To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 11 April 1787
From Edmund Randolph
Richmond April 11. 1787.
My dear sir
I have the pleasure to acknowledge your favor of the 2d inst.
The election for Hanover is over; Mr. Parke Goodall being returned, after a positive and unalterable declaration in public of his affection for paper money. His colleague Mr. Thos. Macon is supposed from the influence of his father over him to be an enemy to it.1
It is doubtful, what part Mr. Henry has taken in communicating his sentiments on this subject. But upon the whole it is rather certain, that he openly advocates it. His election is sure.2 In short every day gives a fresh discovery of its unexpected friends, and I hold it to be safe to make my arrangements, upon the idea that the evil will come at the next session.
Colo. Ben: Harrison is elected for Chas. city by a majority of 22. He disclaimed paper-money in the streets of Richmond on the 2d. of this month. Sed de hoc quaere.3
Mr. Beckley designs to visit Phila. in may, and hinted a wish to act as our secretary. I told him, that some person on the spot would probably succeed, altho’ that the office could have no lucre annexed, I promised however, to mention his wishes to you, that if a proper opportunity should offer, his name may be notified.4 Adieu—yrs afftely
E. R.
See Newspaper in the packet
P. S. It is said, that our friend Merriwether Smith is in the bounds for a debt, due to Mr. Wm. Lee and that he has made over the whole of his property for a british debt. Altho’ I cannot affirm this fact of my own knowledge, I believe it to be true, on the respectability of my informer.
RC (DLC). Addressed by Randolph. Docketed by JM.
1. Parke Goodall represented Hanover County in the House of Delegates during most of the 1780s (, p. 379) and had voted in favor of an emission of paper money at the previous session of the assembly (, Oct. 1786, p. 16). He was also a delegate to the ratifying convention of 1788 and later served as sheriff of Hanover (Grigsby, Virginia Convention of 1788, II, 375). Macon was possibly the Thomas Macon (1765–1838) who married JM’s sister, Sarah Catlett, in 1790 (Madison Family Tree, , I, following 212).
2. Randolph to JM, 4 Apr. 1787 and n. 8.
3. “Sed quaere” is a legal term meaning “but inquire; examine this further” (Black’s Law Dictionary [4th ed. rev.], p. 1522).
4. On John Beckley’s attempt to become secretary of the Philadelphia convention, see Edmund and Dorothy S. Berkeley, “‘The Ablest Clerk in the U.S.’: John James Beckley,” , LXX (1962), 439. Beckley accompanied Randolph to Philadelphia despite JM’s advice against such a trip (JM to Randolph, 22 Apr. 1787). The position Beckley sought was filled by William Jackson.