1From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 12 April 1789 (Madison Papers)
I am just favored with yours of the 27. Ulto. My last was sent from Alexandria, and as the receipt of it is not mentioned, I fear that it may have miscarried. I have not sooner written from this place, because I waited for an opportunity of collecting the features & complexion of the new Government, which in its legislative capacity never became practically organized till the 6th. instant; and...
2From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 1 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
This is the first convenient opportunity I have had for dropping you a line since I last came into the State. Your sanction to my remaining in N. York during the crisis of the elections, conveyed through Col: Carrington, never came to hand till I had arrived in Orange. It coincided so fully with my inclination, and indeed with my judgment, that had it been received in due time, I do not know,...
3From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 23 November 1788 (Madison Papers)
Your two favors of the 5th. & 10th instant have been duly recd. The appointments for the Senate communicated in the latter, answer to the calculations I had formed, notwithstanding the contrary appearances on which the former was founded. My only surprize is that in the present temper and disproportionate number of the antifederal part of the Assembly, my name should have been honored with so...
4From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 2 November 1788 (Madison Papers)
I recd. yesterday your favor of the 23d. Ult. The first countenance of the Assembly corresponds with the picture which my imagination had formed of it. The views of the greater part of the opposition to the fœderal Government, and particularly of its principal leader, have ever since the Convention, been regarded by me as permanently hostile, and likely to produce every effort that might...
5From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 28 October 1788 (Madison Papers)
I inclose herewith two pamphlets on the questions agitated in France. They are written by the Marquis Condorcet, and contain more correct information than has been communicated to the public through any other channel. I inclose also a Gazette containing observations on Manufactures by our acquaintance Mr. T. Coxe. You will probably think them worth handing to the Printer for republication....
6From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 17 October 1788 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed are 4 letters from Mazzei & one from Mr. Jefferson which you will be good eno’ to dispose of. I have a letter from the former in which he begs me to add my importunities to you & Mr. Blair, for speedy succour if possible. I have one also from the latter, but it contains nothing of much consequence. His public letters to which it refers have not yet been communicated from the Office of...
7Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 4 October 1788 (Madison Papers)
We have the Honor to acknowledge the Rect. of your Excellencies letter of the 23d. Ult. inclosing Copies of the Account & Vouchers founding the settlement of the State of Virginia with Doctor Draper for his depretiation, and leaving it in our descretion, whether to prosecute him for the indemnification of the State, or to take any steps towards establishing the Validity of the transaction...
8Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 27 September 1788 (Madison Papers)
We do ourselves the honor to inclose to your Excellency a letter which we received from the Treasury Board on the 15th. Inst. and our reply to it of 22d. in addition to the papers transmitted sometime ago upon the subject of Doctor Drapers settlement for his depredation. We have concieved it our duty to make the several communications to the Board which have taken place, in order that there...
9From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 24 September 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have been favd. with yours of the 12th. instant. The picture it gives of the state of our Country is the more distressing as it seems to exceed all the known resources for immediate relief. Nothing in my opinion can give the desired facility to the discharge of debts, but a reestablishment of that confidence which will at once make the creditor more patient, and open to the solvent debtor...
10From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 14 September 1788 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 3d. instant would have been acknowledged two days ago, but for the approaching completion of the arrangement for the new Govt. which I wished to give you the earliest notice of. This subject has long employed Congs. and has in its progress assumed a variety of shapes, some of them not a little perplexing. The times as finally settled are Jany. for the choice of Electors,...
11Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 12 September 1788 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 12 September 1788 . Mentioned in JCSV H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds., Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia (4 vols. to date; Richmond, 1931—). , IV, 286, and alluded to in Randolph to Virginia Delegates, 23 Sept. 1788 . Encloses copies of the following papers from the Board of Treasury concerning the disputed account of Dr. George Draper for his wartime military...
12From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 22 August 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have your favor of the 13th. The effect of Clintons circular letter in Virga. does not surprize me. It is a signal of concord & hope to the enemies of the Constitution every where, and will I fear prove extremely dangerous. Notwithstanding your remarks on the subject I cannot but think that an early convention will be an unadvised measure. It will evidently be the offspring of party &...
