Mr. Chief Justice Gibson, & Richard...
817James Madison to Charles J. Ingersoll, 28 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
confidential I have received my dear Sir your favor of with a copy of the address of the late Convention at New York. I have looked enough over it to be satisfied that able pens were employed both on the Constitutionality of the tariff, and on its relations to political economy. On the latter question I am disabled by a distressing Rheumatism working on an aged frame from such an examination...
818Joseph C. Cabell to James Madison, 28 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to enclose for your perusal a letter which I lately received from the Editor of the Constitutional Whig, and also a letter recently addressed to him by a Mr. Townsend in South Carolina. This communication has reached me in the midst of my preparations for a long absence from home. I have sent a note to Mr. Pleasants declining to answer Mr. Townsend’s letter, but promising, on my...
819James Madison to Jared Sparks, 25 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of the 14th. instant. The simple question is whether the Draft sent by Mr Pinkney to Mr. Adams and printed in the Journal of the Convention could be the same with that presented by him to the Convention on the 29th. day of May 1787. And I regret to say that the evidence that that was not the case is irresistible. Take as a sufficient example, the important article,...
820Ralph Randolph Gurley to James Madison, 21 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
You have, doubtless, observed, that public attention in Virginia, and other sections of our Southern Country is strongly excited on the subject of the coloured population & that many leading men are directing their thoughts to the plan of colonizing the free people of colour on the Coast of Africa. As you have already, been pleased to express, by a liberal donation to its funds, your...
821Charles J. Ingersoll to James Madison, 16 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
If the topics treated in the Address herewith are dealt with so as to meet your approbation it will be to my mind one of the surest proofs of their force. That you wi[ll] not condemn the calm and forbearing temper of the argument I feel confident I by no means despair yet of the pleasure so long promised myself of visiting you at Montpellier, but thus far one prevention or other has always...
822James Madison to Edward Everett, 14 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
I return you many thanks for the copy of your late address to the "American Institute of N. York." It is as beautiful in some of its features as it is instructive in its general character. I have read it with the greater pleasure, as it goes back to times and scenes in which I was often an actor, always an observer; and which are too much overlooked in discussing the objects & meaning of the...
823James Madison to Alexander Scott, 14 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
If my memory cd. ever have aided you, in the searches, you are making, the lapse of time has entirely disqualified it. I can only therefore wish you more success in a resort to sources immediately connected with the War Dept., and that you may ultimately obtain whatever may be due on the grounds of yr. claims. Mrs. Madison begs to be kindly rembd. to Mrs Scott, and we offer to you both our...
824Jared 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...
825William F. Taliaferro to James Madison, 14 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
It appears that my wife is only third in descent from Mr. Henry Willis who was one of the original share-holders in the Loyal Company. My object is to obtain evidence that H. Willis was father to the late Mrs Mary Daingerfield of Coventry in the county of Spottsylvania. I am informed that he married a collateral relation of yours (perhaps an Aunt) Elizabeth Madison; and that Mrs Daingerfield...
826Alexander Scott to James Madison, 10 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
I obtained at Richmond a few months ago, by the decision of the Governor and council a warrant for 4000 acres of Land, on account of the military services of Mrs Scott’s father, as a captain in the war of the revolution, Chief Justice Marshall (of whose testimony I availed myself) being his first Lieutenant—I have understood that a portion of the military documents in relation to the Virginia...
827James Madison to John W. Francis, 7 November 1831 (Madison Papers)
I thank you Sir for the pleasure afforded by your interresting address to the Philolemian Society of Columbia College, forwarded with your letter of the 25 27 Ult: The friendly relations in which I stood to both Chancellor Livingston and Mr Monroe wd. make me a reluctant witness, if I had happened to possess any knowledge of facts favoring either at the expense of the other in the negociations...
828James Madison to William Maury, October 1831 (Madison Papers)
The circular of 30t. Sepr. from your Honor with which you favored me was duly recd. That of the 17th. has since been recd. Mrs. M[adiso]n is very thankful for the basket of strawberry vines which you took the trouble of preparing & forwarding—they have just come to hand. The care will be taken of them which is due to their value & the kindness to which we are indebted for them. Your father &...
