Madison, James (1751-1836) to [Augustus B. Woodward] [incomplete]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00496.605 Author/Creator: Madison, James (1751-1836) Place Written: Montpellier [sic] Type: Letter Date: 11 September 1824 Pagination: 4 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Unsigned. The last page(s) are missing. Per David Mattern, Papers of Madison, the letter fragment appears to be in the hand of Augustus B. Woodward, who published it (Niles Register 1841, pp. 127-28). Woodward had written observations "addressed to the individual citizen" which the writer has given a hasty perusal. The writer notes that the Virginia Constitution should not be ascribed to Jefferson; the origin, he finds with George Mason, and the Declaration of rights "was substantially from the same hand" (i.e., Mason's). He ascribes the preamble of the Va. Constitution to Jefferson. The letter breaks-off in mid-sentence. According to Dr. Mattern it ends: "with a view to correct the faults of the existing Constitution, as well as to obtain the authentic sanction of the people. Your love of truth will excuse this little tribute to it; or rather would not excuse its omission. With esteem & good wishes James Madison."
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Notes: the end of the letter is missing from this copy. The Papers of James Madison provided the text for this section.
Montpellier [sic], September 11. 1824.
Dear Sir,
I have received, and return my thanks for, the printed communications, accompanying your note of the fourth instant.
To appreciate your proposed expedient for a standard of measures and weights would [2] require more time than I can apply, and more mathematical science than I retain.
Justice will, doubtless, be done to it, by competent judges.
I have given a hasty perusal to the observations, "addressed to the individual citizen."
Although I cannot concur in some of them, I may say of all that they merit every praise for the [3] perspicuity, the precision, and the force, with which they are presented to the public attention.
You have fallen into a mistake in ascribing the constitution of Virginia to Mr. Jefferson; as will be inferred from the animadversions on it in his "Notes on Virginia."
Its origin was with George Mason; who laid before the committee, appointed to prepare a plan, a very broad outline; which was printed by the committee for consideration, and after being varied on some points, [4] and filled up, was reported to the Convention; where a few further alterations gave it the form in which it now stands.
The Declaration of Rights was substantially from the same hand.
The Preamble to the Constitution was probably derived, in great measure, if not wholly, from the funds of Mr. Jefferson; the richness of which, in such materials, is seen in the Declaration of Independence, as well as elsewhere.
The plan of Mr. Jefferson, annexed to one of the Editions of his "Notes on Virginia," was drawn up after the Revolutionary War, <with a view to correct the faults of the existing Constitution, as well as to obtain the authentic sanction of the people. Your love of truth will excuse this little tribute to it; or rather would not excuse its omission. With esteem and good wishes
James Madison>
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