301From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 1 June 1794 (Madison Papers)
The Stamp Act was poisoned by the ingredient of the tax on transfers. The centinels of Stock uniting with the adversaries of the general plan formed a large majority. The carriage tax which only struck at the Constitution, has passed the H. of Reps. and will be a delicious morsel to the Senate. The attempt of this Branch to give the P. power to raise an army of 10,000, if he should please, was...
302To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 1 June 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
The Stamp act was poisoned by the ingredient of the tax on transfers. The centinels of Stock uniting with the adversaries of the general plan formed a large majority. The carriage tax which only struck at the Constitution has passed the H. of Reps. and will be a delicious morsel to the Senate. The attempt of this Branch to give the P. power to raise an army of 10,000. if he should please, was...
303Military Establishment, [30 May] 1794 (Madison Papers)
On 1 April the House approved a resolution to raise an additional military force of 25,000 men “during a war which may break out between the United States and any foreign European Power” but on 19 May rejected a “bill to augment the military force of the United States.” On 30 May the House took up a Senate bill—“An act to increase the Military Force of the United States, and to encourage the...
304From James Madison to John Sitman and Others, 28 May 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 28 May 1794. Acknowledged in Sitman and others to JM, 22 Jan. 1795 . Concerns an address that Sitman has sent to JM (possibly a “petition of sundry inhabitants of the towns of Salem, Beverly, and Danvers, in the State of Massachusetts,” which was read in the House of Representatives on 7 Apr. 1794 [ Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United...
305From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 25 May 1794 (Madison Papers)
Your favr. of the 15th. Inst: came to hand yesterday. I will procure you the “Definition of parties,” and one or two other things from the press which merit a place in your archives. Osnabrigs can be had here. Negro Cotton I am told can also be had; but of this I am not sure. I learn nothing yet of Blake. The inclosed paper will give you the correspondence of E. R. & Hammond on an occurrence...
306To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 25 May 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 15th. Inst: came to hand yesterday. I will procure you the “definition of parties,” and one or two other things from the press which merit a place in your archives. Osnabrigs can be had here. Negro cotton I am told can also be had; but of this I am not sure. I learn nothing yet of Blake. The inclosed paper will give you the correspondence of E.R. and Hammond on an occurrence...
307Repayment of Loan to France, [24 May] 1794 (Madison Papers)
On 18 March Washington transmitted to the House a request from French minister Fauchet for an advance of loan payments due to France. The House referred the president’s message to a select committee chaired by Smith (South Carolina), whose report the House tabled on 17 April ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). ,...
308From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 19 May 1794 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 5th. came to hand a few days ago. I hope you will have secured me the corn & a plenty of it. I am at a loss to give directions concerning the laths & plank. If M. C. can conveniently spare the Horses to bring it from my brothers, it will no doubt be best to get it from him. Otherwise it will cost less in the end to take it of Mr. C. I will attend to the Forte Piano & the...
309Excise, [19 May] 1794 (Madison Papers)
On 17 May Smith (South Carolina) reported from the select committee on ways and means “a bill laving certain duties upon manufactured tobacco and refined sugar” ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 3d Cong., 1st sess., 700). Debate on 19 May focused on the issue of whether or not the revenue raised by the new...
310Protection of the Frontier, [16 May] 1794 (Madison Papers)
The Committee of the Whole took up the report of a select committee to which had been referred a memorial from the House of Representatives of the Territory South of the River Ohio (which later became Tennessee), requesting a more effective defense against the Indians. Mr. Madison objected to some part of the report. It had been stated by the committee, that the governor of that country should...
311To James Madison from James Madison, 15 May 1794 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you some time past, and my not receivg an answer, conclude, it did not reach Phila. The purpose of it was, that I had it in contemplation, to commence business on my own a/c, and was under the disagreeable necessity of begg. yr assistance. You will please write me immediately on the business. Please direct the letter to the care of Robt Patton Fredbg. From Yr Dependant Nephew RC ( NN ).
312From James Madison to Alexander White, 12 May 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 12 May 1794. Acknowledged in White to JM, 19 May 1794 . Discusses tax legislation pending in Congress.