13From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 11 August 1788 (Madison Papers)
The length of the interval since my last has proceeded from a daily expectation of being able to communicate the arrangements for introducing the New Government. The times necessary to be fixt by Congress have been many days agreed on. The place of meeting has undergone many vicisitudes and is still as uncertain as ever. Philada. was first named by a member from Connecticut, and was negatived...
14Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 25 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
We do ourselves the honor to inclose to your Excellency a paper which was put into our hands a few days ago by the Minister of France at a conference he had with us at his own request upon the case of Capt. Ferrier, the subject of a late Resolution of Congress. Your Excellency must have observed from that Resolution that Congress was careful to avoid a decision as to the Authority to which...
15From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 22 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed papers will give you a view of the business in the Convention at Poughkepsie. It is not as yet certain that the ratification will take any final shape that can make New York immediately a member of the new Union. The opponents can not come to that point without yielding a compleat victory to the federalists, which must be a severe sacrifice of their pride. It is supposed too that...
16From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 16 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed papers will give you the latest intelligence from Poughkepsie. It seems by no means certain what the result there will be. Some of the most sanguine calculate on a ratification. The best informed apprehend some clog that will amount to a condition. The question is made peculiarly interesting in this place, by its connexion with the question relative to the place to be recommended...
17From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 2 July [August] 1788 (Madison Papers)
Some of the letters herewith inclosed have been here for some time without my knowing it. The others came to hand yesterday. I have also in hand for you the Marquis Condorcet’s essai on the probability of decisions resulting from plurality of voices, which I understand from Mazzei is a gift from the Author. I shall forward it by the first conveyance. There are public letters just arrived from...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Randolph, 2 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof, Monsieur L’Olive, proposing [to] pass thro’ Virginia, I take the liberty of presenting him to your Excellency’s acquaintance, and notice. He is a very wealthy and worthy citizen of this country, and will justify by his merit the attentions you will be so good as to shew him. He has the disadvantage of not speaking our language, and I do not know whether your Excellency may...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Randolph, 16 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Mazzei desires me to inclose his letter to you and to add my testimony to his of the necessities he is under. This I can do with truth, observing further that had I known of the sufferings he has gone through, they certainly should have been prevented. His situation really requires that his friends should strain his resources to the utmost and give him the benefit of them for his relief....
20From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Randolph, 1 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof, the Chevalier de Saint Trys, passing hence to America, and meaning to visit Virginia, I take the liberty of recommending him to the notice and civilities of your Excellency, and of praying you to introduce him to such a line of acquaintance as may be agreeable and useful to him. Tho’ not particularly honoured by a previous acquaintance with him, I have sufficient assurances...
21From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 10 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
Since I got home which was on the day preceding our election, I have received your favor of the 29th. of Feby. which did not reach New York before I had left it. I view the amendments of Massachussetts pretty nearly in the same light that you do. They were meant for the people at large, not for the minority in the Convention. The latter were not affected by them; their objections being...
22From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 3 March 1788 (Madison Papers)
The Convention of N. Hampshire have disappointed the general expectation. They have not rejected the Constitution, but they have adjourned without adopting it. It was found that on a final question there would be a majority of 3 or 4 in the negative but in this number were included some who with instructions from their Towns against the Constitution, had been proselyted by the discussions....
23From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 27 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
A Congress was made for the first time on monday last and our friend C. Griffin placed in the chair. There was no competition in the case which you will wonder at as Virginia has so lately supplied a president. N. Jersey did not like it I believe very well, but acquiesed. I postponed writing by the last mail, in hopes of being able by this to acquaint you with the probable result of the...
24From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 20 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of the 3 inst. By a letter from Mr. Turberville of later date I have the mortification to find that our friend Mr. Jones has not succeeded in his wish to be translated from the Executive to the Judiciary Department. I had supposed that he stood on ground that could not fail him in a case of that sort; and am wholly at a loss to account for the disappointment. The...
25From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 10 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have put off writing from day to day for some time past, in expectation of being able to give you the news from the packet, which has been looked for every hour. Both the French & English have overstaid their usual time ten or 15 days, and are neither of them yet arrived. We remain wholly in the dark with regard to the posture of things in Europe. I received two days ago your favor of Decr....
