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In 1808, James Monroe Writes About a Nomination James Monroe 1808 ALS About Withdrawing a Nomination

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In 1808, James Monroe Writes About a Nomination James Monroe 1808 ALS About Withdrawing a Nomination
<B>James Monroe 1808 ALS About Withdrawing a Nomination ALS</B></I> ALS: <I>"Jas Monroe",</B></I> 4p, 8" x 10". Richmond, September 24, 1808. In part: <I>"I should have been happy to have seen you here & to have had much conversation with you. The question has been discussed whether a certain nomination ought to be withdrawn, & the decision unanimously against it, altho it sho'd be...that not a single vote may be obtained. By withdrawing the nomination a compromise wod be impos'd...It wod be believed in all the other States that a bargain had been made in his favor, at the expense of principle, which wod give him a claim on the party hereafter, & lose it the confidence of the republicans opposed to him in every other state...."</B></I> Recipient's name is not in the letter. It is also interesting to note that Monroe has refrained from identifying the nomination, referring to it as "a certain nomination". After serving as U.S. Minister Plenipotentiary to England (1803-1807), James Monroe returned home to Virginia in 1808. He was asked by dissident Republicans led by John Randolph to oppose Secretary of State James Madison, also a Virginian, for the Democratic-Republican presidential nomination. Differing with Madison on foreign affairs, Monroe allowed himself to be nominated. This may be the nomination he refers to in this letter. Madison easily won the presidential nomination and was elected. Monroe and Madison's friendship became strained for awhile, but, as they agreed on domestic issues, their friendship was renewed and Madison appointed Monroe Secretary of State (1811-1817). Darkly penned with one word so heavily written that the chemicals in the ink of one letter have eaten through the paper resulting in a narrow hole haloing the "B" of "By" on the first page. Narrow mounting slip at left end of first page. Show-through of writing, else in fine condition.