On this day 250 years at his family’s home Montpelier in Orange County, Virginia, James Madison writes to his good friend William Bradford in Pennsylvania:

The proceedings of the Congress are universally approved of in this Province & I am persuaded will be faithfully adheared to. A spirit of Liberty & Patriotism animates all degrees and denominations of men. Many publickly declare themselves ready to join the Bostonians as soon as violence is offered them or resistance thought expedient. In many counties independent companies are forming and voluntaraly subjecting themselves to military discipline that they may be expert & prepared against a time of Need. I hope it will be a general thing thro’ought this province. Such firm and provident steps will either intimidate our enemies or enable us to defy them.

Source: https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%2226%20November%201774%22&s=1111311111&sa=&r=3&sr=