26From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 8 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
The letter which you did me the honor of writing to me on the 27th Ulto, with the enclosure, came duly to hand. I receive them as a fresh instance of your friendship and attention. For both I thank you. The diversity of Sentiments upon the important matter which has been submitted to the People, was as much expected as it is regretted, by me. The various passions and medium by which men are...
Your Excellency’s ^ Letter ^ was delivered ^ to ^ me this morning. The interpretation of the Council appears to me to be right. I however regret that there was room for doubt; for in my opinion the command of American Vessels should be confined to American Citizens. I have the honor to be with great Respect & c . LbkC , DNA: Domestic Letters Domestic Letters of the Department of State,...
28Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 11 December 1787 (Madison Papers)
We have been honoured with your Excellencies favor of the 24th. Ult. together with its enclosures. Congress have not yet Assembled nor have we an early prospect of a sufficient number of States upon the floor for business. In the recess of that body, there is no authority in existence for making the appointment you request with respect to the Cherokee and other tribes of Indians in the Western...
29From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 2 December 1787 (Madison Papers)
The period since my last has been so unfruitful of occurrences that I have not thought it worth while to trouble you with a letter and I do it now more to prevent too long a chasm, than for the sake of any interesting communication. Our public letter gave you the latest authentic information from Europe. A general war seems not improbable; a war between the Turks & Russians has actually...
30Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 22 November 1787 (Madison Papers)
We do ourselves the honor to communicate to your Excellency the European intelligence which we have received to the 22d. of September by the last French packe[t.] The Affairs of Holland were at that time in a gloomy state as they respected the Patriots, and it is to be apprehended that before this, they must have been brought to a serious issue: it appears hardly possible that the event can be...
31From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 18 November 1787 (Madison Papers)
I returned hither yesterday from Philada. to which place I had proceeded under arrangements for either going on to Virginia, or coming back as I might there decide. Your very affectionate favor of the 23d. Ult: found me in Philada. after travelling to N. York, and I should have answered it before my return, had any matters for communication occurred worth the expence of postage. I did not make...
32Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 3 November 1787 (Madison Papers)
The Requisition for the present year has already been transmitted to the States by the Secretary of Congress; we, however, now do ourselves the honor to inclose it to your Excellency, together with a Report of the Treasury Board, and a Return of payments by the Several States to the 30th of June, all which we beg the favor of you to lay before the General Assembly, for their more full...
33From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 21 October 1787 (Madison Papers)
I mentioned in a late letter that I had addressed to your care a small box of books for the University. I now inclose the Bill of lading. Inclosed also is a bill of lading for another Box destined for Mr. W. Hay. Will you be so good as to have it handed to him. I paid two dollars for its freight from France to this port, which he may repay to you. The money you remitted by me to Col....
34From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 7 October 1787 (Madison Papers)
I was yesterday favored with yours of the 30th. Ult: and heard with particular pleasure the favorable influence of your journey on Mrs. Randolph’s health. I wrote to you shortly after my arrival here, and rehearsed the proceedings of Congress on the subject of the new federal Constitution. I have since forwarded by Mr. Hopkins a large foreign letter for you with some others for the friends of...
35From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, ca. 28 September 1787 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 28 September 1787. Mentioned in JM to Randolph, 7 Oct. 1787 . Relates proceedings of Congress on the report of the Federal Convention.
36From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Randolph, 3 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
A journey into the Southern parts of France and Northern of Italy has prevented my sooner acknoleging the receipt of your private favors of July 12. 1786. and Jan. 28. and May 3. 1787.—I am anxious to hear what you have done in your federal convention. I am in hopes at least you will persuade the states to commit their commercial arrangements to Congress, and to enable them to pay their debts,...
37Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 30 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
The delegation have received your Excellencys letr. of the 14th. Nothing yet has been done relative to the meeting of the commissioners deputed by the states of Maryland and Virginia, nor will this business be brought forward untill Congress assemble in more strength. The enclosed resolution will shew the sense entertained by the united states relative to the unauthorized possession of Post...
