George Washington Papers
Documents filtered by: Recipient="Madison, James" AND Period="Washington Presidency"
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Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-03-02-0225

From George Washington to James Madison, 5 August 1789

To James Madison

August 5th 1789

My dear Sir,

I want to communicate two matters to Congress; the substance of which is contained in the enclosed Paper1—The first requires to be decided upon before the proposed adjournment shall take place—but my motive for communicating the other, at this time, is only to fix the attention, & to promote enquiry against the next meeting.

Whether would an oral or written communication be best?

If the first what mode is to be adopted to effect it.

I would thank you, my good Sir, for amending the enclosed address, if you have leizure, by adding to, or striking out such parts as you may think had better be expunged. I am most affectly Yours

Go: Washington

ALS, CSmH.

1The enclosure was probably a draft of GW’s message to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 7 Aug. 1789, dealing with the immediate problem of an arrangement with the southern Indians and the less pressing need for an effective system for the army.

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