451From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 30 July 1793 (Madison Papers)
My last was of the 22d inst. I have since red. yours covering the paper now returned, that covering the report of the Commsrs of Accts between the U. S. & the particular States, and that of the 21st. inst. The intermediate one of the 14th. was left by mistake in a secure place by the person who was to bring it up from Fredg., and is not yet arrived. The delay has been inconvenient as it...
452From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 5 August 1793 (Madison Papers)
At the date of my last which was on thursday last, yours of the 14. had not arrived. I have since recd. it. That of the 28th. is also just handed me. A review of mine will shew you that all yours from June 23 forward have now been acknowledged. Your acct. of the ticklish situation with respect to Genet in the 14th. is truly distressing. His folly would almost beget suspicions of the worst...
453From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 11 August 1793 (Madison Papers)
Yrs. of Aug: 3. has just come to hand. All the precedg. have been ackd. I am extremely mortified in looking for the Key to the Cypher, to find that I left it in Philada. You must therefore repeat any thing that may be of use still to be known, particularly any thing that may relate to the time of your leavg. Phila. which I wish to know as long as possible before it takes place. The task on...
454From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, [12 August] 1793 (Madison Papers)
The paper for J. F. could not otherwise get to him than with your aid. You must therefore take the trouble of having it handed into the post office whence the penny post will take it, unless you can do it at some shorter hand. I wish you to look over what is sd. critically, and if you think there be any thing of importance wrong, or that may do more harm than good, that you will either erase...
455From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 20 August 1793 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 11th. came to hand the day before yesterday. I am just setting off to Monroe’s and hope to prevent the trouble of an express from Monticello with the letter referred to in it. I have already acquainted you with the immediate object of this visit. I have just recd. a line from him expressing a particular desire to communicate with me, and reminding me that he sets off the last...
456From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 22 August] 1793 (Madison Papers)
I left home the day before yesterday which was the date of my last. It was to be accompanied by 2. & perhaps tho’ not probably 3 additional Nos. of H—l—vd—s. The last towit No. 5. contained two paragraphs the one relating to the accession of S. & P. to the war against F. the other to the answer’s of the P. to the addresses on his proclamation, which I particularly requested you to revise, and...
457“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...
458From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 27 August 1793 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you a few lines by the last post from this place just to apprize you of my movement to it. I have since seen the Richmond & the Philada. papers containing, the latter the certificate of Jay & King & the publications relating to the subject of it, the former the proceedings at Richmond dictated no doubt by the Cabal at Philada. It is painful to observe the success of the management for...
459Resolution on Franco-American Relations, [ca. 27 August] 1793 (Madison Papers)
In August 1793 relations dramatically deteriorated between the Washington administration and the French minister to the United States, Edmond Charles Genet. Federalists circulated a report that he had threatened to appeal to the American people against Washington’s neutrality policy. His denial of this report only made matters worse since Genet wrote directly to Washington, thereby drawing a...
460From 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....
461“Helvidius” Number 2, [31 August] 1793 (Madison Papers)
The doctrine which has been examined, is pregnant with inferences and consequences against which no ramparts in the constitution could defend the public liberty, or scarcely the forms of Republican government. Were it once established that the powers of war and treaty are in their nature executive; that so far as they are not by strict construction transferred to the legislature, they actually...
462From James Madison to Archibald Stuart, 1 September 1793 (Madison Papers)
Being well persuaded of your attachment to the public good, I make no apology for mentioning to you a few circumstances which I conceive to be deeply connected with it. It appears by accounts recd. by Col: Monroe & myself from Mr Jefferson, as well as by the face of the late Newspapers that a variance of a very serious nature has taken place between the federal Executive and Mr. Genet the...
463From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 2 September 1793 (Madison Papers)
I write this by your servant on his way to George Town with a Horse. He applies to me for his best route. I advise the circuitous one by Fredg. in preference to the shorter one, in which he would probably lose more by mistakes than would be equal to the difference between the two in point of distance. I left Monroe’s yesterday. My stay was spun out by waiting for Mr. D. R. who did not arrive...
464From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 2 September 1793 (Madison Papers)
I dropped you a few lines this morning by the servant going to George Town with your horse. I had not time, without detaining him to say more than that I had your two favors of the 11th. Ult: by Mr. D. R. and of the 18th. by post. The former was communicated to Monroe, as shall be the latter in case of opportunity. The conduct of Genèt as developed in these, and in his proceedings as exhibited...
