901Articles of Agreement with Theodorus Bailey, 5 January 1796 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 January 1796. JM has sold to Theodorus Bailey and John B. Van Wyck his land known as lot number two of the Sedachqueda Patent in the Mohawk Valley of New York, amounting to approximately nine hundred acres, at $5.83⅓ per acre, for a total of $5,250. Bailey and Van Wyck have paid JM $4,000 and have given him a note for $1,250 payable on or before 1 Jan. 1797. The parties agree to have the...
902Military Establishment, [2 February] 1795 (Madison Papers)
On 20 January FitzSimons moved that the House request the president to submit a plan for the defense of the frontiers. After JM “doubted if it was agreeable to the Constitution,” FitzSimons withdrew his motion. On 21 January the Committee of the Whole took up Nicholas’s report, which recommended that the military establishment be authorized to continue in service until 1 June 1798 ( Annals of...
903Assumption of the State Debts, [1 March] 1790 (Madison Papers)
The assumption resolution was still under consideration. Mr. Madison. The motion which yesterday I laid on the table, upon reflection I find to be out of order, as the principle was involved in the proposition, made by my colleague, (Mr. White) and decided against by the committee; I therefore withdraw it: But, I give notice that I mean hereafter to submit to the consideration of the...
904Santo 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...
905Account with James Monroe, [14 May] 1792 (Madison Papers)
Price of land 1350 dollars of half 675 dolrs. Add Interest @ 7 PerCt. from Apl. 1786 to Ap. 1790 189 drs. 864 Deduct paymt. Ap. 1790 to Taylor for Col. M. 432 432 Add—Intst. @ 7 PerCt. from Ap. 1790 to Ap. 1792 60.48 492.48 dollrs. Deduct paymts. to Col. M. 1791. Jany. 35 Novr. 4.
906Commercial 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....
907House Address to the President, [24 November] 1794 (Madison Papers)
The Committee of the Whole took up the House’s reply to the president that JM had reported. Dayton moved an amendment concerning Indian and military policy (see Address of the House of Representatives to the President, 21 Nov. 1794, n. 3 ). Mr. Madison observed, that it had been the wish of the committee who framed the address to avoid entering into the minutiæ of the speech, lest their answer...
908Account with the United States, [21 February] 1792 (Madison Papers)
1792 The United States to James Madison Jr. Drs. Feb 21 To attendance in Congress from Jany 16 Inclusive. 216 Dollars. E. Excd. Ms ( CtHi ). In JM’s hand. Docketed by a clerk.
909Jay’s Treaty, [10 March] 1796 (Madison Papers)
After JM’s amendment to Livingston’s motion was lost, the House resumed its discussion of the same, with Giles (Virginia) referring it to a Committee of the Whole for more extended debate. This continued on 9 and 10 March ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th Cong., 1st sess., 438, 441–87). Mr. Madison said...
910Motion on the Death of Franklin, [22 April] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison rose and made the following motion: Mr. Speaker said he, Tho’ we have been informed not only thro’ the channel of the newspapers but by a more direct communication, of the decease of an illustrious character whose native genius has rendered distinguished services to the cause of science and of mankind in general, and whose patriotic exertions have contributed in a high degree to...
911Case of Randall and Whitney, [7 January] 1796 (Madison Papers)
Giles (Virginia) moved that Whitney’s case be dismissed as it involved no breach of privilege. Smith (South Carolina) and several other members objected to Giles’s motion, claiming that Whitney’s conversations with a member of the House in Vermont (Daniel Buck) were as much a breach of privilege as if they had occurred in Philadelphia ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the...
912Public Debt, [31 March] 1792 (Madison Papers)
On 1 November 1791 the House requested that the secretary of the treasury prepare a report on the public debt, specifying how many of the federal and state securities created by the Funding Act of 1790 had been subscribed and recommending “such measures as he may think expedient to be adopted to complete the object of the law.” Hamilton’s report, sent to the House on 7 February 1792, included...
913Location of the Capital, [4 September] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Debate continued on Goodhue’s motion to fix the permanent location of the capital on the east bank of the Susquehanna in Pennsylvania. Mr. Madison Said, if this delay should not have produced any alteration in the sentiments of the gentlemen, it will at least soften that hard decision which seems to threaten the friends of the Potowmack. He hoped that all would concur in the great principle on...
