James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Littleton Dennis Teackle, 22 March 1826

From Littleton Dennis Teackle

Baltimore, 22d March 1826

Dear Sir,

I have taken the liberty of addressing to you a News-paper, containing An Act of the General Assembly of this State, passed at its late Session.1 This is a part of the plan which you were pleased to approve of some years ago.2 After repeated attempts, to carry the whole in one System, I was induced to limit the scheme to the elementary, or primary schools. Hereafter, it is my intention to introduce the higher branches in succession, with Agricultural Institutions and Pattern farms, in several bills; and I shall not despair of eventual success. The fundamental seminaries are certainly of primary consideration. Such a System has long been a favorite hobby, and I entertain very high hopes from its operation. With great respect and esteem I am, Dear sir, Your Obedient Servant

Littleton Dennis Teackle

RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.

1“An Act to Provide for the Public Instruction of Youth, in Primary Schools, throughout This State,” 28 Feb. 1826. Teackle sent JM a newspaper clipping from the Commercial Chronicle and Baltimore Advertiser, 22 Mar. 1826 (DLC, series 7, OV 1).

2For Teackle’s initial plan for public schools and JM’s comments thereon, see Teackle to JM, 4 Feb. 1823, and JM to Teackle, 12 Feb. 1823, PJM-RS description begins David B. Mattern et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Retirement Series (4 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 2009–). description ends , 2:642–43, 647–49.

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