829Stephen Bates to James Madison, 31 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty to send you herewith a pamphlet containing the three letters of the Hon Richard Rush, one from the late President John Quincy Adams and one from the Honorable William Wirt of Virginia on being nominated [ ] Candidate for President of the United States on the subject of Free Masonry. Perhaps I may be deem’d presumptious in addressing you on this subject: and nothing but a...
830James Madison to Tench Ringgold, 24 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
On the rect. of your obliging letter of the 23d. Ult. I requested a Friend at our University, to examine the letters deposited there by the grandson of R. H Lee. The answer informs me that in the Mass of deposited letters there are a number from Mr. Pendleton, but that a search into them had met with none on the Fedl Judiciary, nor any of a later date yn. the year 1785. Supposing it possible...
831James Madison to Reynolds Chapman, 23 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I return the papers accompanying yours of yesterday. I have run over tho’ very hastily, the prepared decree other objects happening to press on my attentions. As it presents the view taken of the case by Mr. Barbour & Mr. Patton, with your accordance, I should very reluctantly suggest changes if any occurred. I have taken for granted that my account must be settled with the Commisioners. But...
832Reynolds Chapman to James Madison, 22 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have at last, got the decree, in the case of your mother’s estate, compleated, which I propose to enter on monday. I send it to you for your inspection, before hand, lest it might not agree with your views. I will thank you to note any alterations which you consider proper, and I will modify the decree accordingly. You will observe, that the commissioners are directed to state an account...
833George Tucker to James Madison, 21 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I am sorry to say that I have not been able to find, among the papers of R. H. Lee, deposited in the University, that part of his correspondence with Mr. Pendleton to which you refer. As the papers are not arranged according to any known rule, and are not always endorsed, it became necessary to examine the whole mass, which I believe I did with sufficient accuracy yesterday & today to warrant...
834James Madison to John Townsend, 18 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I received on the 14th. your letter of the 3d inst. and will endeavour to answer the several queries contained in it, according to my Knowledge & recollections: I shall do it however with a wish that you may keep in mind the reserve of my name, which you are aware must be most agreable to me. It is so not because I am unwilling to be publicly responsible for my Statements & Sentiments, when...
835James Madison to George Tucker, 17 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I understand that the correspondence between Judge Pendleton & Richard H. Lee has been deposited by the grandson of the latter in the University of Virga. and I find among the letters of the former to me, one in wch. he incloses a copy of remarks on the original Judicial bill, then depending in Congs. which had been sent to him by R. H. Lee then a member of the Senate, with a request of his...
836James Madison to Robley Dunglison, 14 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I feel some regret at disappointing the wishes of Mr Brooks conveyed in yours of the 11th. But I am unwilling to expose the Portrait of Mr. Jefferson by Stuart, to the casualties however slight, of a removal to a distance however small. I have had some experience, which strengthens my reluctance. I have a portrait of Mr. J. by the Elder Peale taken at his age, when Independance was declared....
837Joseph C. Cabell to James Madison, 12 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of 5. inst arrived by yesterday’s mail, and I lose no time in apprizing you that my domestic engagements are such as that I shall scarcely be able to visit the University previous to my return to the lower country. I am surrounded by a number of workmen who are occupied in making additions to my house, and my constant presence and attention are indispensable. The pleasure of...
838Nicholas P. Trist to James Madison, 12 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have used no ceremony in retaining the enclosed $15. until I could conveniently return it. Do not, I pray, give yourself the trouble to write; as I hope again to see you in the course of the month, on my return from Albemarle. Looking for a paper, the other day, I came across the one I now send for your perusal. The circumstance that caused me to write it, you will recollect. On reflexion, I...
