The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787/Volume 3/Appendix A/CCCLXXIII

by Max Farrand

ⅭⅭⅭⅬⅩⅩⅢ. James Madison to J.K. Teft.^[1]

December 3d, 1830.

In the year 1828 I received from J.V. Bevan sundry numbers of the “Savannah Georgian,” containing continuations of the notes of Major Pierce in the Federal Convention of 1787. They were probably sent on account of a marginal suggestion of inconsistency between language held by me in the Convention with regard to the Executive veto, and the use made of the power by myself, when in the Executive Administration.^[2] The inconsistency is done away by the distinction, not adverted to, between an absolute veto, to which the language was applied, and the qualified veto which was exercised.

1. Letters and other Writings of James Madison, Ⅳ, 139–140.
2. The marginal note in the Savannah Georgian reads: “This same Mr. Madison did so when President. Eds. Geo.” (American Historical Review, Ⅲ, p. 322 note 4).