38From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 22 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure of your’s of the 11 inst. acknowledging mine of the 2d. In some of your letters I observe you do not say whether any have been recd. from me or not. I have not omitted to write in a single instance since our correspondence commenced. The time approaches so nearly now when I shall have an opportunity of asking verbal communications on confidential points that I forbear to...
39Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 16 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
Your Excellencies favor of the 4th Inst. enclosing a list of Pensioners came to hand this morning together with the talk to the Cherokee Indians alluded in that which I had the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a few days past. We shall do ourselves the honor to lay before Congress all the intelligence you have been pleased to transmit respecting the Cherokee Indians, as the best excuse for...
40From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 15 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Apl. 4. has been recd since my last. The probability of Genl. Washington’s coming to Philada. is in one point of view flattering. Would it not however be well for him to postpone his actual attendance untill some judgment can be formed of the result of the meeting. It ought not to be wished by any of his friends that he should participate in any abortive undertaking. It may occur...
41Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 13 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
A misapprehension as to the tour of correspondence with your Excellency, which I understood to be weekly, instead of monthly, occasioned me to neglect writing last Monday, and I must beg the favor of you to pardon me for the neglect. I now do myself the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 22d. Ult. The Act of the Executive upon the subject of the Illinois Accounts, was laid...
42Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 12 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
Your Excellencies favor of the 4th. Instant this moment came to hand. The post is just going out, and therefore I have not time to say more, in addition to this acknowledgement, than that Congress yesterday appointed Mr. John Pierce, late Paymaster General, to succeed Mr. Fox who has resigned, and he will set out immediately to Virginia. I shall do myself the Honor to write you more fully...
43From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 9 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
In reply to your favor of the 2d I have to request that you will not be at the trouble of forwarding any money to me from the treasury. If I should attend the Service, it will suit me as well to receive it from you in Philadelphia as at this place. If I should not, I have no business with it at all. It gives me pleasure to find by your letter that there will be so full a representation from...
44From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 8 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
Your two favors of the 22d & 27th. of March have been received since my last. In a former one you ask what Tribunal is to take cognizance of Clarke’s offence? If our own laws will not reach it, I see no possibility of punishing it. But will it not come within the Act of the last Session concerning treasons and other offences committed without the Commonwealth. I have had no opportunity yet of...
45From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 2 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have your favor of the 15th. inst. All of preceding date have been already acknowledged. The information which you wished to go to Mr. Guardoqui has been communicated. The real impression made by it cannot easily be seen thro’ the political veil. If he views the state of Western affairs in the true light, his representations to Spain, must convince her that she has no option but between...
46Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 2 April 1787 (Madison Papers)
I do myself the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellencies favor of the 15th. Ult. to the Delegation. Any additional information which may be acquired upon the subject of Mr. Van Berkels Memorial will be punctually transmitted. I lament exceedingly the Situation into which our Trade is thrown under the late Laws. It will occasion a deminution of the Revenue which we are in no...
47From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 28 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 11th did not come to my hand till the 24th; and since then, till now, I have been too much indisposed to acknowledge the receipt of it. To what cause to ascribe the detention of the [letter] I know not, as I never omit sending once, and oftener twice a week to the Post Office—In Alexandria. It was the decided intention of the letter I had the honor of writing to your...
48From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 25 March 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have had the pleasure of your two favors of the 1 and 7. instant. The refusal of Mr. Henry to join in the task of revising the Confederation is ominous; and the more so I fear if he means to be governed by the event which you conjecture. There seems to be little hope at present of being able to quash the proceedings relative to the affair which is so obnoxious to him; tho’ on the other hand...
49Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph, 25 March 1787 (Madison Papers)
Since my last the Delegation has received your Excellency’s two favors of the 16th. ult. and the 8th. inst. The anonymous paper inclosed in the former certainly merits serious attention, and will be communicated to Congress. The Report of Mr. Jay on the Note of Mr. Van Berkel has not yet received a decision. The subject of it involves several nice questions which require an accurate attention...
50From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 19 March 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have been favored with yours of the 1st. instant for which I make you my acknowledgments. The public letter which goes by this mail with the papers inclosed contain all the current information. I have made enquiry as to the copies of the Treaties with Europe & the Indian Nations, which you wish to be forwarded, and am told that you will find all of them on the printed Journals of Congress,...