1Notes on Debates, 20 February 1787 (Madison Papers)
Nothing of consequence done Ms ( DLC ). Most of this session was spent considering a report on instructions to the superintendent of Indian affairs. The report came from a committee, headed by William Irvine, on which JM served ( JCC Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). , XXXII, 66–69).
2The Annapolis Convention, September 1786 (Editorial Note) (Madison Papers)
In the spring of 1786 JM’s enthusiasm for the approaching convention at Annapolis ranged from the lukewarm to the moderately hot, almost as the weather of the season. Forty years later, JM recalled that the meeting grew out of a motion presented by another delegate to the General Assembly in 1786 (JM to Noah Webster, 10 Mar. 1826, Madison, Writings [Hunt ed.] Gaillard Hunt, ed., The Writings...
3From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 22 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure of your’s of the 11 inst. acknowledging mine of the 2d. In some of your letters I observe you do not say whether any have been recd. from me or not. I have not omitted to write in a single instance since our correspondence commenced. The time approaches so nearly now when I shall have an opportunity of asking verbal communications on confidential points that I forbear to...
4To James Madison from James Monroe, 12 September 1786 (Madison Papers)
I arriv’d here a few days since to press on the legislature of this State a seperation of the impost from the supplel: funds. I have the most satisfactory evidence they will reject the proposition. We proceed therefore further merely to discharge our duty. Both parties are united in opposition to it. To morrow we shall be recd. by the legislature. I am sorry I came on the business. Before this...
5Notes on Debates, 25 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison observing to Congs. that he found a settled disinclination in some of the delegations to concur in any conciliatory expedient for defending the Missippi agst. the operation of the vote of seven States , and that it was hence become necessary to attack directly the validity of that measure to the end that the adversaries to it, and particularly the instructed delegations, might at...
6Notes on Debates, 29 March 1787 (Madison Papers)
The Committee appd. to confer with the Treasy. Board on the great business of a final settlemt. of the accts. of the U. States, reported that they be discharged; and the Board instructed to report an ordinance. Mr. King in explanation sd. that it was the sense of the Commtee and of the Treasy. board both, that Commissrs. shd. be appointed with full & final powers to decide on the claims of the...
7To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 16 December 1786 (Madison Papers)
After a very long silence, I am at length able to write to you. An unlucky dislocation of my right wrist has disabled me from using my pen for three months. I now begin to use it a little, but with great pain; so that this letter must be taken up at such intervals as the state of my hand will permit, & will probably be the work of some days. Tho’ the joint seems to be well set, the swelling...
8To James Madison from Henry Lee, 20 December 1786 (Madison Papers)
After the notification of my disgrace which reached me about the 20th. Novr. I hastened from N York & pressed forward to my home. Every difficulty of weather and roads opposed my progress and retarded us effectually, for it took us three weeks to reach this place which I had reckoned on accomplishing in twelve days. At Length we arrived on the banks of potomac, and thro our avidity to embrace...
9To James Madison from Henry Lee, 11 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 11 November 1786. Mentioned in JM’s letter to Lee of 23 November 1786 . Concerned Lee’s sense of injury at being dropped by the Virginia legislature from the state delegation to Congress, and the “deriliction of the friendship” between JM and Lee because of JM’s being elected, so Lee thought, in his place ( Lee to JM, 20 Dec. 1786 ).
10To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 19 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 19 November 1786. The calendar of Pendleton’s letters (DLC: Madison Miscellany) apparently prepared by a clerk for Peter Force around 1850 cites this letter. The annotations indicate the one-page letter included comments on the attempted reform of the county court system and “Congratulations on reappointment to Congress.” Enclosed was a draft of a bill for amending the county...
11To James Madison from James Monroe, 28 April 1786 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 28 April 1786. Mentioned in JM’s letter to Monroe, 13 May 1786 , and Monroe’s letter to JM, 18 May 1786 . Related to the speculation in which Monroe purchased land in the Mohawk Valley for JM and himself. Monroe expressed an interest in taking a journey with JM to see the lands, and discussed odd appearance of two conventions sitting simultaneously with similar powers to...
12To James Madison from John Campbell, 21 February 1787 (Madison Papers)
On my way to this place I met a Man from the Settlement on Cumberland River in North Carolina who had just come in by the way of Kentuckey. He informs that the minds of all the Western People are agitated on Account of the proposed cession of the Mississippi Navigation to Spain. Every person talks of it with i[n]d[i]gnation and reprobates it as a Measure of the greatest Injustice and Despotism...
13From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 24 February 1787 (Madison Papers)
If the contents of the Newspapers of this place find their way into the gazettes of Richmond you will have learnt that the expedition of Genl: Lincoln against the insurgents has effectually dispersed the main body of them. It appears however that there are still some detachments which remain to be subdued. & that the Government of Massts. consider very strong precautions as necessary agst....
14From James Madison to Ambrose Madison, 8 September 1786 (Madison Papers)
I came to this place a day or two ago, where I found two Commsrs only. A few more have since come in, but the prospect of a sufficient no. to make the Meeting respectable is not flattering. I was sorry to find in Philada. that the unpunctuality of some of the purchasers of the Tobo. had put it out of the power of Mr. H. to supply me with all the money become due under the contracts. This...
15Notes on Debates, 23 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Jay’s Report stating objections agst. the motion of Mr. Madison for sending Mr. Jefferson to Madrid was taken into consideration. Mr. Madison observed that Mr. Jay had not taken up the proposition in the point of view in which it had been penned; and explained what that was; to wit, that it was expedient to retract the step taken for ceding the Mississpi, and to do it in a manner as...
