1From James Madison to Thomas Ritchie, 15 September 1821 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 8th. instant on the subject of the proceedings of the convention of 1787. It is true as the public has been led to understand, that I possess materials for a pretty ample view of what passed in that Assembly. It is true also that it has not been my intention that they should for ever remain under the veil of secrecy. Of the time when it might be not improper for them...
2From James Madison to Thomas Ritchie, 2 July 1822 (Madison Papers)
I recd. some time ago a letter from Mr. H. G. Spafford at Ballston Spa N.Y. in which he says “I wish your Booksellers would encourage me to write a Gazetteer of Virga. I could travel all over the State, collect materials, & prepare the work for the press, in about 2 years on a salary of $1000 a year, & a few copies of the work.” I answered that I could not undertake to judge how far a...
3From James Madison to Thomas Ritchie, 13 August 1822 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Aug 7 is so full & satisfactory an answer to my request of July 2. that I ought not to withold my thanks for it. The delay was immaterial. But I lament most sincerely the afflicting causes of it. With much esteem & friendly respects The Enquirer of the 6th. very properly animadverts on the attempts to pervert the historical circumstances relating to the Draught of the Declaration...
4From James Madison to Thomas Ritchie, 18 December 1825 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 10th. inst: was recd. a few days ago & I give it the earliest answer which circumstances have permitted. It has been impossible not to observe the licence of construction applied to the Constitution of the U. States; and that the premises from which powers are inferred, often cover more ground than the inferences themselves. In seeking a remedy for these aberrations, we must not...
5James Madison to Thomas Ritchie, 24 May 1830 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison with his respects to Mr. R. remarks that a Marginal note in the Enquire[r] of the 18th. infers from the pages of Helvidius, that J.M. solemnly protested agst. the Proclamation of Neutrality," as it has been called. The Protest was not agst. the Proclamation, but agst. the Executive Prerogative, attempted to be engrafted on it in the publication of Pacificus to which that of...
6Anonymous (Thomas Jefferson) to the Richmond Enquirer, [ca. 29] August 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance with your desire on my departure for the springs I availed myself of a short stay in Charlottesville to enquire into the plan, the progress and prospects of the Central college , which has been sometimes spoken of in your paper. I will give you the result shortly, & so much only as I get from sources to be relied on. A law , it seems, had been past, authorising a board of...
7Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, [29] August 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
You have sometimes made favorable mention of our Central college , and Gen l Cocke , one of our visitors, gave me reason to believe you would still do so occasionally. many, supposing that a brief account of our views, if laid before the public, might have good effect, I have, in compliance with their requests, prepared the within, disguised however as to it’s source, because I am unwilling to...
8Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 1 November 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Ritchie to give three insertions to the above in his newspaper and to place in it to the account of Th:J. with his newspapers. he salutes him always with esteem & respect PoC ( DLC ); on verso of portion of reused address cover to TJ; subjoined to enclosure ; dateline at foot of text; endorsed by TJ.
9Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 20 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
A few days before I recieved your favor of the 16 th I had recieved one from a friend in Massachusets , shewing their sensibility on the imputed claim of our having given the ‘first impulse to the ball of the revolution.’ I cannot better answer your letter than by sending you an extract from the answer I gave to that , which I now do. it does not however appear to me that this question is...
10Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 19 June 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I find it impossible to get a copy of Madison ’s map without linen or rollers, and as it is indispensable to have one at the meeting of the Commissioners for the University I must pray you to get me one of those which you say can be had with linen & rollers. I should prefer one with the borders of the county counties coloured, but not the body. the agent who has them, will roll one very...