901From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 5 October 1794 (Madison Papers)
On my return to Orange I dropped you a few lines on the subject of the deer. On my way into this part of the Country I passed Col. John Thornton of Culpeper, who has a Park, and will spare you with pleasure two or three, if you can not be otherwise supplied. He thinks he could by advertizing a premium of 10 or 12 dollars a head procure from his neighbors as many fawns to he delivered at...
902From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 6 November 1792 (Madison Papers)
I arrived here safe on thursday last. On enquiry I could learn nothing of Majr. Hite or Mr. Beale. I have since found that the latter was here; but he went off before I had an opportunity of seeing him. This failure makes me at a loss whether I shd. pursue the attempt to convey the articles you wished to go with Majr. Hite’s goods; look out for another conveyance; or postpone the sending them...
903From James Madison to Joseph Jones, 29 January 1792 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 29 January 1792. Acknowledged in Jones to JM, 10 Feb. 1792 . Requests information concerning the current postmaster, William Wiatt, and buildings occupied by him, at Fredericksburg.
904Amendments to the Constitution, [13 August] 1789 (Madison Papers)
On 21 July, JM moved that the House take up amendments in the Committee of the Whole, as provided in his resolution of 8 June. After some debate, the House referred the 8 June resolution and all the amendments proposed by the state ratifying conventions to a select committee of one member from each state. This committee reported on 28 July ( JM to W. C. Nicholas, 2 Aug. 1789 and n. 1). On 13...
905To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 19 December 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
The returns from N. Hampshire, Vermont, S.C. and Georga. are still to come in, and leave the event of the Election in some remaining uncertainty. It is but barely possible that Adams may fail of the highest number. It is highly probable, tho’ not absolutely certain, that Pinkney will be third only on the list. You must prepare yourself therefore to be summoned to the place Mr. Adams now fills....
906To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 29 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you two or three days ago with an inclosure of Newspapers &c since which I have been favored with yours of the 19th. I thank you for the plans and observations which far exceeded the trouble I meant to give you. The sentiments expressed by Genest would be of infinite service at this crisis. As a regular publication of them cannot be expected till the meeting of Congress, if then, it...
907From James Madison to George Nicholas, 24 November 1791 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 24 November 1791. Acknowledged in Nicholas to JM, 1 Feb. 1792 . Apparently concerns pending legislation in Congress, including the excise bill and duties on spirits.
908Naturalization, [3 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
The first clause of the naturalization bill, requiring one year’s residence by aliens for citizenship and an additional residence of two years to be capable of holding either a state or federal office, was under consideration. Tucker moved to strike out the one-year residence requirement in order to permit aliens to purchase and hold lands immediately upon taking an oath of allegiance. Mr....
909Constitutionality of the Residence Bill, [ca. 14 July] 1790 (Madison Papers)
The brief memorandum printed below is the only surviving record of JM’s opinion regarding the constitutionality of the bill which fixed the permanent national capital on the Potomac and the temporary capital at Philadelphia. The constitutional question had arisen during the latter stages of the House debate on the bill and continued during the interval between the passage of the bill on 9 July...
910From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 9 April 1792 (Madison Papers)
You will find by the inclosed papers that the President’s Negative has saved us from the unconstitutional allotment of 120 Reps. proposed by the Bill on that subject. The contest is now to be between a ratio of 1 for 30, and 1 for 33 thousand. If the next bill should begin with the former, I think it most likely to end in the latter, this being most favorable to the Northern part of the Union,...
911I. Text as Received by Jefferson, 1790, 4 February 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. of Jany. inclosing one of Sepr. last did not get to hand till a few days ago. The idea which the latter evolves is a great one, and suggests many interesting reflections to legislators; particularly when contracting and providing for public debts. Whether it can be received in the extent your reasonings give it, is a question which I ought to turn more in my thoughts...
912From James Madison to James Blair, ca. 20 February 1796 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 20 February 1796. Mentioned in JM to James Madison, Sr., 21 Feb. 1796 . Orders clover seed for Montpelier.