465“Helvidius” Number 3, [7 September] 1793 (Madison Papers)
In order to give color to a right in the Executive to exercise the Legislative power of judging whether there be a cause of war in a public stipulation—two other arguments are subjoined by the writer to that last examined. The first is simply this, “It is the right and duty of the Executive to judge of and interpret those articles of our treaties which give to France particular privileges, in...
466From James Madison to John Hatley Norton, 12 September 1793 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 15th. June, as also a preceding one on the same subject: & have delayed acknowledging them till the return of Majr. Hite, an opportunity which you seem to have had in view. As far as I recollect no claims similar to your’s have yet been allowed by Congress, and some circumspection has been observed against establishing any principle that might lead to them. I can...
467“Helvidius” Number 4, [14 September] 1793 (Madison Papers)
The last papers compleated the view proposed to be taken of the arguments in support of the new and aspiring doctrine, which ascribes to the executive the prerogative of judging and deciding whether there be causes of war or not, in the obligations of treaties; notwithstanding the express provision in the constitution, by which the legislature is made the organ of the national will, on...
468From James Madison to James Monroe, 15 September 1793 (Madison Papers)
Since I parted from you I have had several letters from Mr. J. in which all the facts involving Genét are detailed. His conduct has been that of a madman. He is abandoned even by his votaries in Philada. Hutcheson declares that he has ruined the Republican interest in that place. I wish I could forward the details I have recd. but they are too confidential to be hazarded by the casual...
469From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, [16 September] 1793 (Madison Papers)
The want of oppy. has left me in debt for 3 favors those of Aug. 18. 25. & Sepr. 8th. which I now acknowledge by one which is too precarious for any thing confidential. I have long been uneasy for your health amidts [ sic ] the vapors of the Schuylkil. The new & more alarming danger has made me particularly anxious that you were out of the sphere of it. I cannot altogether condemn your...
470“Helvidius” Number 5, [18 September] 1793 (Madison Papers)
Having seen that the executive has no constitutional right to interfere in any question whether there be or be not a cause of war, and the extensive consequences flowing from the doctrines on which a claim has been asserted, it remains to be enquired whether the writer is better warranted in the fact which he assumes, namely that the proclamation of the Executive has undertaken to decide the...
471From James Madison to John Taylor, 20 September 1793 (Madison Papers)
I informed you from Albemarle of the step taken with regard to the paper from you. Our distant friend under whose perusal it passed is quite in raptures with it, and augurs the best consequences from it, if its appearance be well timed. He thinks the present in every respect unpropitious, and that under any circumstances the critical moment would be about two or three weeks before the first...
472From James Madison to George Washington, 24 October 1793 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 14th. instant did not arrive till sunday night, and being not then at home, I did not receive it till last night. I now lose not a moment in complying with its request; tho’ I foresee it cannot reach you before you will have left Mount Vernon, and before you will probably have made up a final determination on some if not on all the questions proposed. These are 1. Ought the...
473From James Madison to James Monroe, 29 October 1793 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed are two Newspapers one of which contains the Resolutions proposed at Fredg. and a letter from Bourdeaux which is not uninteresting. You will find also two pieces one from Alexanda. & another answering it which as connected with the present crisis may be worth reading. At Culpeper Court, the proposed meeting took effect, Genl. Stephens in the Chair. The result as stated to me, is not...
474From James Madison to George Nicholas, 18 November 1793 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Toulmin will either hand you this, or see you in consequence of it. He is lately from England, and very warmly recommended to me by Mr. Maury our Consul at Liverpool as meriting particular attention. His primary object in visiting Kentucky is to procure a knowledge of the Country for the information of his friends in England who have an eye to America as a more eligible portion of the...
475From James Madison to John Breckinridge, 19 November 1793 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty of making known to you the Revd. Mr. Toulmin who visits Kentucky with a view to transmit its character to a body of his friends in England who wish to exchange their native Country for some part of ours. He has a secondary view of trying whether he can be engaged on acceptable conditions as an Instructor of youth in classical and other liberal branches of education. At...
476From James Madison to Henry Lee, 22 November 1793 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 22 November 1793. Offered for sale in Emily Driscoll Catalogue No. 8 (1949), item 58, which notes that the letter introduces James Makittrick Adair: “I ask your attentions for him … with an assurance that they will be both merited & repaid.” Acknowledged in Lee to JM, 23 Jan. 1794 .
