Letter from James Madison (front)
Title
Letter from James Madison (front)
Description
Transcription
Items within single brackets indicate the clarification of an abbreviated word.
Items within two brackets indicate that the word may be an incorrect transcription or directions for where the transcription is located on the page.
Items within single brackets indicate the clarification of an abbreviated word.
Items within two brackets indicate that the word may be an incorrect transcription or directions for where the transcription is located on the page.
W. Fontainer Jan. 13th 1789
Dear Sir
In attending yesterday at your Court House I had chiefly in
view an opportunity of seeing several of my friends and particularly your-
self. I wished to furnish them with the real sentiment by which I shall
be governed, if honored with the trust for which I am a candidate, &
enable them by that means to contradict more effectively the false opi
-nion ascribed to me by report. Being disappointed in the expected pleasures,
I shall in a few words state to you the grounds in which my services
are offered, and of which I have endeavored to make known as far as
occasions have presented themselves.
The Constitution being now ratified by a sufficient number
of states to secure it against the weight of the refusing States, I think
it proper that it should be so revised and amended as will make it
satisfactory to all who sincerely aim at the good of their Country, without
altering however any of its partial or useful parts. I think particularly
that effectual revision ought to be made for the great rights which
have been thought in danger, such as the rights of conscience, the freedom
of the press, trials by jury, security against genl. [general] warrants etetr. [etcetera]. It has
always been my opinion that it would be additional advantage also
to make the increase of the House of Representatives a Constitutional regula
-tion, instead of being left to the discretion of the govt. [government] itself. I am fur
-ther of opinion that it will be proper to guard against a possible abuse
of power in the Judiciary Department, by an excess prohibition of ap
-peals in cases where they would be vexatious or superfluous In many
other particulars it is my wish that alterations should be made either as
[[right margin]] Maddison 228
Monroe 124
4 voted in
2 counties [[/right margin]] [[most likely a different author for this section]]
Creator
James Madison
Source
Hampden-Sydney College Archives & Special Collections
Date
Jan. 13, 1789
Contributor
Gift of Mr. James N. Boyd '58 and Mr. J. P. McGuire Boyd '64.
Rights
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Language
English
Provenance
Digital Repository materials are derived from the documents housed within Hampden-Sydney College Archives & Special Collections, and are made accessible to the public as historical record. Some materials within our collections may contain offensive images, language, or other content. They do not serve as a representation of views held by Hampden-Sydney College or the Walter M. Bortz III Library.
Collection
Citation
James Madison, “Letter from James Madison (front),” Hampden-Sydney College Digital Repository, accessed December 25, 2024, https://zzz-adm-host-084r.hsc.edu/items/show/3342.