913From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
The last mail brought me your favor of Jany. 1. inclosing an unsealed one for Mr. A. & submitting to my discretion the eligibility of delivering it. In exercising this delicate trust I have felt no small anxiety, arising by no means however from an apprehension that a free exercise of it could be in collision with your real purpose, but from a want of confidence in myself, & the importance of...
914From James Madison to Joseph Chew, 29 February 1792 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 2d. instant came duly to hand a few days ago: Your preceding one of the 13th. July to my father was recd. by him whilst I was in Virginia last fall. I know it was his intention to answer it, and if I can trust my memory, think he did so. Sure I am that if he did not the omission was not occasioned by any decay of his friendship & affection to you. I recollect also that he...
915To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 6 March 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your’s of covering a letter to John Bringhurst which has been forwarded to him. There has not been time enough yet for an answer. The letter promised to myself, in yours, has not come [to] hand. The delay can be sufficiently accounted for by the irregularities of the Southern Mails, particularly South of Baltimore. The Senate have unanimously ratified the Algerine and Spanish...
916“Helvidius” Number 1, [24 August] 1793 (Madison Papers)
Several pieces with the signature of Pacificus were lately published, which have been read with singular pleasure and applause, by the foreigners and degenerate citizens among us, who hate our republican government, and the French revolution; whilst the publication seems to have been too little regarded, or too much despised by the steady friends to both. Had the doctrines inculcated by the...
917From James Madison to Arnold Henry Dohrman, 3 April 1795 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 3 April 1795. On this day JM wrote letters to Dohrman and Joseph Jones but sent each to the incorrect recipient. These letters were respectively acknowledged in Dohrman to JM, 6 Apr. 1795 , and Jones to JM, 7 Apr. 1795 . The letter intended for Dohrman but received by Jones concerned Dohrman’s debt to Philip Mazzei.
918Tonnage Duties, [4 May] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Before this day’s debate began, JM gave notice that on 25 May he would introduce the subject of amendments. “He thought it necessary thus early to mention the business, as it was weighty and important” ( Gazette of the U.S. , 6 May 1789). The postponed tonnage clauses were then taken up. Laurance moved to strike out the discrimination between countries having a commercial treaty with the...
919From James Madison to John Taylor, ca. 27 August 1793 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 27 August 1793. Mentioned in JM to Jefferson, 27 Aug. 1793 , and JM to Taylor, 20 Sept. 1793 . Acknowledged in Taylor to JM, 25 Sept. 1793 . Written from Monroe’s home near Charlottesville, the letter urges Taylor to organize a public meeting in Caroline County, suggests resolutions supporting the French alliance, and proposes that Edmund Pendleton patronize the measure....
920To George Washington from James Madison, 5 December 1789 (Washington 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...
921From James Madison to Tench Coxe, [ca. 13 January 1794] (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison presents his thanks to Mr. Coxe for the paper sent him a few days ago on the subject of sugar, tob. whale oil and rice. Mr. M will be further obliged to him for any aids he may possess toward an elucidation of the amt. of re-exports from G. B. If Mr. Coxe can add brief & early answer to the following queries, Mr. M. will also be sensible of the favor. 1. Of the grain & flour of...
922Proportional Representation, [19 December] 1791 (Madison Papers)
On 9 December 1791 the Senate approved the apportionment bill but amended the ratio of representation from 1:30,000 to 1:33,000. When the House considered the Senate amendments on 12 December, “Mr. Madison observed, that the idea of diminishing the fractional parts appears to be the only reason for the alteration proposed by the Senate. The aggregate of these fractions only has been taken into...
923Petition of Peter Gree, ca. 13 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
Document not found. Ca. 13 December 1796. Presented by JM to the House of Representatives, 13 Dec. 1796, and referred to the Committee of Claims. Reported in Claypoole’s Am. Daily Advertiser , 14 Dec. 1796.