477From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., ca. 23 November 1793 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 23 November 1793. Mentioned in JM to James Madison, Sr., 25 Nov. 1793 : “I wrote from Fredg. by Col: Monroe’s servant & informed you that I had left with Mr. Jones £18–12–5 which would be del[i]vered to your order.”
478From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 24 November 1793 (Madison Papers)
I have your 3 letters. The last of the 17th. fell into my hands here when I arrived on friday night. Col. Monroe was a day before me. Accept our thanks for your provision in our behalf at Germanto[w]n. We set off in 5 Minutes in a machine we have procured here, & which we shall keep on with till it fails us, or we can do better. I hope we shall be with you by sunday evening, or monday morning....
479From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 25 November 1793 (Madison Papers)
Having procured at this place a substitute for Daman I shall send back Sam, after going a few miles just to try the new arrangement. He will be in Fredg. tonight and will thence make the best of his way home. A letter red. at Fredg. from Mr. Jefferson says that the fever has entirely vanished. Another of the 20th. from a gentleman in Philada confirms it in the most decided terms. And I...
480Closed Sessions of the House, [27 December] 1793 (Madison Papers)
Algerine corsairs had preyed on American shipping in the Mediterranean since the Revolution. In December 1793 reports arrived in the United States that Portugal had signed a twelve-month truce with Algiers. Britain had persuaded its Portuguese ally to halt the Algerine war—which had previously prevented the corsairs from entering the Atlantic—in order to concentrate the war effort against...
481From James Madison to Tench Coxe, [29 December] 1793 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison presents his respects to Mr. Coxe. He wishes to have a little conversation with him this forenoon or tomorrow if convenient, and will thank Mr C. to name by the bearer an hour at which Mr. M. may wait on him. RC ( PHi : Tench Coxe Papers). Addressed by JM. Docketed, probably by Coxe: “recd. in the Morning of Sunday 29 Decr. 1793—appointed Mr. M. to call at his (Mr. C’s) house this...
482List of Imports, 1789–1790, ca. 29 December 1793 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
Ca. 29 December 1793. Summarizes information that appears to have been collected by customs officers for the Treasury Department, listing imports by country of origin totaling $15,295,638.97. Ms ( DLC ). A one-page document in JM’s hand, headed: “Value of Manufactured articles imported into the U. S. in one year ending 30 Sepr. 1790.” Docketed by JM: “Signd. / Treasy. Dept. Novr. 30 1791.”...
483From James Madison to John Dawson, 31 December 1793 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 31 December 1793. Acknowledged in Dawson to JM, 20 Jan. 1794 . Discusses the proposed naval force against Algerine corsairs and probably mentions the resolutions on commercial discrimination that JM plans to present to the House of Representatives.
484Commercial Discrimination, [3 January] 1794 (Madison Papers)
In Committee of the Whole, JM offered seven resolutions to implement the recommendations of Jefferson’s “Report of the Secretary of State on the Privileges and Restrictions on the Commerce of the United States in Foreign Countries” of 16 December 1793. For the context of those resolutions, see Madison in the Third Congress, 2 December 1793–3 March 1795 . Mr. Madison after some general...
485The Flag, [7 January] 1794 (Madison Papers)
On 30 December 1793 the Senate passed “a bill making an alteration in the Flag of the United States,” which proposed to add two stars and stripes to represent the new states of Vermont and Kentucky ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 3d Cong., 1st sess., 23). In Committee of the Whole, opponents of the bill...
486Appropriations, [10 January] 1794 (Madison Papers)
In the Committee of the Whole debate on the 1794 federal budget, Giles moved the separation of “the estimate of appropriations for the civil list, and for discharging the current expences of the government, from the articles” dealing with military appropriations. The point was to clear the way for appropriations to carry on the daily business of government. Mr. Madison said, that members had...
487Santo Domingan Refugees, [10 January] 1794 (Madison Papers)
On 1 January a petition was read from a committee appointed by the Maryland Assembly to distribute $13,000 in relief, raised by private subscription in Baltimore, to some three thousand French refugees from Saint-Domingue (now Haiti), “stating that their funds are nearly exhausted, and praying the relief and aid of Congress” ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the...
488From James Madison to Tench Coxe, [ca. 13 January] 1794 (Madison Papers)
… 1. Of the grain & flour of late years exported to G. B. what proportion was probably consumed there. 2. Is rice or tobo. sent from Portugal or Spain at all to the French or Dutch markets, where no discrimination exists in favor of the American? 3. How far is the British discrimn. in favor of our woods really operative ? 4. In estimating reexports which make a part of any manufactured...
