Notes on Debates, 5 May 1783
Notes on Debates
MS (LC: Madison Papers). For a description of the manuscript of Notes on Debates and a discussion of JM’s reasons for recording what was said and done in Congress, see , V, 231–34.
No. XIV1
Mr. Bland & Mr. Mercer moved to erase from the Journal the resolution of Friday the 2d. inst. applying for an addition of three Millions to the grant of six millions by H. M. Xn Majesty, as in part of the loan of four Millions requested by the Resolution of Sepr. 14. 1782.2 As the resolution of the 2d. had been passed by fewer than nine States, they contended that it was unconstitutional. The reply was that as the three Millions were to be part of a loan heretofore authorized, the sanction of nine States was not necessary.3 The motion was negatived The two movers alone voting in the Affirmative.4
2. , XXIII, 577–79; XXIV, 325–26; , V, 127; 129, nn. 8–10. His Most Christian Majesty was Louis XVI of France.
3. The journal of 2 May does not record the vote whereby Congress adopted the resolution offered by Alexander Hamilton and seconded by James Wilson. JM was absent from Congress on that day (, VI, 498, and n. 2). To “borrow money on the credit of the united states” was one of the twelve powers granted to Congress which, according to the ninth article of the Articles of Confederation, required for their exercise the affirmative vote of at least nine state delegations. By the same article, “a question on any other point, except for adjourning from day to day” depended for an affirmative answer upon the concurrence of only seven state delegations (, XIX, 220). On 28 February 1783 Congress had taken an opposite stand on a similar issue (, VI, 301, and nn. 2, 4).
4. The journal records that Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina also voted “ay.” Only eight states were effectively represented in Congress when the tally was taken (, XXIV, 328–29).