924Assumption of the State Debts, [3 March] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Carroll moved to discharge the Committee of the Whole from consideration of assumption. His purpose was to suspend the larger question until Secretary Hamilton reported (in consequence of White’s motion of 2 March) on the ways and means of paying the state creditors. Laurance suspected that the motion was intended to shunt the matter aside indefinitely. JM denied “that the motion was intended...
925From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 8 February 1795 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Jany. 28. came to hand two days ago. I have not had time yet to look out for the wire for Sifters, but shall attend to it. I wait to hear from you further on the subject of Bolting cloths &c. before I execute the commissions in your former letter, as my last will have informed you. I am very sorry for the loss of my brother William; hut there is no remedy for such cases, but...
926To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 24 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 21st. came to hand last evening. It was meant that you should keep the pamphlet inclosed in it. I have seen Freneau, and, as well as Col: H. Lee, have pressed the establishment of himself in Philada. where alone his talents can do the good or reap the profit of which they are capable. Though leaning strongly against the measure, under the influence of little objections which...
927To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 28 April 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received yours of the 3d. instant. I have already informed you of my having forwarded you the French Edition of Milton received from E.R. Cortez’s letters are not come to hand. It seems that Blake by whom you expected them is not the person thro’ whom the Milton came, and that he is not yet arrived. The correspondence with Hammond has been forwarded in detachments by Col. Monroe. The...
928From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 10 August 1795 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of July 6, having been addressed to Williamsburg, instead of Orange Court House , did not come to hand till two days ago. Your gloomy picture of the Treaty does not exceed my ideas of it. After yielding terms which would have been scorned by this Country in the moment of its greatest embarrassments, & of G. Britains full enjoyment of peace & confidence, it adds to the ruinous...
929Petition of Anna de Neufville, [7 February] 1797 (Madison Papers)
On 3 February 1797 Anna de Neufville had presented a petition to the House on behalf of herself and her infant daughter, “praying compensation for services rendered” by her late husband during the Revolution. It was referred to a committee of five headed by JM ( JHR Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States (9 vols.; Washington, 1826). , 2:678). Mr. Madison, from the...
930Militia, [17 December] 1790 (Madison Papers)
The second section of the militia bill was still under consideration. Mr. Madison enquired if the committee had come yesterday to any resolution respecting the exemption of the members of the state legislatures: if they had not, he wished to pass them over, as it was better, in his opinion, to leave the legislatures of the states to make the whole of the exceptions themselves, especially as...
931Petition of Joseph-Léonard Poirey, [11 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
JM called up the bill on the claim of Poirey. The House went into a Committee of the Whole, rose, and reported the bill without amendment ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th Cong., 2d sess., 1839). Mr. Madison observed, that if he saw any danger from the precedent of making this provision, he should not be...
932From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 1 May 1796 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Mr. Chew, with the papers to which it refers. I have not yet recd. the subsequent letter promised. I have thought it best to put every thing he has sent into your hands, that you may be the better able to take the steps which his interest requires. The Letter for Z. Taylor, will go with more safety by private hands from Orange, than thro’ the post office from this...
933Petition of Anna de Neufville, [13 February] 1797 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison observed that he should be sorry to interfere with public business, but the peculiarity of the case of the family of De Neufville was such as to call for immediate attention, he therefore moved that the petition of the widow and daughter of the deceased John De Neufville, be now taken up. Merchants’ Daily Advertiser , 14 Feb. 1797 (also reported in New World , 15 Feb. 1797, and...
934Petition of Joseph-Léonard Poirey, [9 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
On 5 January JM had called up the report of the secretary of war on Poirey’s petition and moved that a bill be brought in. The House considered the matter in a Committee of the Whole on 9 January, with JM proposing that “provision ought to be made by law for settling the claim of M. Poirey” ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.;...
935Petition of Hugh Lawson White, [30 December] 1796 (Madison Papers)
Hugh Lawson White had petitioned the House on 11 February 1795 seeking compensation for services as a private of mounted infantry during John Sevier’s campaign against the Cherokee Indians in September 1793. The petition was referred to the War Department until Secretary James McHenry reported against the claim on 24 December 1796. The House took up the matter again in a Committee of the Whole...