16Hamilton’s Report on the Annapolis Convention, 14 September 1786 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 September 1786, Annapolis. Drafted by Alexander Hamilton, with JM the chief witness as to authorship ( JM to Noah Webster, 12 Oct. 1804 , Madison, Writings [Hunt ed.] Gaillard Hunt, ed., The Writings of James Madison (9 vols.; New York, 1900–1910). , VII, 165). The full address is in Syrett and Cooke, Papers of Hamilton Harold C. Syrett and Jacob E. Cooke, eds., The Papers of Alexander...
17To James Madison from Ambrose Madison, 28 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 28 April 1787. Mentioned in JM’s letter of 13 June 1787 to Ambrose Madison (MH). Concerned information regarding the illness of James Madison, Sr., and the results of the spring election.
18To James Madison from George Washington, 31 March 1787 (Madison Papers)
At the same time that I acknowledge the receipt of your obliging favor of the 21st. Ult. from New York, I promise to avail myself of your indulgence of writing only when it is convenient to me. If this should not occasion a relaxation on your part, I shall become very much your debtor—and possibly like others in similar circumstances (when the debt is burthensome) may feel a disposition to...
19From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 2 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have your favor of the 15th. inst. All of preceding date have been already acknowledged. The information which you wished to go to Mr. Guardoqui has been communicated. The real impression made by it cannot easily be seen thro’ the political veil. If he views the state of Western affairs in the true light, his representations to Spain, must convince her that she has no option but between...
20To James Madison from John Francis Mercer, 23 December 1786 (Madison Papers)
I committed some hasty thoughts to paper in an illegible hand, which I sent you by Doctr. Griffin, relative to a clause in the British debt bill that you told me, pass’d the House of delegates by an almost unanimous assent, directing those who had paid British Debts into the public Treasury, to pay them over again. From the little consideration I had given this question myself. & from the...
21From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 16 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Anderson in answer to your enquiries tells me that you shall have goods at 87½ Per Ct. and that he will take Tobo. for his brother if it be ready by the 10th. of next month. The H. of Delegates have done little since my last, and some of what was then done is still ineffectual for want of a Senate. A proposition for stopping the receipt of indents was made, and met with so little...
22To James Madison from James Madison, Sr., ca. 20 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 20 November 1786. Mentioned in JM’s letter of 7 December 1786 to his father . Made business inquiries of JM as to who was to receive the tobacco for Anderson’s brother; the discount rate of indents in Richmond; and whether these loan office certificates for his tax payments were obtainable.
23From James Madison to Mr. Smith, [ca. 1 May] 1786 (Madison Papers)
J.M. Jr. asks the favor of Mr. Smith to procure & send him the following articles. About 200 Paccan Nuts, or as they are frequently called, Illinois Hickory Nuts. If there should be any danger of their rooting on the way it will be proper to pack them in dry sand. Some of the seed of the Sugar Tree. Some of the seed or nuts of any other new or curious plants or trees; to be wrapped up...
24To James Madison from James Monroe, 18 May 1786 (Madison Papers)
I have not heard from you lately but hope it hath not arisen from ill-health. Two days since we recd. dispatches from Mr. Adams in which he informs us of his demand of the surrender of the posts, & remonstrance agnst the violation of the treaty also in the instance of the negroes, with the answer of the minister to his memorial. In this answer it is stated that the King admits a violation in...
25Notes on Debates, 21 February 1787 (Madison Papers)
The Report of the Convention at Annapolis in Sepr. 1786. had been long under consideration of a Committee of the Congress for the last year; and was referred over to a Grand Committee of the present year. The latter Committee after considerable difficulty and discussion, agreed on a report by a majority of one only, [see the Journal] which was made a few days ago to Congs. and set down as the...
26From James Madison to James Monroe, 25 February 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of the 5th. inst. and have attended to the several objects suggested in it. Mordecai having given up all his effects to the Assignees can do nothing for his creditors. He tells me that a dividend will certainly be made in April & not before, and that he shall pay about 15/. in the pound. I have applied also to Crowley, and having little confidence in my own judgment...
27To James Madison from Mary Bristow, 19 September 1786 (Madison Papers)
Tho’ I have not the honor of personaly knowing You, the benevolence of Your Character emboldens me to trouble You with a few lines to solicit Your power, and Influence with the Assembly of the States, in behalf of my Infant Son, whoes case is so truely hard! I will not trouble You with a long detail: but refer You to the Petition and Memorial presented by me, and the Two Gentlemen who are...
28Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 30 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
The delegation have received your Excellencys letr. of the 14th. Nothing yet has been done relative to the meeting of the commissioners deputed by the states of Maryland and Virginia, nor will this business be brought forward untill Congress assemble in more strength. The enclosed resolution will shew the sense entertained by the united states relative to the unauthorized possession of Post...
29From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 1 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of the 17th. Feby. and have made enquiry as to the Andover Works, not indeed thro’ the channel you suggested, but through one still more direct & authentic. I find that the works are not pursued with such alacrity at present as to promise the supply you wish, that it is uncertain whether it would be delivered at Philada. at all, and that the price is at present...
30To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 4 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
Genl. Washington is prevailed upon to agree to go to Phila. if his health will permit. He is at present afflicted with the rheumatism, so as to be unable to move himself in his bed sometimes, and often to raise his hand to his head. He purposes to travel earlier than for the meeting, that he may apologize to the Cincinnati for his refusal of their presidency. Mr. Jay’s report on the treaty...