313From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 11 May 1794 (Madison Papers)
Col. Monroe wrote you last week, and I refer to his letter for the state of things up to that date. The H. of Reps. has been since employed chiefly on the new taxes. The Report of the Committee which was the work of a subcommittee in understanding with the Fiscal Department, was filled with a variety of items copied as usual from the British Revenue laws. It particularly included, besides...
314To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 11 May 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
Col. Monroe wrote you last week, and I refer to his letter for the state of things up to that date. The H. of Reps. has been Since employed chiefly on the new taxes. The Report of the Committee which was the work of a sub committee in understanding with the Fiscal Department, was filled with a variety of items copied as usual from the British Revenue laws. It particularly included, besides...
315Excise, [9 May] 1794 (Madison Papers)
On 7 May the Committee of the Whole reported eight resolutions on ways and means of raising revenue. JM voted with the minority when the House upheld provisions for a carriage tax, a stamp duty, and an excise on tobacco ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 3d Cong., 1st sess., 653–56, 666–67). On 9 May the House...
316From James Madison to Gustavus B. Wallace, 7 May 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 7 May 1794. Acknowledged in Wallace to JM, 13 May 1794 . Discusses JM’s recommendation of Wallace to the War Department for a military appointment.
317From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 4 May 1794 (Madison Papers)
By a vessel which sails for Fredg. today, I have sent a small box containing the following articles 6 ps. very coarse muslins, 1 ps. of finer. 2 lb. Tea, 3 Books on Medicine, a few pamphlets & a Sett of marking instruments. The muslins were bought as being extremely cheap, and useful for various purposes. If my mother or sister wants any part of them they will make free with them. If the finer...
318Excise, [2 May] 1794 (Madison Papers)
In Committee of the Whole, Dexter (a Federalist) countered arguments that an excise was antirepublican by pointing out that his constituents in Massachusetts were good republicans but supported the excise. Mr. Madison professed an aversion to all comparisons; but if they must be made, it was proper to draw them with the strictest regard to truth. He agreed with the gentleman from Massachusetts...
319From James Madison to Joshua Barney and Others, 1 May 1794 (Madison Papers)
I have been favored with your letter of Mar: 13. from Jamaica with its inclosure, in which the American Masters of Vessels detained in that Island have been pleased to express their sentiments on the Resolutions proposed by me in the House of Representatives on the 3d. of January last. Having long regarded the principles on which those Resolutions were founded, as the basis of a policy most...
320Excise, [1 May] 1794 (Madison Papers)
On 23 April the Committee of the Whole took up the report of the select committee on ways and means ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 3d Cong., 1st sess., 604; on the context of that report, see Madison in the Third Congress, 2 Dec. 1793–3 Mar. 1795 ). On 1 May a resolution for an excise on manufactured snuff...
321From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 28 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 3d. instant. I have already informed you of my having forwarded you the French Edition of Milton red. 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...
322To 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...
323From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 25 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 15th. came to hand yesterday. I am sorry to learn that my crop of Corn proves so deficient. I must get the favor of you to have as much engaged as will do. If my directions for sowing oats have been followed, the less will be wanted. M. C. may fence in part of the meadow as he proposes for a pasture. I leave to your own judgment to decide whether the two mares shall be put to...
324From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 21 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
I have at last found your Certificates, but have not yet applied for the Interest. The power of Attorney is probably lying in the office where it was left at the last draught of Interest. You will see that Jay has been appointed to try the effect of a Minister Exty. to G. B. The proposition for enforcing our demand of redress by making our market a condition of it, is not yet come to a final...
325From James Madison to Alexander White, 21 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 21 April 1794. Acknowledged in White to JM, 26 Apr. and 5 May 1794 . Discusses constitutional objections to Chief Justice John Jay’s appointment as envoy extraordinary to Great Britain. Reports that public opinion in England continues to support the war against France.
326Nonintercourse with Great Britain, [18 April] 1794 (Madison Papers)
On 2 April Clark moved a resolution calling for nonintercourse with Great Britain, and on 14 April the Committee of the Whole reported the resolution to the House ( Philadelphia Gazette , 3 Apr. 1794; Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 3d Cong., 1st sess., 594). JM offered the following amendment on 18 April....
