James Madison Papers

To James Madison from John Brown, 8 June 1795

From John Brown

Phila. 8th. June 1795

Dear Sir

This being the appointed Day 25 Senators attended & the Budget was opened & read.1 No discussion has yet taken place, & it has been determined that untill otherwise ordered by the Senate no publication of its contents shall be made. This will account for my not giving you particulars. I will however barely hint to you, that Capt. Blaneys2 statement where inacurate, was in favor of the Negotiator. Mr. Jay has secured his election to the Govt. of N York & is expected here tomorrow or next day to support & explain the offspring of his Mission.3 Mr Aidet who superceeds Mr Fouchet has landed at New Port Rhode Island & it is supposed will be here shortly. His arrival will be very A propos.

I have never recd. a line from you relative to Mr Dhormers Township.4 Will you be so good as to drop me a few lines upon that Subject. Present my respectful regards to Mrs. Madison. In much haste. Yours—

J. Brown

RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.

1When the Third Congress adjourned on 3 Mar., the Jay treaty had not yet arrived in the U.S. Washington therefore summoned a special Senate session of the Fourth Congress to convene on 8 June to consider the treaty (Senate Exec. Proceedings description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America (3 vols.; Washington, 1828). description ends , 1:177–78).

2David Blaney, captain of the ship Thomas, delivered Jay’s treaty to Secretary of State Randolph (George Pellew, John Jay [Boston, 1890], pp. 304–5).

3Contrary to expectations, Jay neither came to Philadelphia nor offered any justification of the treaty he had negotiated, other than a perfunctory reply to Secretary of State Randolph’s request for information (Reardon, Edmund Randolph, pp. 291–92).

4In 1787 Congress had passed a resolution granting Arnold Henry Dohrman a township near Steubenville, Ohio, in partial compensation for his services during the Revolution. The resolution was finally implemented in 1801 (JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , 33:587–88; U.S. Statutes at Large description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America … (17 vols.; Boston, 1848–73). description ends , 6:43–44).

Index Entries