George,

I may have my history a bit wrong, but isn't having Professor Howard commenting on the constitutionality of City Council's proposed actions like having James Madison commenting on (had he been still alive) secession?

Al Weed (electronic mail, December 12, 2003)

Editor's Note: Al Weed's comments might be taken at least one of two ways: that like James Madison, Dick Howard helped write the constitution and so would be an authority about what was meant at the time [taking, of course, a constructionist view of the constitution]; or that Dick Howard, like James Madison, has a clearly defined point of view [Dick Howard about the Meadowcreek Parkway, James Madison about sucession].

Al Weed says he meant the former.

According to John Borgmeyer, reporter for C-Ville (December 16-22, 2003), "Howard has opposed the Parkway in the past, and he's not your ordinary pavement-hater."

I do not know what Dick Howard's current position is on the Meadowcreek Parkway as he has not been able to be reached for comment, but James Madison's views on sucession are quite clear. See below.

George,

A few Madison quotes for you .. taken from "James Madison's 'Advice to My Country'", an excellent source edited by David B. Mattern, who is working at UVA on the papers of James Madison.

Madison letter to Andrew Stevenson, February 1833: "If South Carolina secedes it will be on the avowed grounds of her respect for the interposition of Virginia, and a reliance that Virginia is to make a common cause with her throughout. In that event and a continuance of the tariff laws, the prospect before us would be a rupture of the Union, a Southern Confederacy, mutual enmity with the Northern, the most dreadful animosities and border wars springing from the case of Slaves, rival alliances abroad, standing armies at home to be supported by internal taxes, and Federal Governments with powers of a more consolidating and Monarchical tendency than the greatest jealousy has charged on the existing system."

Madison in 1834, "The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the Union of the States be cherished and perpetuated. Let the open enemy to it be regarded as a Pandora with her box opened; and the disguised one, as the Serpent creeping with his deadly wiles into Paradise."

Madison in 1836: "I am among those most anxious for the preservation of the Union of the States, and for the success of the constitutional experiment of which it is the basis. We owe it to ourselves and to the world, to watch, to cherish, and as far as possible, to perfect a new modification of the powers of Government, which aims at a better security against external danger, and internal disorder -- a better provision for national strength and individual rights, than had been exemplified, under any previous form."

Randy Huwa, Montpelier (electronic mail, December 15, 2003)