17791[Caesar No. II], [15 October 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
The [New York] Daily Advertiser , October 15, 1787. For a discussion of the arguments for and against H’s authorship of the “Caesar” letters, see “Caesar No. I,” September 28, 1787 . The second “Caesar” letter was written in reply to “Cato II” which was published in The New-York Journal, and Daily Patriotic Register , October 11, 1787.
17792Minutes of the New-York Manumission Society, [26 January 1788] (Jay Papers)
At a Special Meeting of the Society for promoting the manumission of Slaves and protecting such of them as have been or may be Liberated held at the Coffee House on the 26 Day of January 1788. Present John Jay Esq r . President & Nine other Mem ^ bers ^ . The Society being informed by the Standing Committee that this Meeting was called for the purpose of Considering the propriety of...
17793John Adams’ Instructions as Minister to Great Britain, 7 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
Instructions for the Minister Plenipotentiary appointed to represent the United States of America at the Court of Great Britain Sir You will in a respectful but firm Manner insist that the United States be put without further Delay into Possession of all the Posts and Territories within their Limits which are now held by british Garrisons; and you will take the earliest Opportunity of...
17794Resolution of Congress regarding John Jay’s Appointment to Negotiate with Diego de Gardoqui, [20 July 1785] (Jay Papers)
The Committee consisting of to whom was referred a Letter of the 8 th Instant from the Secretary of foreign Affairs inclosing one of the same Date from Don Diego Gardoqui, submits the foll[owin] g Report That the honble John Jay Esqr Secretary of the u States in ^ for ^ the Department of foreign Affairs, be & he hereby is invested with full powers in Behalf of the U States to treat adjust ^...
17795The General Assembly Session of October 1786 (Editorial Note) (Madison Papers)
Historians tend to see the past only in the official documents or letters from public men. Yet in Virginia for almost three hundred years the main topics of conversation were undoubtedly the weather, the market price of tobacco, and horses for riding, racing, pulling, or plowing. This perspective was evident when, on the eve of JM’s arrival in Richmond to take his seat in the General Assembly,...
17796New-York Manumission Society: Draft Petition to the New York State Legislature, [after 8 February 1786] (Jay Papers)
That your memorialists being deeply affected by the need Situation of those who, altho free by the Laws of God are held in Slavery by the Laws of this State, view with Pain & Regret a the additional miseries they ^ wh[ich]. those unhappy people ^ experience from the Practice which have lately become prevailed to a considerable Extent of exporting them like Cattle and other articles of Commerce...
[ JJ proposes an amendment making the president, vice president, and members of both Houses ineligible for election to their respective offices unless they are natural-born citizens and freeholders. The amendment is adopted after Lansing’s motion to delete “freeholders” was voted down. JJ indicates a willingness to have the Bill of Rights “expressly” reserve “all the rights not granted in the...
17798Report of the Oversight Committee on the Department of Foreign Affairs, 14 August 1788 (Jay Papers)
The Committee appointed to enquire fully into the Proceedings of the Department of Foreign Affairs Report.— That two Rooms are occupied by this Department, one of which the Secretary reserves for himself and the Reception of such Persons as may have Business with him, and the other for his Deputy and Clerks. That the Records and Papers belonging to the Department are kept in a proper Manner,...
17799Congressional Resolution Changing John Jay’s Instructions for Negotiating a Treaty with Spain, 25 August [1785] (Jay Papers)
On a Report of a Committee to whom was referred a letter of the 15 th . from the Secretary for foreign Affairs— Resolved That the last paragraph in the instructions to the Secretary to the United States for the department of foreign Affairs passed July 20 th 1785 for entering into a treaty compact or Convention with the Encargado de Negocios of his Catholic Majesty in the words following “That...
17800Madison at the Federal Convention, 27 May–17 September 1787 (Editorial Note) (Madison Papers)
JM had already committed himself to work for a new constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation when he arrived in Philadelphia on 5 May 1787, nearly three weeks before the Federal Convention had a quorum. The government he hoped to see established would be “republican,” deriving its authority from the great body of the people and administered by persons appointed directly or...
17801Address from the Inhabitants of Marblehead, 16 March 1789 (Adams Papers)
the Inhabitants of Marblehead in Common with their fellow Countrymen have ever felt Strongly impressed with Sentiments of gratitude and satisfaction for the eminent Services rendered by you to the United States of America. in all their foreign Negotiations, which have been Committed to your Charge, in considering the result of those Negotiations we find Ourselves under Very peculiar...
17802Address from Rhode Island Federalists, 2 April 1789 (Adams Papers)
The Federalists of this State though denied the Priviledge of giving you their Suffrages, are peculiarly happy, to find your Excellency by so decided a Majority, One of the Gentlemen placed at the Head of that August Body, to which, with Anxious expectation, this Country now looks up to rescue it from that Anarchy & Prostration which have So long degraded the American Character, and rendered...