839Robley Dunglison to James Madison, 11 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
A person of the name of Brooks—an artist, who is exercising his Profession at Charlottesville and has permission to teach the Students the art of painting in the University, is very desirous of being permitted to take a copy of the portrait of Mr Jefferson by Stuart which, he has heard, you possess. He has requested of me to learn from you whether it would be agreeable to you for him to take...
840William McGowin to James Madison, 7 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
Accept from an obscure citizen, this small tribute of respect to that sterling worth, which has marked your public and private life—Though that vile Spirit of avarice and dominion predominates in the moment, which lagged the movements of that glorious revolution, in which you were an able and fortunate advocate Still the political horison throughout Christendom is charged with "tidings of...
841James Madison to Robert M. Patterson, 6 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 3. inst. addressed to the Executive Committee, and refer you to Mr. Randolph, or Genl. Cocke for the opinion of the Committee on the subject of it. With cordial esteem & salutations RC (ViU) .
842James Madison to Joseph C. Cabell, 5 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
Among my letters from Judge Pendleton is one which relates to the Judicial Bill, as then before the Senate of the U. S. A copy of it had been sent to him by R. H. Lee with a request of his observations on it, and a Copy of these enclosed by Mr P in his letter to me. It is remarkable that altho’ the observations are numerous, and descend to minute criticisms none of them touch the <>th Section,...
843Reynolds Chapman to James Madison, 5 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Davis has just requested me to send you the enclosed $100, and to ask you to acknowledge the receipt of it tomorrow, by Post. very affy RC (PPPrHi) .
844James Madison to James Taylor, 4 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I take advantage, my dear Sir of your permission to adopt the answers of others to your obliging letters, and the rather as my rheumatic fingers have a great aversion to the pen. I will not excuse them however from the service of thanking you for the account you give of our friends in Kentucky which is always interesting to me, and offering my regards & best wishes of every sort to Mrs. Taylor...
845James Madison to James Bradford, 3 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
I have recd your letter of the 26th. ult and am sorry I am so little able to answer it with the precision required for its object. My personal knowledge of your father was too remote for any availing recollections. I have certainly none injurious to his memory. Of the transactions in which he was involved in 1794, the lapse of time would also account for a very defective recollection. I may...
846Robert M. Patterson to James Madison, 3 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
A large number, (between 70 & 80,) of the Students of the University have lately formed a Corps "for the acquirement of practical knowledge and skill in military tactics," and the Faculty have appointed the Proctor, Mr. Jno. A. Carr, their Military Instructor, the Students having previously appointed him their Senior Commanding Officer. The Faculty have also authorised me to take the necessary...
847John Townsend to James Madison, 3 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
Personally unacquainted as I am with you, I fear that the liberty I take in addressing to you this communication may be deemed a troublesome, perhaps an impertinent intrusion upon your privacy & Leisure. I can well conjecture the frequent demands which are made upon your time, for counsel & information, having relation to the political history & opinions of the country, in the government of...
848Peter Stuart Ney to James Madison, 1 October 1831 (Madison Papers)
The honour of an introduction to the revered Mr. Madison has not been my happy lot. The subject of this intrusion shall be briefly expressed. ’Le Sage entend à demi mot.’ And it shall be " à demi mot . You, respected Sir, already Stand at the head, the very head of American Patriots. You have it in your power to transcend them all! The step is a bold One—but it requires only one hour of your...
849Maury Latham & Co. to James Madison, 30 September 1831 (Madison Papers)
Since our last monthly report, no material change can be stated to have taken place in the Cotten Market; the import, as usual at this season of the year, has been moderate, and since the imposition of the 2/8 d. duty, sufficient has been placed in bond to supply the export demand which has increased— With regard to manufactured goods, we have no comment to make; but the demand for Twist for...
850James Madison to Nicholas Biddle, 29 September 1831 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison returns his thanks for the copy of the "Report to the Stockholders of the Bank of the U. States," politely forwarded by Mr. Biddle. So well digested a view of the interesting subject cannot fail to receive the public attention to which it is entitled. (DLC : Nicholas Biddle Papers).