914Bill for the Relief of Lewis Garanger, 2 January 1793 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
Abstract. 2 January 1793. The bill authorizes the comptroller of the treasury, “in the adjustment of the claims of Lewis Garanger, to allow him the pay and subsistence of a Captain of Artillery” from 29 Sept. 1780 until 15 Nov. 1783. Ms ( DNA : RG 233, House of Representatives Records). One page, in a clerk’s hand. Signed by John Beckley, clerk of the House. Docketed by Samuel A. Otis. On 29...
915Newspapers for House Members, [9 December] 1790 (Madison Papers)
On 8 December Williamson moved that the clerk of the House furnish each member with three Philadelphia newspapers, to be selected by the representative. Consideration of the motion was postponed until this day ( Gazette of the U.S. , 11 Dec. 1790). Mr. Madison recommended to the house, to take all the papers, or none. As the object of taking them, was to supply the members with all the...
916Removal Power of the President, [17 June] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Debate continued on the clause in the bill establishing a foreign affairs department that declared the secretary could be removed from office by the president. Mr. Madison. However various the opinions which exist upon the point now before us, it seems agreed on all sides, that it demands a careful investigation and full discussion. I feel the importance of the question, and know that our...
917Proportional Representation, [24 January] 1792 (Madison Papers)
The Committee of the Whole considered a resolution to break the impasse with the Senate over apportionment by providing for a second census and reapportioning the House in 1797. An amendment was proposed allowing no lower ratio of representation than 1:30,000. “Mr. Madison observed, that as the final decision of the question must be made by a majority of the house, it was immaterial, whether...
918For the National Gazette, 19 November 1791 (Madison Papers)
Population and Emigration. Both in the vegetable and animal kingdoms, every species derives from nature, a reproductive faculty beyond the demand for merely keeping up its stock: the seed of a single plant is sufficient to multiply it one hundred or a thousand fold. The animal offspring is never limited to the number of its parents. The multiplying power in some instances, animal as well as...
919Naturalization, [1 January] 1795 (Madison Papers)
The House took up the naturalization bill. As to the granting of privileges to aliens, Mr. Madison remarked, that there was no class of emigrants from whom so much was to be apprehended as those who should obtain property in shipping. Much greater mischief was to be feared from them than from any influence in votes, at an election. If he were disposed to make any distinction of one class of...
920Treasury Department, [20 May] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Gerry proposed to place the treasury in the hands of three commissioners. Baldwin preferred a single secretary, with subordinates serving as a check upon his authority. Mr. Madison Had intended to have given his sentiments on this subject; but he was anticipated in some things by the gentleman last up. He wished, in all cases of an executive nature, that the committee should consider the...
921Postal Road Survey, [11 February] 1796 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison moved that the resolution laid upon the table, some days ago, be taken up, relative to the survey of the post roads between the province of Maine and Georgia, which being read, he observed that two good effects would arise from carrying this resolution into effect; the shortest rout from one place to another would be determined upon, and persons, having a certainty of the stability...
922Petition 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.;...
923Petition 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...
924Notes for the National Gazette Essays, [ca. 19 December 1791–3 March 1792] (Madison Papers)
Influence of the size of a nation on Government page. 1. ________ of external danger on Government 10 ________ of the stage of Society on Government 16 ________ of Public opinion on Government 22 ________ of Education on Government 30 ________ of Religion on Government 35 ________ of Domestic slavery on Government 40 ________ of Dependent dominions on Government 46 Checks devised in...
925Assumption of the State Debts, [2 March] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Before the Committee of the Whole resumed consideration of JM’s amendment to the assumption resolution, White moved “that the secretary of the treasury be directed to ascertain the resources that may be applied to the payment of the state debts, provided they should be assumed by the United States.” Gerry objected to the motion as reflecting unfavorably on the secretary—”the house ought to...
926Commercial 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...
927Amendments 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...
928Naturalization, [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....
929Constitutionality 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...
930“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...
931Tonnage 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...
932Proportional 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...
933Petition 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.
934Assumption 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...
935Militia, [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...