151Memorandum of Books, [ca. August] 1790 (Madison Papers)
16 livsons. from 15th. to 30th. inclusive 0 from 23 to 30 inclusive: not charged 0 Memoires concernant impositions et droits (par Moreau) 5 vol: 40. — Encyclop: Britan: (edit: Dobson) 1st. vol. 40 — Chalmers’ Pol: Annals 1 vol: 40. — Ramsay’s acct. of slavery in W. Indies. — Douglas’ Reports Neckar on Religion — Hist: war in America 3 vol: 80. — Cicero’s Epist: to Atticus
152From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 27 December 1795 (Madison Papers)
Mr. R’s pamphlet is out & will be forwarded by the first oppy. Altho’ I have kept up an enquiry, I have not been able to collect the impression it makes. As it relates to the P. nothing seems to be said: and as it relates to parties in general very little. By Fenno’s & Webster’s papers, it appears that an effort will be used to run down Mr. R. & if necessary for the purpose to call in the...
153From James Madison to George Turner, 23 July 1789 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 23 July 1789. Acknowledged in Turner to JM, 2 Aug. 1789 . Discusses the availability of various federal government offices. Recommends that Turner solicit a judgeship in the Northwest Territory.
154From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 14 August 1790 (Madison Papers)
Congs. not having closed their session till the day before yesterday, and the weather being extremely hot, I have thought it necessary in order to avoid the danger of a bilious attack to which I am become very subject, to wait here a few weeks which will render the journey more safe, and afford me moreover the pleasure of Mr. Jefferson’s company quite to Orange. This resolution puts it out of...
155Closed Sessions of the House, [14 March] 1794 (Madison Papers)
During debate on JM’s resolutions on commercial discrimination in Committee of the Whole, Parker asserted “that probably without France [i.e., French aid during the American Revolution] the legislature would not be deliberating within these walls.” When “two or three persons in the gallery, upon this made a faint attempt to clap,” Tracy moved that the committee rise for the purpose of clearing...
156From James Madison to Alexander Spotswood, ca. 23 April 1792 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 23 April 1792. Acknowledged in Spotswood to JM, 1 May 1792 . Concerns Spotswood’s Revolutionary War claim and encloses information from Col. Josiah Parker on how to find out who drew his depreciation of pay.
157Closed Sessions of the House, [27 December] 1793 (Madison Papers)
Algerine corsairs had preyed on American shipping in the Mediterranean since the Revolution. In December 1793 reports arrived in the United States that Portugal had signed a twelve-month truce with Algiers. Britain had persuaded its Portuguese ally to halt the Algerine war—which had previously prevented the corsairs from entering the Atlantic—in order to concentrate the war effort against...
158From James Madison to George Washington, 5 December 1789 (Madison Papers)
Since my last I have been furnished with the inclosed copy of the letter from the Senators of this State to its Legislature. It is well calculated to keep alive the disaffection to the Government, and is accordingly applied to that use by the violent partizans. I understand the letter was written by the first subscriber of it, as indeed is pretty evident from the stile and strain of it. The...
159To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 20 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 11th. came to hand the day before yesterday. I am just setting off to Monroe’s and hope to prevent the trouble of an express from Monticello with the letter referred to in it. I have already acquainted you with the immediate object of this visit. I have just received a line from him expressing a particular desire to communicate with me, and reminding me that he sets off the...
160From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 22 June 1790 (Madison Papers)
The pressure of business as the session approaches its term, the earlier hour at which the House of Representatives has for some time met, and the necessity of devoting a part of the interval to exercise, after so long a confinement, have obliged me to deny myself the pleasure of communicating regularly with my friends. I regret much that this violation of my wishes has unavoidably extended...
161Compensation for Members of Congress, [26 February] 1796 (Madison Papers)
After debate on 8 February, the motion to pay congressmen an annual salary was defeated and the bill returned to committee. The matter was resumed on 26 February in a Committee of the Whole, where Giles (Virginia) suggested that the Speaker receive a larger salary than other members because of the incidental expenses and greater duties of his office ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings...
162From James Madison to Horatio Gates, 20 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
During my recess in Virginia Mr. Jefferson put into my hands to be forwarded to you, your Letter Book which you had been so good as to leave with him. Considering the deposit as a precious one, I have been more anxious for a certain than a speedy Conveyance for it. The trip Mr. E. Livingston makes to N. York, furnishes an unexceptionable one, and I accordingly avail myself of it. We get our...
163Navigation and Trade, [25 June] 1790 (Madison Papers)
JM’s bill on navigation and trade (first presented on 17 May) was now under consideration. Jackson delivered a lengthy speech in reply to JM’s former arguments, quoting Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations to show that it was against the interest of agricultural nations to cramp the trade of mercantile states by laying high duties. Laurance, Tucker, and Smith (South Carolina) also opposed the bill....
164Impressed American Seamen, [29 February] 1796 (Madison Papers)
Impressment of American seamen by the Royal Navy was a constant irritant in Anglo-American relations, especially after the outbreak of war between Great Britain and France in 1793. American consuls in the ports of Great Britain could offer some assistance to impressed Americans under a statute of 14 April 1792, but the United States had no consular offices in the West Indies, from where...
165From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 22 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
The last mail brought us the pleasure of yours, of Jany. 8th. Fanny did not bring the letter-types with her, and cannot say with absolute certainty where they are to be found. She is pretty confident however that she put them in the Closet upstairs, on the right hand shelf, among some books. The shortness of the crop of Corn at Black-Meadow is a proof of the ruinous tendency of perpetual...
