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    <dcterms:title><![CDATA[Letter from James Madison (front)]]></dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:description><![CDATA[Transcription <br />
<br />
Items within single brackets indicate the clarification of an abbreviated word. <br />
Items within two brackets indicate that the word may be an incorrect transcription or directions for where the transcription is located on the page.]]></dcterms:description>
    <dcterms:description><![CDATA[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]]
]]></dcterms:description>
    <dcterms:creator><![CDATA[James Madison]]></dcterms:creator>
    <dcterms:source><![CDATA[Hampden-Sydney College Archives &amp; Special Collections]]></dcterms:source>
    <dcterms:date><![CDATA[Jan. 13, 1789]]></dcterms:date>
    <dcterms:contributor><![CDATA[Gift of Mr. James N. Boyd &#039;58 and Mr. J. P. McGuire Boyd &#039;64.]]></dcterms:contributor>
    <dcterms:rights><![CDATA[The copyright and related rights status of this Item has been reviewed by the organization that has made the Item available, but the organization was unable to make a conclusive determination as to the copyright status of the Item. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use.]]></dcterms:rights>
    <dcterms:language><![CDATA[English]]></dcterms:language>
    <dcterms:provenance><![CDATA[Digital Repository materials are derived from the documents housed within Hampden-Sydney College Archives &amp; 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.]]></dcterms:provenance>
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