Enclosure: Daniel Carroll to James Madison, 6 April 1791
Enclosure
Daniel Carroll to James Madison
George Town Apr. 6th. 1791
My dear Sir
I have flattered myself with hopes of receiving a line from you with information of the time you woud be at this place. On enquiry however I find it incertain whether you wou’d not turn your face to the East. Shou’d that not be the Case, I claim your promise of letting me know when I may expect to see you, and hope you will arrange matters so as not to be in a hurry to proceed when you get to this place.—I refer you to the George Town paper for some intelligence respecting the Federal City. The Union of the George Town and Carrollsburgh interests, has given a Cast to this business more favourable than was expected even by its friends. It was a union I have most ardently wish’d for and promoted on public and personal considerations.
I inclose the articles of Agreement, sign’d by all the proprietors of Land within the propos’d limits of the City, so far as to compleat this important object with a Condemnation of a Small piece of land the right of a person insane, and by an accommodation respecting the Lotts in Hamburgh and Carrollsburgh to a Condemnation of some Lotts in each of those places, as the proprietors cannot be come at.
It is propos’d that both these places shall be Subject to be lay’d out again.—At the time the principal proprietors of the two interests agreed to a compromise, it was propos’d and agreed too that the private property shou’d be subject to the same regulations respecting the buildings &ca. as shou’d be thought proper for the public; this was in the hurry omitted to be inserted in the articles sign’d. We hope however to obtain it in the deeds. I wish much to see you & am My dear Sr, allways & Sincerely yr affe. friend & Servt.
Danl Carroll
Present my compliments to Mrs. House and Mrs. Triste, and assure them of my esteem and regard.—Send the inclosd note to Fenno.
RC (DLC: Madison Papers); addressed: “Mr. Madison-for Mr. Jefferson’s perusal.” Enclosure: Agreement of the landowners, “in consideration of the great benefits we expect to derive from having the Federal city laid off upon our lands,” to convey in trust to the President or the commissioners or such persons as he should appoint, “by good and sufficient deeds in fee simple, the whole of our respective Lands which he may think proper to include within the lines of the Federal City,” on these conditions: (1) the President to “have the Sole power of directing the Federal City to be laid off in what manner he pleases,” and to retain any number of squares “he may think proper for public Improvements or other public uses,” with only the lots laid off to be equally and fairly divided between the public and the individuals as soon after the city is laid off as may be; (2) the proprietors to receive no compensation for streets, but any land taken for public buildings or any kind of public use to be paid for at the rate of £25 per acre; (3) the woods on the lands to be the property of the owners and any desired to be left standing by the President to be compensated for at a just valuation in addition to the £25 per acre for the land; (4) each proprietor to have the “Full possession and use of his land … untill sold and Occupied by the purchasers”; (5) where the public streets and lots permit, each proprietor to possess his buildings, improvements, and grave yards, paying to the public £12 10 per acre; but where the public streets, lots, and squares do not permit this and it becomes necessary to remove such buildings and improvements, the proprietors to be paid a reasonable value; and (6) none of the stipulations in the agreement to affect lots owned by the subscribers in Carrollsburg or Hamburg (unsigned MS in clerk’s hand in DLC: Madison Papers, misdated 13 [for 30] Mch. 1791). The full text of agreement, dated 30 Mch. 1791 and signed by Robert Peter, David Burnes, Uriah Forrest, Benjamin Stoddert, and others, is in Columbia Hist. Soc., Records, xxxv-xxxvi (1935), 44–6. Enclosed note to Fenno has not been found.