The Papers of James Madison Volume 5

This volume covers documents from James Madison's life and career between 1 March 1828 and 28 February 1830. Despite his advancing age and declining health and the voluminous correspondence that at times threatened to overwhelm him, his status as an elder statesman prompted his renewed involvement in public political debates and events after more than a decade of attempting to avoid being drawn into such matters. During this period, Madison reentered the political arena on no fewer than three occasions: he presided over the Charlottesville Convention of 14–19 July 1828, which discussed internal improvements in Virginia; he contributed to the public debate on congressional authority over tariffs with letters published in the Daily National Intelligencer on 23 and 25 December 1828; and he participated in the 1829–30 convention to revise the Virginia Constitution. His speeches there not only constituted one of the few instances in which he publicly addressed the issue of slavery but also represented his final official political act. Closer to home, Madison continued to deal with the management of the University of Virginia from his position as the school's rector, as well as with financial pressures, many of which resulted from gambling debts incurred by his stepson, John Payne Todd, who was sent to debtor's prison in June 1829.