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Documents filtered by: Author="Madison, James" AND Period="Washington Presidency"
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My last informed you of the articles procured & forwardd. in consequence of my several commissions. I now send the key of the trunk in which some of the articles are contained. I forgot to mention that the Tea in the Dressing boxes belongs to my brother Ambrose. You will see by the inclosed papers that the number of future representatives in Congress has been a subject of discussion, and is...
I have received your letter of the 22d. of October last. On examining its contents I find that of the three grounds of complaint stated, two have no relation to matters within the sphere of Congress. They can be addressed with propriety only to the authority of the State of Virginia. With respect to the third, viz. the deficiency of the continental allowance for your services under a...
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 an hundred fold. The animal offspring is never limited to the number of the parents. This ordinance of nature is calculated in both instances for a twofold purpose. In both it...
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...
The Constitution limited the apportionment ratio to no more than one representative to every 30,000 persons. With the 1790 census completed, reapportionment became necessary. On 15 November 1791, following a debate in which such lower ratios as 1:34,000 and 1:40,000 were proposed, JM voted with the majority in the House for a 1:30,000 ratio. On 22 November the Committee of the Whole debated...
Letter not found. 24 November 1791. Acknowledged in Nicholas to JM, 1 Feb. 1792 . Apparently concerns pending legislation in Congress, including the excise bill and duties on spirits.
In estimating the tendency of Governme⟨n⟩ts to the increase or the relaxation of their powers particular causes distinct from their respective structures, but of powerful influence on their operation, seem to have been overlooked or little heeded by the great oracles of political wisdom. In the discussions produced by the establishment of and revisions of the new forms of Govt. in the U. S....
In Committee of the Whole, Parker of the Virginia delegation requested an examination of the increased expenses, as the proposed appropriation was nearly double that of the previous year. A general debate followed. Mr. Madison considered the present a good opportunity to determine how far the House could go into an examination of the accounts of public officers. It was true that the...
The last letter I recd. from you was of Novr. 12. I had previously informed you that your certificates had been funded by Messr. Ashton & Wister. They are now in my hands, with interest due on them from Jany. last, which cannot be drawn without a power of attorney to me for the purpose. My brother William can procure you blank powers at Richmond. It will be proper in filling up the blank to...
Much has been said, and not without reason, against a consolidation of the States into one government. Omitting lesser objections, two consequences would probably flow from such a change in our political system, which justify the cautions used against it. First , it would be impossible to avoid the dilemma, of either relinquishing the present energy and responsibility of a single executive...
Letter not found. 4 December 1791. Acknowledged in Carter to JM, 16 Dec. 1791 . Reports that Carter’s son is well situated as an apprentice.
In Committee of the Whole on 6 December Sedgwick had moved to delete from the post office bill specification of the post roads and instead to grant the president authority to designate them. Debate resumed on 7 December, when White and Livermore spoke against the motion. Mr. Madison said that the arguments which are offered by the gentlemen who are in favor of the amendment, appear to be drawn...
Your favor of the 26 Ult: has just come to hand. I am glad you have put the commission for slitted Iron into the hands of Mr. Dunbar. He will probably be able to get it when to be had on better terms. I find there is some now advertised but there is no more conveyance by water for this season. I am sorry that this circumstance will put it out of my power to forward the article desired by Miss...
Letter not found. Ca. 10 December 1791. Alluded to in Corbin to JM, 15 Dec. 1791 . Informs Corbin that the Senate has amended the apportionment bill, lowering the ratio of representation from 1:30,000 to 1:33,000.
Phila . Dec. 13. 91. “I have recd. yours of the 3d. instant, mentioning the conversation held with you by an intimate acquaintance of Col: Henry. Having never, in the midst of political contests indulged any personal ill-will to that gentleman, & at all times admired his eminent talents, I cannot be supposed insensible to any friendly sentiments he may have expressed towards me, or indisposed...
I have not been neglectful of your commission, though I am so late in making report of my proceedings. Whilst I was in Virginia I laid a train for remitting to Col: Anderson the money lodged with me, and since my arrival here I have learned that it is gone to him by a safe hand. I also wrote to a friend in Richmond, desiring the proper steps to be taken there for obtaining patents. An answer...
I have received your favor of the 8th & handed to Freneau the subscriptions inclosed for him. His paper in the opinion here justifies the expectations of his freinds and Merits the diffusive circulation they have endeavoured to procure it. I regret that I can administer no balm to the wound given by the first report of our western disaster. You will have seen the official account which has...
Your favor of afforded me much pleasure by the information it gave of the return of such flourishing health, and has laid me under great obligation by the valuable state it inclosed, of the great question lately argued in the federal Court at Richmond. We are all anxious to learn the decision of the Judges, though there is a report, that they decline giving their opinions, & were that not so,...
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...
Public opinion sets bounds to every government, and is the real sovereign in every free one. As there are cases where the public opinion must be obeyed by the government; so there are cases, where not being fixed, it may be influenced by the government. This distinction, if kept in view, would prevent or decide many debates on the respect due from the government to the sentiments of the...
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...
Letter not found. 20 December 1791. Acknowledged in Carroll to JM, 26 and 30 Dec. 1791 . Reports on the failure of the apportionment bill and the likelihood of the residence act coming under attack.
Mr. Madison, from the committee appointed, presented a bill for carrying into effect a contract between the United States and the State of Pennsylvania … Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, 1789–1824 (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 2d Cong., 1st sess., 277. During the final session of the Continental Congress in 1788 JM served on a committee...
Letter not found. 25 December 1791. Acknowledged in Carroll to JM, 30 Dec. 1791 . Informs Carroll that apportionment is to be reconsidered.
In monarchies there is a two fold danger—1st, That the eyes of a good prince cannot see all that he ought to know—2d, That the hands of a bad one will not be tied by the fear of combinations against him. Both these evils increase with the extent of dominion; and prove, contrary to the received opinion, that monarchy is even more unfit for a great state, than for a small one, notwithstanding...
I have received your’s of the 22d Dec, and am sincerely sorry that I cannot be as instrumental on the occasion stated in it as My respect for the wishes of the Mr. Marshall’s and particularly for your’s, by which they are seconded, would make me anxious to be. The truth is I am not on any footing of personal acquaintance with Mr. Hammond which would justify me in asking the favor of him in his...
Letter not found. 1 January 1792. Acknowledged in Carroll to JM, 5 and 8 Jan. 1792 . Discusses pending action in Congress on the questions of representation and the residence act.
Letter not found. 8 January 1792. Acknowledged in Lee to JM, 17 Jan. 1792 . Discusses pending legislation in Congress related to the debt funding system.
On 9 January the post office bill was read a third time. Murray moved to recommit and amend it by reducing the postage on newspapers from one to one-half cent. It was objected that a motion to recommit the entire bill for the purpose of amending a particular section was out of order. Mr. Madison supposed that so small an amend⟨ment⟩ might be made by the genera! consent of the House; ⟨but⟩ he...
Abstract. Post 12 January 1792. Calculates the standard alloy and pure silver content of the dollar as proposed by the Senate and incorporated in the Mint Act of 1792. “The vote of the Senate reduces the dollar from 375.64 gs pure metal to 371.25.” Ms ( DLC ). A one-page document in JM’s hand. Conjectured date assigned on the basis of circumstances described in n. 1. On 12 Jan. the Senate...