166From James Madison to John Hatley Norton, 12 September 1793 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 15th. June, as also a preceding one on the same subject: & have delayed acknowledging them till the return of Majr. Hite, an opportunity which you seem to have had in view. As far as I recollect no claims similar to your’s have yet been allowed by Congress, and some circumspection has been observed against establishing any principle that might lead to them. I can...
167From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 1 June 1794 (Madison Papers)
The Stamp Act was poisoned by the ingredient of the tax on transfers. The centinels of Stock uniting with the adversaries of the general plan formed a large majority. The carriage tax which only struck at the Constitution, has passed the H. of Reps. and will be a delicious morsel to the Senate. The attempt of this Branch to give the P. power to raise an army of 10,000, if he should please, was...
168Reporting of House Debates, [26 September] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Burke moved that the House no longer permit reporting of the debates, but he later withdrew the motion. Tucker then moved that the House sanction an accurate and impartial publication of the debates. Mr. Madison Thought it improper to throw impediments in the way of such information, as the house had hitherto permitted from the purest motives; but he believed it equally improper to give the...
169From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 6 June 1794 (Madison Papers)
I recd. yours of the 26 Ult: on the subject of the bill of exchange, and at the same time a draught from Mr. Triplet for 200 dollars on a house here which has accepted it. I have not yet fixt on a Forte Piano but have several in my eye; and will make a choice as soon as I can satisfy myself, and will have it forwarded it [ sic ] as soon as an opportunity offers. The adjournment is put off till...
170From James Madison to Henry Lee, 1 January 1792 (Madison Papers)
I have received your’s of the 22d Dec, and am sincerely sorry that I cannot be as instrumental on the occasion stated in it as My respect for the wishes of the Mr. Marshall’s and particularly for your’s, by which they are seconded, would make me anxious to be. The truth is I am not on any footing of personal acquaintance with Mr. Hammond which would justify me in asking the favor of him in his...
171Enclosure: Resolutions on Neutrality and Friendship with France, [ca. 27 August 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
It being considered that, ‘tis at all times the right and at certain periods the duty of the people to declare their principles and opinions on subjects which concern the Natl. interest; that at present conjuncture this duty is rendered the more indispensable by the prevailing practice of declaratory resolutions in places where the inhabitants can more easily assemble and consult than in the...
172Militia, [24 December] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Livermore, Jackson, and Giles opposed JM’s amendment. Laurance approved of the principle of the amendment but thought it vaguely worded. Mr. Madison admitted that his proposition might not be designated with the most desirable accuracy; but he conceived its imperfection might be overlooked, if it was considered, that the whole bill was intended to be given to a select committee for arrangement...
173From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 14 March 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. the few lines you dropped me from Baltimore, and daily expect those promised from Fredg. I am made somewhat anxious on the latter point, by the indisposition under which you were travelling. The question depending at your departure was negatived by a very large majority, though less than stated in the Newspapers. The causes of this disproportion which exceeds greatly the estimate...
174From James Madison to William Madison, 1 March 1795 (Madison Papers)
In my last to my father I desired him to let Mr. A. Fontaine or some other friend in Louisa know that I could not be in the district before the election &c. I now inclose a letter to him, which I wish you to seal & forward. If no certain conveyance offers in time, it will [be] requisite to send it to Louisa Court House on the day of the Election; and by Morda. Collins if necessary. Since the...
175To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 8 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Your last received was of the 28 Apl. The receipt of all the preceeding is verified by the uninterrupted dates of the Gazettes inclosed. I anxiously wish that the reception of Genest may testify what I believe to be the real affections of the people. It is the more desireable as a seasonable plum after the bitter pills which it seems must be administered. Having neither the Treaty nor Law of...
176From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 24 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
My last stated a question relating to the power of removal from offices then on the anvil of the H. of Rs. I now inclose the discussions as conveyed to the public thro’ the Newspapers. It is not necessary to apprize you that the reasonings on both sides are mutilated, often misapprehended, and not unfrequently reversed. You will perceive yourself that much of the reasoning is also founded on a...
177Compensation to Victims of the Whiskey Insurrection, [17 December] 1794 (Madison Papers)
In his annual message to Congress, Washington urged that Congress provide compensation to victims of the Whiskey Insurrection. On 17 December the House began consideration of resolutions giving effect to his suggestion ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 3d Cong., 2d sess., 790, 954, 967, 973, 987, 989). Mr....
178Treasury Department, [25 June] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Objections arose against the clause in the treasury department bill enjoining the secretary “to digest and report plans for the improvement and management of the revenue, and the support of the public credit.” Mr. Madison observed that by looking into the Journals of the late Congress, it would be found that, when the department of finance was established, the same words or very similar words...
179Naval Force against Algerine Corsairs, [6 February] 1794 (Madison Papers)
On 20 January the select committee on financing a naval force against the Algerine corsairs submitted its report, which proposed an appropriation of $600,000 to support six warships. The sum was to be raised by increased impost and tonnage duties ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 3d Cong., 1st sess., 250). On...
180From James Madison to Joseph Jones, ca. 20 December 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 20 December 1794. Referred to in Jones to JM, 23 and 26 Dec. 1794 and 13 Jan. 1795 . Mentions that Secretary of State Edmund Randolph plans to write Jones about his request to draw a sum of money on Monroe’s account.