327From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 14 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
Having recd. one letter only from you, and that of very old date, I conclude that mine which have been numerous do not pass thro’ the obstructions thrown in the way of the Mail by the small pox. I continue however to write, hoping that the channel will have been reopened by the time each letter may get to Richmond. I have also written a request to Mr. Dawson to have my letters to you taken out...
328From James Madison to Alexander White, 14 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two favors of Mar. 31. & Apl. 7. The motion of Clarke to suspend the imports from G. B. & Ireland till redress be obtained on the spoliations & the treaty has been the subject of much debate and is not yet decided. It is generally supposed that a considerable majority of the House are in favor of it. It is a subject however on which opinions may be much influenced by...
329To James Madison from James Madison, 14 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
I have had it in contemplation to write You, some time past, but thought it most prudent to defer it as long as possible, knowing that yr attention was taken up wth business of much more importance, than answering my letters. I am now advancd in years, and think I am nearly master of the business now pursueing, think it needless to continue longer with Mr Dunbar. I have a desire to commence...
330Draft of a Resolution on the Nonintercourse Bill, [ca. 14 April] 1794 (Madison Papers)
Resold. that if from the operation of the foregoing suspension of commercial intercourse with G. B. the public revenue arising from imports shd. become inadequate to the punctual discharge of the interest on the public debt, it will he the duty of the Legislature to make up such deficiency by other resources, and to discharge the accruing arrears with as little delay as possible; and that for...
331To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 14 April 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
Having received one letter only from you, and that of very old date, I conclude that mine which have been numerous do not pass thro’ the obstructions thrown in the way of the Mail by the small pox. I continue however to write, hoping that the channel will have been reopened by the time each letter may get to Richmond. I have also written a request to Mr. Dawson to have my letters to you taken...
332From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 7 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
Being reminded by your late letters of your certificates and the power of attorney to draw the interest, I have searched thro’ all my papers without being able to find either of them. I shall make another search, but it occurs to me that I may have carried these papers to Virga. & omitted to bring them back, and I have a faint impression of this sort on my memory. Be so good as to look among...
333From James Madison to John Dawson, 7 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 7 April 1794. Acknowledged in Dawson to JM, 14 Apr. 1794 ; mentioned in JM to Jefferson, 14 Apr. 1794 . Encloses newspapers with accounts of the diplomatic correspondence that Washington submitted to Congress on 4 Apr. Asks Dawson to have JM’s letters to Jefferson taken out of the Richmond post office and forwarded privately to Monticello, since the mail has ceased to move...
334From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 3 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed you by the Revd. Mr. Toulmin of the Unitarian Sect from England, whose attachment to liberty has led him to this land of it. You will find him intelligent, and modest, and in every respect deserving the attention I solicit for him. I was lately called on by a French gentleman who said he was your neighbour, and afforded me an opportunity of dropping you a few lines which I...
335From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 31 March 1794 (Madison Papers)
I have written of late by almost every mail, that is, three times a week. From your letter to Monroe I fear the small pox has stopped them at Richmond. I shall continue however to inclose you the newspapers as often as they are worth it. It is impossible to say what will be the issue of the proposition discussed in those of today. I forgot to mention in my last that the question whether the...
336To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 31 March 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
I have written of late by almost every mail, that is, three times a week. From your letter to Monroe I fear the small pox has stopped them at Richmond. I shall continue however to inclose you the newspapers as often as they are worth it. It is impossible to say what will be the issue of the proposition discussed in those of today. I forgot to mention in my last that the question whether the...
337From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 26 March 1794 (Madison Papers)
My last informed you that an embargo had been proposed & negatived. You will see by the inclosed that on a renewal of the proposition yesterday it went thro’ the H. of Reps. by a very large majority. The change took place among the Eastern members whose constituents were growing so clamorous under their losses in the W. Indies, as to alarm their representatives. The Senate will have the...
