James Madison: Writings: Writings
1772-1836 (Library of America) by
James Madison
Excellent Book
Americas greatest political thinker, in the most comprehensive one-volume
collection ever published
Over 200 years after the founding of the federal republic, James Madison
remains the most important political thinker in American history. The prime
framer of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, Madison was also a
brilliant expositor of the new republican government and its underlying
principles. His eloquent and insightful writing on freedom of religion,
freedom of speech and the press, the rights of minorities under majority
rule, the role of the states in the federal system, and the separation of
powers are central to American political thought and speak to the
controversies of the present day.
James Madison: Writings is the most comprehensive one-volume selection
ever published. Arranged chronologically, it contains almost 200
documents written between 1772 and 1836. Included are all 29 of
Madisons contributions to The Federalist, as well as speeches and letters
that illuminate his central role in framing and ratifying the Constitution and
in the adoption of the Bill of Rights; early writings on religious freedom;
revealing correspondence with Jefferson, Washington, Alexander
Hamilton, and James Monroe; his eloquent denunciations of the Alien and
Sedition Acts; influential writings on republican government and
constitutional interpretation; and candid private appraisals of the
personalities and events he witnessed in four decades of public life.
Writings from Madisons terms as secretary of state and president record
his determination to uphold American independence during the conflicts of
the Napoleonic era and his conscientious leadership of the nation during
the fiercely controversial War of 1812. Letters and essays from his
retirement reveal his deepening concern over the sectional threat to the
federal union he loved.

James Madison: Writings includes explanatory notes, a chronology of
Madisons life, and an index.
Personal Review: James Madison: Writings: Writings 1772-1836
(Library of America) by James Madison
The American Founders are receiving a great deal of merited attention in
popular histories such as "John Adams" and "The Founding Brothers."
These books have the merits of readability and accesibility -- of providing
knowledge and historical context of the early days of our country in a
relatively short but informed compass.The Library of America's series of
writings by America's Founders -- including Washington, Jefferson,
Hamilton and many others besides the book of James Madison's writings --
are longer and more difficult to read. They consist of original texts with
only the slightest endnotes and historical chronology. (In this book of
Madison's writings, the historical chrononogy is excellent) The
disadvantage, if that is the correct word, of the Library of American's series
is that reading these books takes substantial effort and digging. In
addition, it is difficult to stop with one book, as each collection relates to
and requires and understanding of the work of the other Founders. The
advantage these books offer, though, can't be found anywhere else. They
offer a chance to meet and encounter American's Founders in their own
words and on their own terms and to see the development of their thoughts
over time.James Madison (1751-1836) was probably America's greatest
political thinker. His career spanned the Revolutionary War, the formation
of the Articles of the Confederation, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights,
the creation of party in America, the Louisiana Purchase, and the War of
1812, which occurred during his Presidency.The Library of America's
collection of over 900 pages offers a rare opportunity to read in one place
the major writings of James Madison. It allows the reader an opportunity
to assess his importance and to see the themes Madison developed
throughout his life.A major contribution of Madison was his insistence on
freedom of religion in the United States and his opposition to any
established sect. These theme pervades this volume from the
Amendments Madison proposed to the Virginia declaration of rights in
1776, through the Bill of Rights, Madison's Presidency, and
beyond.Madison was also the architect of representative government. He
was a member of the Constitutional Convention and took copious notes of
its proceedings. He was the major draftsman of the Constitution. He
spoke for both a strong National government and for representative
government -- in which the people chose their leaders.Together with
Alexander Hamilton, Madison wrote the Federalist papers which explained
the Constitution to the people of New York but in a larger sense to the
United States in his day and in succeeding days as well. This
collaboration was significant in that Madison and Hamilton would later
quarrel and be the founders of the party system. Madison and Jefferson
spoke for what has become the Democratic Party (the "democracy) with its
emphasis at the time on individual rights and participatory democracy and
a narrow reading of Federal power while Hamilton became the spokseman

for a strong central government and for economic development.The book
chronicle's Madison's efforts in supporting and drafting the Bill of Rights.
Subsequently, Madison wrote a lengthy article for the State of Virginia
expressing opposition to the Alien and Sedition Acts that Congress
enacted during the Presidency of John Adams. The opposition was based
on the inconsistency of the act with the freedom of speech set forth in the
First Amendment and to the lack of authority for these Acts in the original
constitution.The book has comparatively little on Madison's career as
Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson and on Madison's own
relatively unsuccessful Presidency during the War of 1812.Upon leaving
the Presidency, Madison enjoyed a long retirement at Montpelier. This
collection gives a good view of Madison's continued activity during this
time. It discusses his views on slavery and on the impending Missouri
compromise (Madison opposed it -- an opposition that would haunt the
United States in the later Dred Scott decision) and on Judicial Supremacy
-- the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.
(Madison agreed the Court had this power but he disagreed with the way
Chief Justice Marshall used it.)One of the final items in this book is a short,
two paragraph article entitled "Advice to my Country" written 1n 1834 as a
parting before Madison's death. Looking at the impending conflict between
North and South, but speaking to our time as well Madison wrote: "The
advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the
Union of the States be cherished and perpetuated."This is an important
wish for our country now as then.This book will repay reading and study.
The study of our Founders is, I think, one of the best ways to learn to love
and understand our country.
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