489Commercial Discrimination, [14 January] 1794 (Madison Papers)
In a lengthy speech made in the Committee of the Whole, Smith (South Carolina) on 13 January opposed commercial retaliation against Britain as set forth in Jefferson’s report of 16 December 1793 and JM’s resolutions of 3 January 1794 ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 3d Cong., 1st sess., 174–209). JM responded...
490Commercial Discrimination, [15 January] 1794 (Madison Papers)
Ames objected to a motion to go into Committee of the Whole, since papers from the secretary of state, relating to negotiations with Britain for a commercial treaty, had not yet been printed for the House. Mr. Madison said that it was somewhat singular, that an objection should be made to the going into a committee for the want of these papers. This want ought to have been stated upon Monday....
491From James Madison to John Dawson, 15 January 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 15 January 1794. Acknowledged in Dawson to JM, 23 Jan. 1794 . Mentions two causes of opposition to JM’s resolutions on commercial discrimination.
492Commercial Discrimination, [20 January] 1794 (Madison Papers)
Smith (South Carolina) observed that supporters of JM’s resolutions had argued that Britain had demonstrated no desire for a commercial treaty with the United States. Smith alleged that in the correspondence between the president and the British minister “as printed by order of the house, it appears, that there is a chasm occasioned by the omission of a letter from the secretary of state, to...
493Commercial Discrimination, [23 January] 1794 (Madison Papers)
In Committee of the Whole, Dexter argued that British regulations had not greatly harmed American prosperity and that JM’s resolutions could lead to war with Britain. Mr. Madison next rose in reply to some remarks made by Mr. Dexter. He said that he wondered how gentlemen could suppose, that to be war on the table . Did they suppose Britain so unwise or so unjust as to declare a war. Every...
494Commercial Discrimination, [24 January] 1794 (Madison Papers)
In Committee of the Whole, Dayton asserted: “If we really labor under wrongs, something more effectual than the measures proposed should be contemplated; but first it is our duty, to endeavor to obtain redress by pacific means, and before irritating measures are adopted, we should be well assured that redress has been refused.” Mr. Madison saw no ground to hope for redress from negociation, we...
495Commercial Discrimination, [30 January] 1794 (Madison Papers)
The Committee of the Whole continued its consideration of JM’s resolutions. As it appeared, he said, that most of the objections against the proposed Resolutions, had been made by those who meant to combat them, and that a question would soon be called for; it might perhaps be expected that he should review those objections, and assign the reasons which induced him to continue in the opinion...
496Commercial Discrimination, [31 January] 1794 (Madison Papers)
In Committee of the Whole, JM continued his speech from the previous day. Resuming the train of his observations, he proceeded to explain the remedial operation of his propositions. First. They will make the British nation sensible that we can, by just and pacific means, inflict consequences which will make it her interest, to pay a just regard to our rights and interests. To enforce this...
497Commercial Discrimination, [5 February] 1794 (Madison Papers)
Lyman moved to postpone further consideration of JM’s resolutions until the first Monday in March. Dexter opposed delay and urged that the resolutions be either voted on or withdrawn. Mr. Madison assured the gentleman from Massachusetts who wished the resolutions withdrawn, that they were brought forward upon mature reflection, and that with an intention of having the sense of the...
498Naval Force against Algerine Corsairs, [6 February] 1794 (Madison Papers)
On 20 January the select committee on financing a naval force against the Algerine corsairs submitted its report, which proposed an appropriation of $600,000 to support six warships. The sum was to be raised by increased impost and tonnage duties ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 3d Cong., 1st sess., 250). On...
499Naval Force against Algerine Corsairs, [7 February] 1794 (Madison Papers)
The Committee of the Whole resumed its consideration of the resolution for building a navy. Mr. Madison thought this expedient unlikely to answer the purpose, and liable to many objections. Before the American squadron can be equipped, the truce between Algiers and Portugal must expire. When that expiration shall take place she either will not renew the truce at all, or she will stipulate that...
500From James Madison to George Washington, 8 February 1794 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his apologies to the President for not sending the pamphlets &c. from Sir J. Sinclair, sooner for the use of Mr. Peters, as was intimated when he last had the honor of seeing the President. He had hopes of being able prior to this to have looked a little into them, and have complied with the desire of the President expressed when the papers were put into J. M’s hands. It...