338To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 26 March 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
My last informed you that an embargo had been proposed and negatived. You will see by the inclosed that on a renewal of the proposition yesterday it went thro’ the H. of Reps, by a very large majority. The change took place among the Eastern members whose constituents were growing so clamorous under their losses in the W. Indies, as to alarm their representatives. The Senate will have the...
339From James Madison to Horatio Gates, 24 March 1794 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 13th. has lain by me unanswered till I could give you the result of a proposition for an Embargo discussed for several days with shut doors. The decision did not take place till friday afternoon. The measure was then negatived by 48 agst. 46 votes. Those who took the lead in opposing it are now for transferring the power to the Executive even during the Session of Congress....
340From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 24 March 1794 (Madison Papers)
The past week has been spent chiefly on the question of an Embargo. It was negatived on Friday by 48 against 46, the former composed chiefly of Eastern, the latter of Southern members. The former are now for giving the power to the Executive, even during the session of Congress. In France, everything is in a state of vigor beyond what has been seen there. Fauchèt proceeds with great...
341From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 24 March 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 24 March 1794, Philadelphia. Mentioned in James Madison, Sr., to John Lee, 5 Apr. 1794 (NcD): “he says by the Accts. from France, her affairs were never in so vigorous a situation.”
342To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 24 March 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
The past week has been spent chiefly on the question of an Embargo. It was negatived on Friday by 48 against 46, the former composed chiefly of Eastern, the latter of Southern members. The former are now for giving the power to the Executive, even during the session of Congress. In France, everything is in a state of vigor beyond what has been seen there. Fauchèt proceeds with great...
343From James Madison to Arthur Breese, 22 March 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 22 March 1794. Acknowledged in Breese to JM, 11 and 16 Apr. 1794 . Inquires about value and prospects for sale of JM’s Mohawk Valley land.
344From James Madison to William Walton Morris, ca. 22 March 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 22 March 1794. Mentioned and enclosed in JM to Horatio Gates, 24 Mar. 1794 . Also mentioned in Gates to JM, 27 Dec. 1794 . Probably concerns JM’s Mohawk Valley land and encloses a letter from JM to Arthur Breese (see Breese to JM, 16 Apr. 1794 ).
345From James Madison to Alexander White, 17 March 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 17 March 1794. Acknowledged in White to JM, 30 Mar. 1794 . Asks for White’s opinion on proposals for an embargo; reports on Theodore Sedgwick’s plan for a military buildup.
346From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 14 March 1794 (Madison Papers)
The paper of yesterday inclosed, will give you a clue to the designs of the faction which has used Sedgwick for its organ. His immediate prompter will be seen both in his speech and in his propositions. Whether more be seriously aimed at than to embarrass the others which have been long depending, is by some doubted. Perhaps this may be one of the objects; but you understand the game behind...
347Closed Sessions of the House, [14 March] 1794 (Madison Papers)
During debate on JM’s resolutions on commercial discrimination in Committee of the Whole, Parker asserted “that probably without France [i.e., French aid during the American Revolution] the legislature would not be deliberating within these walls.” When “two or three persons in the gallery, upon this made a faint attempt to clap,” Tracy moved that the committee rise for the purpose of clearing...
348To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 14 March 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
The paper of yesterday inclosed, will give you a clue to the designs of the faction which has used Sedgwick for its organ. His immediate prompter will be seen both in his speech and in his propositions. Whether more be seriously aimed at than to embarrass the others which have been long depending, is by some doubted. Perhaps this may be one of the objects; but you understand the game behind...
349From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 12 March 1794 (Madison Papers)
The Merchants, particularly of N. England have had a terrible slam in the W. Indies. About a hundred vessels have been seized by the British for condemnation, on the pretext of enforcing the laws of the Monarchy with regard to the Colony trade. The partizans of England, considering a war as now probable are endeavoring to take the lead in defensive preparations, and to acquire merit with the...
350To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 12 March 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
The Merchants, particularly of N. England have had a terrible slam in the W. Indies. About a hundred vessels have been seized by the British for condemnation, on the pretext of enforcing the laws of the Monarchy with regard to the Colony trade. The partizans of England, considering a war as now probable are endeavoring to take the lead in defensive preparations, and to acquire merit with the...